Sexual Freedom Leaders to be Honored at Woodhull Summit

WASHINGTON, D.C.—The Woodhull Sexual Freedom Alliance is pleased to announce the 2012 recipients of the Vicki Sexual Freedom Award. The Vicki Sexual Freedom Awards recognize individuals who have made landmark contributions to the sexual freedom movement. This year Woodhull is proud to honor three heroes of the movement, Amber Hollibaugh, Jeffrey Montgomery and Esther Perel.

Amber Hollibaugh is a long-time human rights defender, civil rights activist and social justice champion, currently serving as the Executive Director of Queers for Economic Justice, whose activism spans almost five decades of social justice advocacy.

Jeffrey Montgomery is recognized as one of the most heroic leaders in the movement for LGBT equality, speaking out against discrimination, violence and injustice for decades, both as the founder of The Triangle Foundation and as a founding board member of the Woodhull Sexual Freedom Alliance, helping to steer our organization toward fulfillment of our mission and our vision of a world where sexual freedom is actually recognized as a fundamental human right.

Internationally renowned author, advocate and voice for personal sexual freedom, Esther Perel is a licensed marriage and family therapist and an acknowledged authority on wartime, post-war, and refugee families; cultural identity; cross-cultural relations; erotic intelligence; and ethnic and religious intermarriage. Dr. Perel has led private and public interventions around the world.

"This year we honor these three outstanding leaders and courageous activists," said Ricci Levy, Executive Director of the Woodhull Sexual Freedom Alliance. "As we have watched the sexual freedom movement grow and take hold, the names of our three honorees are often found in the roll book of those who have made a difference. We are honored to recognize their work."

The awards will be presented at a gala event during Woodhull's Sexual Freedom Summit. The presentations will follow a series of educational forums during the day and the release of the 2012 State of Sexual Freedom in the United States Report, an annual assessment of the progress and setbacks in the effort to establish sexual freedom as a fundamental human right. The Woodhull Sexual Freedom Alliance and the Vicki Award recipients are committed to advancing that cause. These events will take place September 21-23, 2012.

The Vicki Sexual Freedom Award, established in 2010, recognizes those individuals whose life and work embody the mission and values of the Alliance and who have made landmark contributions to the sexual freedom movement. And is named after Victoria Woodhull, the namesake of the Woodhull Sexual Freedom Alliance. Ms. Woodhull was an American suffragist born on September 23, 1838, who was described by Gilded Age newspapers as a leader of the American women's suffrage movement in the 19th century. She became a colorful and notorious symbol for women's rights, free love, and spiritualism as she fought against corruption and for labor reforms. She was also the first female presidential candidate.

For further information about Woodhull's Sexual Freedom Summit, the State of Sexual Freedom Report and Sexual Freedom Day, or to reserve tickets to the event, click here.