Social Justice / Public Policy Award

Established in 1985, this award recognizes an individual or organization whose work has made a significant public impact in sexuality. Honorees are recognized for achievements in areas such as public awareness, advocacy, professional practice (such as educators, therapists, or health practitioners), or contributions to legislation and public policy.

The nomination period is open from January 1 - March 15 each year.

Selection Deadline

The nomination material is reviewed by the three-person Social Justice / Public Policy Award Subcommittee. The Committee Chair and members of the Subcommittee are not eligible to win the award. The Subcommittee makes recommendations to the Board of Directors for final approval. If a member of the Board is nominated for the award in that year, that Board member will abstain from the vote.

Selection Process

Because the award is presented to an individual or an organization for outstanding achievement or major impact in areas of social justice / public policy, it is not necessarily restricted to members of SSSS. However, the nominator must be a SSSS member. 

The nominator bears responsibility for recruiting individuals who support the nomination and for collecting and submitting the complete evidence file for the nominee. 

The nominator must complete an online form and attach the following documents (pdf):

  • Nominee's current CV (in the case of an individual)

  • Two letters of support describing the nominee's contributions to social justice and/or public policy. The letters of support can be from two SSSS members or from a SSSS committee and one additional SSSS member.

Nominee Requirements

Review and Evaluation

Primary Review Criteria

  • Recent and long-term contributions to the advancement of sexual health and wellness, sexual and reproductive rights and justice, and/or public knowledge of sexuality issues.

  • The extent to which the nominee acknowledges, includes, values, and/or amplifies diverse voices and strengths in sex science.

Secondary Review Criteria

The following secondary criteria will be used if the Subcommittee cannot come to consensus based on the primary criteria:

  • The nominee's membership status and active involvement in SSSS.

  • The nominee's likely ability to effectively present their scholarly work in a clear and engaging plenary talk at the SSSS Annual Conference.

Award

In the year the award is presented, the recipient receives: 

  • Commemorative plaque (awarded to recipient organization)

  • $500 award (awarded to recipient or chosen representative of the organization)

  • Up to $1,000 reimbursement for travel to the SSSS Annual Conference to attend the conference, accept the award, deliver a plenary address, and engage with the attendees*

  • Two nights' accommodation at the conference host hotel*

  • Complimentary conference registration*

*If travel is not required to attend the conference (e.g., the winner lives in the conference city or SSSS holds a virtual conference), travel and hotel will not be provided, but complimentary conference registration will remain in place.

Conditions on Accepting the Award

The award winner must agree to the following:

  • Attend the SSSS Annual Conference to receive the award,

  • Deliver a plenary address, and

  • Engage with conference attendees.

    Note: In the case of an organizational winner, the organization must send an appropriate representative to deliver the plenary address.

Questions?

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Previous Recipients

2025 - Spring Cooper, PhD

2024 - Tushabe wa Tushabe, PhD         

2023 - Leo Wilton, PhD, MPH  

2022 - Madeline Sutton, MD, MPH     

2021 - Victoria M. Rodríguez-Roldán, JD      

2020 - SIECUS: Sex Ed for Social Change      

2019 - JoAnne G. Keatley, MSW      

2018 - Angel M. Foster, DPhil, MD, AM 

2017 - M. Joycelyn Elders, MD       

2014 - Jessica M. Xavier, MPH 

2012 - Mark Schoen, PhD 

2011 - Betty Dodson, PhD

2010 - Carol Cassell, PhD 

2009 - Mariela Castro-Espin

2005 - Sol Gordon, PhD 

2004 - Beverly Whipple, PhD

2000 - David Satcher, MD

1999 - Robert Francoeur, PhD

1991 - Michael A. Carrera, EdD 

1998 - Founders of the Mattachine Society and ONE, Inc       

1997 - Virginia Prince, PhD         

1996 - Phyllis Lyon, EdD & Del Martin        

1995 - Theodore McIlvena, MDiv, PhD      

1994 - Debra Haffner, MPH     

1993 - Edward Brecher

1992 - Faye Wattleton  

1989 - Michael Barrett, PhD  

1987 - Harriet Pilpel, LLB   

1985 - Bill Baird