"Standing on the shoulders of giants, Ginger and Diane have been fortunate to live their lives openly and without fear. In 1990 at Texas Woman's University, they were the first persons to have a same-sex marriage ceremony at Little Chapel in the Woods. In 1992, they were the first openly lesbian parents with a known gay sperm donor in Memphis. They have raised two amazing young men, Maxwell and William Thornton-Leonard, who hold the same values of equality and justice as their parents. Diane, Ginger and their children have marched for equality in DC more than once, and have been the focus of numerous newspaper articles, newscasts and radio interviews about gay rights, women’s rights, and the challenges of raising two children as gay parents, all because of the very brave souls who cleared a path for them.
When a diagnosis of early-onset Alzheimer's derailed her professional career, Diane began to ""pay it forward"" in earnest, volunteering and serving on several nonprofit boards including CHOICES (MCRH), MGLCC, Pink Palace, and Friends of George’s. She also continually engages in social justice and political activism, yet remains humbled by her friends who work tirelessly to make Memphis better. Diane is beating early onset Alzheimer’s one day at a time and is grateful for her wonderful wife, Ginger Leonard, for supporting her many causes and working alongside her.
Ginger Leonard is the current Board Chair and President of the Tennessee Equality Project (TEP), President of the Federal Contractor’s Liaison/EEO Council, and a member of the National Industry Liaison Group’s Board—all of which work toward equality and fairness for all. She has worked for 26 years in Labor and Employee Relations to ensure no employee suffers from .discrimination. Ginger is also an Advisory Board member for the Ronald McDonald House and is a past Board Chair of Choices. She has written articles, letters, given interviews and spoken to groups about pressing LGBT issues. She is a fierce protector of equality and inspires everyone around her."
"Standing on the shoulders of giants, Ginger and Diane have been fortunate to live their lives openly and without fear. In 1990 at Texas Woman's University, they were the first persons to have a same-sex marriage ceremony at Little Chapel in the Woods. In 1992, they were the first openly lesbian parents with a known gay sperm donor in Memphis. They have raised two amazing young men, Maxwell and William Thornton-Leonard, who hold the same values of equality and justice as their parents. Diane, Ginger and their children have marched for equality in DC more than once, and have been the focus of numerous newspaper articles, newscasts and radio interviews about gay rights, women’s rights, and the challenges of raising two children as gay parents, all because of the very brave souls who cleared a path for them.
When a diagnosis of early-onset Alzheimer's derailed her professional career, Diane began to ""pay it forward"" in earnest, volunteering and serving on several nonprofit boards including CHOICES (MCRH), MGLCC, Pink Palace, and Friends of George’s. She also continually engages in social justice and political activism, yet remains humbled by her friends who work tirelessly to make Memphis better. Diane is beating early onset Alzheimer’s one day at a time and is grateful for her wonderful wife, Ginger Leonard, for supporting her many causes and working alongside her.
Ginger Leonard is the current Board Chair and President of the Tennessee Equality Project (TEP), President of the Federal Contractor’s Liaison/EEO Council, and a member of the National Industry Liaison Group’s Board—all of which work toward equality and fairness for all. She has worked for 26 years in Labor and Employee Relations to ensure no employee suffers from .discrimination. Ginger is also an Advisory Board member for the Ronald McDonald House and is a past Board Chair of Choices. She has written articles, letters, given interviews and spoken to groups about pressing LGBT issues. She is a fierce protector of equality and inspires everyone around her."