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The Gay and Lesbian Association in Zimbabwe, GALZ, has been awarded the Felipa de Souza Award. In it's 10th year, the award recognizes "the courage and impact of grassroots groups and leaders dedicated to improving the human rights of lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and other individuals stigmatized and abused because of their sexuality." A $5,000 US stipend accompanies the award.

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GALZ has been a creative and fearless human rights leader not just in Zimbabwe but throughout Africa and for all of us who share the struggle for social justice and human rights for lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender people, said Paula Ettelbrick, the executive director of IGLHRC. "At a time in which democracy and governmental respect for human rights are closing down even more forcefully in Zimbabwe, GALZ continues to provide life-saving services and programmes," she added.

Formed in 1990, GALZ was the first organisation in the country to provide services to and push for the human rights of the gay and lesbian community in Zimbabwe. GALZ was also one of the first organisations in Zimbabwe to provide counselling services and HIV/AIDS prevention campaigns at a time when the Zimbabwean government was in denial of the disease's existence.

Despite arrests and intimidation, GALZ made a submission to the government-led Constitutional Commission in 1999 for the inclusion of a sexual orientation clause in a new national constitution. Ultimately the words "sexual orientation" were not included, but through GALZ's efforts, the phrase "natural difference or condition" was included and widely interpreted to include sexual minorities.

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