The Tom Waddell Award

What it stands for

It is symbolic, a vessel for our spirit, our inspiration, and all of the tears of joy shed by the thousands of participants whose lives have been touched by the power of Gay Games. 

FGG Announces Six Nominees for the Tom Waddell Award 2026

The Federation of Gay Games is proud to announce the six nominees selected for consideration for the Tom Waddell Award 2026, the highest recognition bestowed by the Federation of Gay Games.

Doug Litwin, Archivist and Honorary Life Member for the Federation of Gay Games, said “The Tom Waddell Award is the highest honor the FGG can bestow on any individual. It has been awarded just 9 times in history. The dedicated all-volunteer selection committee works hard to execute a process which will solicit nominees and choose the recipients who exemplify the principles of the Gay Games and the spirit of founder Dr. Tom Waddell. It is truly exciting to be a part of this important process.”

The Tom Waddell Award recipients are selected through a detailed nomination and review process led by the Tom Waddell Award Sub-Committee. The Sub-Committee is an international group of individuals representing FGG member organizations, the FGG Board, Honorary Life Members, previous award recipients, and members of the Waddell family. The committee carefully reviews nominations and supporting materials before selecting the final recipients whose lives and work best embody the principles of the Gay Games and the spirit of Dr. Tom Waddell.

The recipients of the award will be announced during the Opening Ceremony of Gay Games XII València 2026.

Joanie Evans

Federation of Gay Games Co-President and Honorary Life Member

Joanie Evans, elected as an FGG Honorary Life Member at the 2025 Annual General Assembly in Valencia, has spent decades advancing LGBTQ+ inclusion through sport and culture. Since becoming Co-President of the FGG in 2014, she has provided strategic leadership for the world’s largest LGBTQ+ multi-sport and cultural event while championing participation, inclusion, and visibility.

A founder, player, and coach of Hackney Women’s Football Club — Europe’s first openly lesbian women’s football team — Joanie helped pioneer visibility for lesbian and bisexual women in football. She has also become a leading advocate for intersectional representation and LGBTQ+ sporting heritage in the United Kingdom.

Laura Moore

Federation of Gay Games Honorary Life Member

Laura Moore has dedicated more than 33 years of service to the Federation of Gay Games and the broader LGBTQ+ sports and cultural community. As founder and President of the International Gay Figure Skating Union (IGFSU), she has played a transformative role in ensuring the long-term success and recognition of figure skating within the Gay Games movement.

Laura’s decades of work on the Scholarship and DEI Committees have helped hundreds of individuals participate in the Gay Games experience. Most recently, she played an important role in supporting the production of the film Icebreakers.

Annette Wachter

Federation of Gay Games Honorary Life Member

Annette Wachter has served the LGBTQ+ sports community for more than 23 years through leadership roles across Europe and within the Federation of Gay Games. She served as a leader of Janus Sport in Cologne, Co-President of Gay Games VIII Cologne 2010, Co-President of EGLSF, and as an FGG Site Inspector during multiple Gay Games cycles.

Her work has played a major role in strengthening international collaboration between LGBTQ+ sports organizations and ensuring the successful development of Gay Games host cities.

Shamey Cramer

Federation of Gay Games Honorary Life Member

Shamey Cramer has dedicated 44 years of service to the LGBTQ+ community and the Gay Games movement. As co-founder of Team Los Angeles alongside Olympian Susan McGreivy, he helped lead one of the largest delegations to Gay Games I in 1982 and worked closely with founder Dr. Tom Waddell.

Over the decades, Shamey has served the Federation of Gay Games in numerous leadership and volunteer capacities, including development, ceremonies, archives, scholarship fundraising, HIV/AIDS advocacy, and political outreach. In 2025, he initiated the “Road to Valencia 2026” video project, documenting the stories of long-time volunteers and preserving Gay Games history.

Kurt Dahl

Federation of Gay Games Honorary Life Member

Kurt Dahl has contributed more than 23 years of leadership and service to the LGBTQ+ sports community and the Federation of Gay Games. He became deeply involved with the Gay Games during the successful bid and organization of Gay Games VII in Chicago, where he served as Treasurer for a host organization that closed the Games with a financial surplus.

Kurt later served as FGG Co-President for seven years during a particularly challenging period for the organization. He continues to support the Federation through strategic planning and governance work, including his role in developing the FGG Board restructuring plan adopted in 2025.

David Killian

Federation of Gay Games Honorary Life Member

For the past 16 years, David Killian has been a constant presence supporting Gay Games bidding cities and host organizations. He has worked closely with candidate cities to guide them through the bid process and help ensure the long-term success of each host partnership.

David’s passion for the power of sport and culture to empower LGBTQ+ communities has also extended to his work with Team Philadelphia, the Gay and Lesbian Tennis Alliance, and Connect Sports Marketplace, where he has helped increase awareness of LGBTQ+ sporting events among cities and tourism organizations.

What is the Tom Waddell Award?

Named in honor of Gay Games founder Dr. Tom Waddell, the Tom Waddell Award recognizes individuals who have made extraordinary contributions to the Gay Games movement and the global LGBTQ+ sports and cultural community.

Presented since 1990, the award is symbolic of the spirit, inspiration, and humanity that define the Gay Games. It celebrates those who have dedicated themselves to the values of participation, inclusion, personal best, and equality through sport and culture.

The award is presented at each Gay Games to two individuals of differing genders whose work and leadership embody the mission and vision of the Federation of Gay Games.

Selection Criteria

Nominees for the Tom Waddell Award must:

  • Inspire pride through leadership and excellence in sports, culture, or volunteerism

  • Devote their energies to the success of the Gay Games and related activities without regard for personal gain

  • Participate at their personal best

  • Personify standards of commitment, selflessness, and love of humanity

Nominees must also have demonstrated a direct connection to the Gay Games movement through involvement with the Federation of Gay Games, a Gay Games host organization, or a sports or cultural organization supporting LGBTQ+ participation and inclusion.

Past Recipients

  • 2023 • Roger Brigham & Emy Ritt

    Also nominated: Kurt Dahl, Shamey Cramer, Laura Moore, Annette Wachter

  • 2018 • Gert McMullin & Paul Oostenbrug

    Also nominated: Roger Brigham, Teresa Galetti, Peter Moews, Kate Rowe

  • 2014 • Gene Dermody & Elvina Yuvakaeva

    Also nominated: Lou Englefield, Gert McMull, Barry Webb, Konstantin Yablotskiy

  • 2010 • Brent Nicolson Earle & Sara Waddell Lewinstein

    Also nominated: Gene Dermody, Connie Kempe-Schaelicke, Brent Minor, Jessica Seaton, Dick Uyvari

  • 2006 • Lydia La Rivière-Zijdel & Derek Liecty

    Also nominated: Gary Bath, Jerry Lovell, Gert McMullin, Rose Mary Mitchell, Peter Moews, Jessica Seaton

  • 2002 • Stuart Borrie & Susan Kennedy

    Also nominated: Gene Dermody, Derek Liecty, Gert McMullin, Jean-Nickolaus Tretter

  • 1998 • Ruth Gursky

    Also nominated: Rick Peterson, Dave Studach

  • 1994 • Rikki Streicher

    Also nominated: Deirdre Paul, Robert Weaver

  • 1990: Paul Mart

    Also nominated: Bart Hopple, Paul Mart, Brent Nicholson Earle, Rikki Streicher