Lawrence Moore

Echo Hall of Fame 2011 Lawrence Moore

When Phoenix Pride decided to create a foundation to distribute funds to LGBT organizations, Lawrence Moore joined the board to help launch the effort. He worked on the guidelines and structure for the program, which will make its third cycle of grants later this year with money earned at the Pride festival and other events. "I'm proud to have helped establish the foundation," Moore said. "But I'm more proud of the work it's doing."

BACKGROUND:: Moore, 65, was born in Prescott and served in the military as a linguist stationed in California and Japan, where he met his partner of 42 years, Rick Hubbard. Moore studied music, earning his bachelor's at Northern Arizona University, master's at Arizona State University and doctorate at Northwestern. He taught music for 10 years at ASU and Joliet, Ill., Junior College. He's lived in Phoenix since 1980. He worked with the Arizona Commission on the Arts and the Motorola Foundation and was a partner in the local Hamburger Mary's restaurant. Now semi-retired, he's a consultant in public relations and marketing.

ACHIEVEMENTS:: Moore was a member of the board of the Arizona Human Rights Fund during the time it was renamed Equality Arizona, and was on the original board of the organization's foundation. At the time, he said the group worked to defeat the state's first anti-gay marriage initiative and helped to elect LGBT public officials. He joined the Phoenix Pride board in 2009 and became chair this year. Among his awards, Moore received the Martin Luther King Jr. Living the Dream Award from the Phoenix Human Relations Commission.

FUTURE:: Moore's Pride board term extends to the end of 2013. He said he would like to work to make the festival become more of a regional draw, on the order of events in Atlanta and New Orleans.

PHILOSPHY:: "I try to look to where I can make a meaningful difference, where I bring something value added to the table, and try to make a positive difference," Moore said.