Leon Allen & Winston Johnson Community Leadership Award

2013 Award Winner: Michael Shutt

Michael Shutt is the Assistant Dean for Campus Life and Director of the Office of Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender (LGBT) Life at Emory University.  Since 2008, Michael has served as Director of the Office of LGBT Life at Emory University, where he creates and enhances educational, social, and support programs and services for students regarding issues of sexual and gender identities.  Michael is also an adjunct faculty member in the Department of Counseling and Human Development at the University of Georgia's College of Education and serves on the Executive Board of the National Consortium of Higher Education LGBT Resource Professionals. 

About the Award and its Namesakes

The Leon Allen and Winston Johnson Community Leadership Award is named for two longtime leaders of the Atlanta LGBT Community.

Leon Allen and Winston Johnson were two of the original committee members for the first two HRC dinners in Atlanta, beginning in 1988. As longtime civic rights activists, they became close friends with Coretta Scott King, and helped her use her high public profile to advocate for the rights of LGBT persons. Because of their efforts, Mrs. King became the keynote speaker at the HRC dinner in New York City in 1986, and one of the communities' strongest allies for the rest of her days.

Leon and Winston were together for 42 years until Leon's death from Parkinson's disease in February 2006, two weeks after Mrs. King's passing.

The Human Rights Campaign Atlanta Steering Committee presents this award each year to the individual or group who offers distinguished service and leadership for the gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender community. This award recognizes the outstanding efforts of those who dedicate not only substantial time and energy, but also spirit and whole-hearted commitment to advance the fight for our civil rights. Appreciating our current leadership will foster others to follow in their footsteps.

Past Award Recipients