When Jan Jones Blackhurst first spoke with the Lambda Business Association, she was greeted with a bouquet of flowers — and a startling realization: Nobody had been “giving voice to this extraordinary part of our community,” she said.

The association was one of the era’s most prominent LGBTQ+ organizations for working professionals. In the 1990s, Jones Blackhurst became the first Las Vegas mayor to forge a relationship with the group. During her tenure through 1999, she also became the first mayor to serve as grand marshal of the Gay Pride Parade and participated in the AIDS Walk, even at a time when such actions risked intense public scrutiny.

On Wednesday, Silver State Equality will honor Jones Blackhurst for her support of the LGBTQ+ community and work in fighting for gender equality.

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