ITLA Celebrates the Life of J. Lawrence Warren

photo of J. Lawrence WarrenITLA mourns the passing of Atlanta, GA, May 30, 2007. In the Life Atlanta, Inc. (ITLA) mourns the passing of former board member and community activist, J. Lawrence Warren, well known as ‘L.’ Mr. Warren passed Monday, March 28, 2007 at approximately 10:00 PM. His commitment to the lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) community will long be remembered, as he served with conviction.

He held Bachelor degrees in Social Work and Psychology from Georgia State University with a concentration in Clinical Child Counseling and Behavior Development. He also minored in Jazz and Vocal Performance. He worked as a teacher and mentor for at risk and marginalized children as a Behavior Specialist.

He has been Director of Youth events and programs for In The Life Atlanta (Atlanta’s Official Gay Black Pride Organizers) since 1999. Mr. Warren has set on panels and presented workshops for several national and local organizations and conferences. He has been given several accolades for his leadership and dedication to the community and youth issues at several national and regional conferences.

He was selected as the Youth Representative for The Atlanta Lambda Center. In 1999, he was asked to be the national representative of Gay, Bisexual, and Questioning Young Men of African Decent in 2000 by the Executive Directors of both SMAAC Youth Center and The National Black Gay lesbian Task Force in Oakland, California.

One of Mr. Warren’s greatest passions was working with gay youth as he sought to empower them with a sense of community and pride. He was the Founder and Executive Director of ‘My Brothaz Keeper, Inc.’ It is a social service and community empowerment organization with a mission of creating a safe space for Gay, Bisexual, & Questioning, black males ages 25 and under; to empower those brothers with a sense of community and pride. As a member of the ITLA Planning Committee and as a Board Member from 2002-2005, he long championed this goal of empowering gay youth and creating dialogue about various issues the LGBT community faced.

He moderated a workshop entitled ‘Puppy Love’ during past Atlanta Black Gay Pride celebrations. The purpose of this workshop was to encourage intergenerational dialogue. This event was for GLBTQ Youth of Color age 25 and under. He also created a community series entitled ‘Talk OUT,’ during his tenure at ITLA. The program was later sponsored by the Human Rights Campaign (HRC).  These forums allowed the community to talk openly about various issues facing GLBT people.

To ensure that the legacy of Lawrence Warren remains, the ITLA Board of Directors are pleased to officially announce that Atlanta’s 2007 Black Gay Pride Celebration is being dedicated to the life and legacy of J. Lawrence Warren. “Lawrence remained a faithful contributor to the goals of ITLA and the broader goal of strengthening the LGBT community as a whole. As a friend and colleague, he will be missed; however, his fiery spirit will remain. We feel that dedicating our Pride Celebration to this remarkable agent of change is the most honorable thing to do,” reflected Kenneth T. Jones, President of the ITLA Board of Directors.

The Homegoing Celebration for Lawrence Warren is scheduled for June 2 beginning at 12 noon at the Donald Trimble Mortuary (1876 Second Avenue, Decatur, Georgia 30032, 404.371.0772). A repass celebration will take place immediately after Saturday’s Homegoing Celebration at AIDS Survival Project (139 Ralph McGill Blvd, Atlanta, Georgia, 30308) from 2:00 PM to 6:00 PM. He will be laid to rest in his home town of Chicago early the following week. The service will under the leadership of Pastor O. C. Allen III, The Vision Church of Atlanta.

Flowers and other accolades of remembrance can be sent to the Donald Trimble Mortuary. If you would like to sign the guest book for the family of Lawrence Warren, please go to: http://www.legacy.com/atlanta/Obituaries.asp?Page=Lifestory&PersonId=88453983

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In the Life Atlanta, Inc. serves to promote unity, pride, self-empowerment, and positive visibility within Atlanta's Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender community of African descent through education, advocacy, and coalition building programs.

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ITLA Salutes and Honors The Life of Tony Childs

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ITLA Mourns the Loss of Yolanda Denise King

In The Life Atlanta
346 Auburn Ave NE
Suite 126
Atlanta, GA 30312
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Mission: ITLA serves to promote unity, pride, self-empowerment, and positive visibility within Atlanta's Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender community of African descent through education, advocacy, and coalition building programs.