Ms. Earline Budd Collection

Ms. Earline Budd Collection

“God made no mistakes. He made us in His own image be it transgendered or whatever it is, and we are all one nation.”

“The mission is for me to do what I do, HIV outreach, advocacy, love and affection and to outreach to other transgendered people that are disenfranchised ... When my time comes, I want someone to step up and say “There’s only one thing to say about Earline Budd. She tried to help somebody in her life.”

In the late 1960s, from the age of nine, Earl Budd began expressing his inner woman. By thirteen, Earl had transitioned to identifying, and dressing as, a female. A breach with her family led to Earline living on the street at a time when there was no support for transgendered youth. Her experience of intolerance and lack of support shaped her life.

Meeting Frank Kameny, whom Budd calls a ‘father’, through the Gay Activists Alliance led her to more supportive groups, including a Maryland group for cross-dressers. In the 1980s, Budd began working in HIV and AIDS support. Her first involvement was with Inner City AIDS Network (ICAN). Her work with André Stewart, Alexander Robinson and Thomas Gleaton led to her certification in peer outreach and started her subsequent career educating the gay and transgendered community on health issues and AIDS awareness. Among her personal role models are early transgendered leaders Pat Hamilton and Janice Davis.

HIV positive herself, as a result of her life on the street, Earline brings special sensitivities to awareness issues for the transgendered. Her special missions are to the dying, those who are dying alone without any love or affection, and to those estranged from their families.

In 1987, she successfully sued a roller rink on Kalorama for barring transgendered people. In 1999, her suit against the DC Department of Corrections for not accommodating transgendered people brought new sensitivity and support for the transgendered.

Budd is a fervent advocate for tolerance and support for transgendered people. She worked for many years with Safe Haven in transgendered outreach before founding Transgendered Health Empowerment (THE) and continues her work as an HIV/AIDS educator. She has become one of the leading advocates in the United States for transgendered rights and support.

Materials were collected by Ms. Earline Budd.

3 plaques:

• May 30, 1999 Black Lesbian and Gay Pride Day - The Welmore Cook Award
• May 1, 2011 Countless Years
• December 15, 2000 Safe Haven Outreach Ministry - The Human Services Award

One folder with twelve (12) certificates, one (1) oversized certificate, and two (2) photographs.

13 certificates:

• Earline Budd Certificate 1 - Certificate of Appreciation from Government of DC for DC HIV Prevention Planning Group, Nov 14, 2004
• Earline Budd Certificate 2 - Certificate of Completion of HIV/AIDS Training from National Minority AIDS Council, Aug 19, 2009
• Earline Budd Certificate 3 - Trinity Award from IFGE, April 2010
• Earline Budd Certificate 4 - Certificate of Recognition to Transgender Health Empowerment from Gertrude Stein Democratic Club, May 25, 2011
• Earline Budd Certificate5 - Trans People of Color Coalition Lifetime Achievement Award, June 2, 2011
• Earline Budd Certificate 6 - Certificate of Appointment as a Member of DC Commission of Human Rights, July 11, 2012
• Earline Budd Certificate 7 - Proclamation of Annual Transgender Day of Remembrance from DC Mayor Vincent C. Gray, Nov 20, 2012
• Earline Budd Certificate 8 - Proclamation of Annual Transgender Day of Remembrance from DC Mayor Vincent C. Gray, Nov 20, 2013
• Earline Budd Certificate 9 - Observance of 15th Annual Transgender Day of Remembrance from President Barack Obama, Nov 14, 2014 
• Earline Budd Certificate 10 - Proclamation of Annual Transgender Day of Remembrance from DC Mayor Vincent C. Gray, Nov 20, 2014
• Earline Budd Certificate 11 - Observance of 15th Annual Transgender Day of Remembrance from Congress Member Eleanor Holmes Norton, Nov 20, 2014
• Earline Budd Certificate 12 - A Ceremonial Resolution of 15th Annual Transgender Day of Remembrance from DC City Council
• Earline Budd Certificate13 - Certificate of Appointment as a Member of DC Commission on Human Rights, Dec 31, 2014

Two photographs:

• Earline Budd Photograph 1 - Earline Budd with Mayor Vincent C. Gray
• Earline Budd Photograph 2 - Trinity Award 2001

1 award:

• National Gay and Lesbian Task Force - Fourteenth Annual Leadership Awards, May 12, 2003 

Some items are digitized and available online.