Katherine A. Pease

Article Author: Makaelynn Cameron

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Throughout her life Katherine has committed her career to helping foundations, non-profits, and investors as they develop and create innovative approaches to addressing social and political inequity. She is an advocate that focuses on the intersection of impact investing and social equity, pushing for fair, and equitable treatment not only in Colorado, but globally as well.

History

Amendment 2 and Ground Zero

Amendment 2 was a ballot initiative passed in Colorado on November 3rd 1992 that prohibited the state from enacting anti-discrimination protections for gay, lesbian, bisexual, or other non-heteronormative sexual identities. In the 1992 election, Colorado voters voted 53%- 47% in favor of Amendment 2, meaning people within Colorado were no longer protected from discrimination based on sexual orientation. Immediately upon its passing, activists, advocates, and allies began pushing back against the amendment and deemed Colorado the “hate state” and lead a successful nationwide boycotting of the state and the formation of a new organization called Boycott Colorado. On May 20th, 1996, amendment 2 was deemed unconstitutional and struck down by the supreme court as it violated the equal protection clause of the U.S. Amendment 2 being revoked is considered a great victory for LGBTQ+ rights and communities.^[2][3] The push back of Amendment 2 was only possible because of activists like Katherine Pease and the creation of organizations like her own, Ground Zero.

In November, 1992, Katherine Pease began her advocacy journey as a volunteer in campaigning against the anti-gay Amendment 2. Upon Amendment 2's passing, Katherine and several other activists in the Springs started up a grassroots LGBTQ+ organization called Ground Zero, which would go on to play a massive role in the national debate surrounding gay rights. Katherine would be known as the foundation's president (though some sources and documents state Frank Whitworth in the same role) working closely with the group's spokesperson Frank Whitworth. Both showed a strong commitment and response against those attacking the LGBTQ+ population of the Springs and Colorado as a whole. ^[4]

Jim Tucker (L) president NAACP, Ruben Martinez, and Katherine Pease march toward city hall to oppose Amendment 2.^[5]

Colorado Springs Minority Coalition

In June, 1993 Katherine Pease is included in an article titled Minority coalition but from what I can find it seems to be the combined identity of multiple organizations and non-profits fighting exclusionary laws and practices in the Springs and Colorado. This article posted in the Colorado Springs Gazette Telegraph addressed a Ku Klux Klan rally that was set to happen in downtown Denver. Katherine Pease speaks out stating this rally is the least of LGBTQ+ community worries in the Springs. “We live and suffer with our discrimination problems here every day of our lives”. Starting in April, the coalition collective began holding public hearings and gathering documentation and testimonies of civil and human right violations happening in Colorado Springs. There would be around 50 reported and documented cases of discriminative practices surrounding housing, employment, and education, many of which were investigated by Guillermo Garibay. ^[6]

From 1993 to 1995, Katherine developed funding programs that support children and youth organizations across Colorado. In fall of 1993, during the Cheshire Ball (a fundraising event for youth organizations in Colorado) Katherine met Tim Gill, and they began a professional relationship based on their involvement in non-profit work. In 1994 Katherine moved to Washington, D.C., but soon returned to Colorado later that year after a call from Gill, in which he asked her to help him lead the Gill Foundation.

The Gill Foundation

The Gill Foundation was founded in 1995 with the mission to provide funding to non-profits and organizations advancing LGBTQ+ equality. In 1995, Katherine became the first executive director of the Gill Foundation. As an establishing member, she created the organization's funding guidelines and framework.

During the spring of its first operating year, the foundation assembled 14 donors and activists to determine the foundation's role in LGBT philanthropy. In May of 1996, the Gill Foundation would hold its first national donor conference and later that same year Katherine would collaborate with Mickey Maclntyre on creating and launching the OutGiving Department. The Gill Foundation continued its growth and between 1996 to 1997 Katherine helped define the Gay and Lesbian OutGiving Fund- later known as the Gay and Lesbian Fund for Colorado. During the foundations first two, almost three years of operation Katherine handled all grantmaking, but in 1997 she would hand that work over to another employee and would work at directing the foundations new pathways which include bisexual and transgender communities in program funding. In 1999 she would be recognized as the primary voice and spokesperson of the foundation as she led the national discussion on high engagement philanthropy. Thanks to Katherines efforts, the Gill foundation would become a leading voice in challenging misinformation surrounding LGBTQ+ communities, and they would push philanthropy to be more self-reflective and effective at bringing LGBTQ+ social issues into national visibility. At the end of 1999, the Gill foundation and the Gay and Lesbian Fund for Colorado had employed 24 people and had awarded more than $13 million to LGBTQ+ causes and organization around the country. Thousands benefitted from the work of the Outgiving Department and Katherine advocacy for social change, political work, inclusive community development, identity-based work and research, and resource development. During her time at the Gill Foundation Katherine would also discuss and create grant opportunities, like a $1 million initiative that would be aimed toward strengthening urban LGBTQ+ organization run by and created for people of color. In 2001, Katherine would decide to leave the Gill foundation at a time “when the organization was stronger than ever”. The Gay and Lesbian Fund for Colorado would end up having an extreme role in transforming public attitudes toward sexual identity and orientation within Colorado Springs. Over the decade of Katherines service to the Gill Foundation, she acknowledged has drastically attitudes toward sexuality have shifted toward acceptance, understanding, and support, and how infrastructure that supports LGBTQ+ people has developed and become even stronger. ^[7]

Tim Gill and Katherine Pease, May 2001

The Equal Times and Boycott Colorado

Boycott Colorado was founded by Terry Schleder in December of 1992 in response to the passing of Amendment 2. There are several letters from Terry Schleder addressed to Ground Zero, Katherine Pease, and Frank Whitworth suggesting a close relation between the organizations. Many of these letters are thank you letters that show appreciation for the support of Ground Zero and its front runners have given Boycott Colorado. Other letters give updates on the push against Amendment 2 and ask for continued support in addressing problematic organizations and circumstances like hate crimes against LGBTQ+ community members, Colorado for Family Values, the censorship of gay and lesbian voices, talk radio stations, and civil rights movements. Another letter also addresses the creation of the PFLAG (Parents and Friends or Lesbians and Gays) organization, a support group for straight ex-spouses, friends, and family of LGBTQ+ community members in Colorado. Documented Boycott Colorado releases run from December 1992 to November 1993. ^{[8][9][10][11][12][13][14]}

Katherine Pease also a history of contributing to The Equal Times newspaper, one such contribution took place while she was still the Executive Director of the Gill foundation, the article is titled “Same-Gender Marriage” where she supports gay marriage and brings up the inequalities perpetuated by certain groups being unable to marry.^[15]

The Livesay Award

In 2017 Katherine Pease received the Livesay Award, named after Jeff Livesay. This award is given to those who work in non-profits within the Springs and those who reflect the goals of PIFP, contributing to systemic change, supporting equity, and breaking barriers. At the time of receiving this award Katherine worked in foundations and non-profits for over 20 years.

Katherine currently serves on the Board of Directors of Global Greengrants Fund. She is also a member of the Global Advisory Council of Cornerstone Capital Group, the Steering Committee of Impact Finance Center, and the Advisory Board for the School of Public Affairs at the University of Colorado. ^[16]

Community Impacts

Photos

References

Questions

• What are all non-profits Katherine has served in? Found many but need to expand this information.
• Did she create any grassroot foundations beside Ground Zero?

Key Dates

Anything to add?