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The Ollies Nomination Rules

Please review these rules carefully before submitting your nomination

 

1. Eligibility and Nomination Requirements

  • Who Can Be Nominated? Nominees must be individuals who identify as a member or ally of the LGBTQIA community and serve in one of the Seven Cities.
  • Who Can Nominate? Any individual may submit a nomination, provided they meet the below criteria.
  • Self-Nomination is Prohibited: You may not nominate yourself for any award category.
  • One Nomination Per Person Per Category: Each individual may only nominate one person per category. Please choose to nominate a person in a category that best reflects their leadership.
  • Demonstrated Leadership: Nominees must have a proven track record of exemplary leadership, positive impact, and significant contributions to the LGBTQIA community in the Hampton Roads region.

2. Award Categories and Criteria

Please select the single category that best aligns with the nominee's primary area of influence and impact:

Category

Primary Focus of Leadership

Emerging Leader

An individual who is relatively new to leadership (typically 5 years or less) but shows exceptional promise, passion, and immediate impact.

Tenured Leader

An individual with a long-standing history (typically more than 5 years) of sustained impact, significant achievement, and mentorship within their field or the community.

Non-Profit Leader

An executive director, board member, or staff member whose primary work is through a registered 501(c)(3) organization, driving its mission and serving the community.

Faith Leader

A spiritual leader, pastor, religious figure, or active layperson who fosters inclusivity, advocacy, and support for the LGBTQIA+ community within a faith-based setting.

Community Support Leader

An individual whose work, often as a volunteer or through their non-profit/for-profit business, provides essential services, resources, or advocacy that directly supports and uplifts the LGBTQIA+ community.

3. Submission Guidelines

  • All nominations must be submitted through the official nomination form.
  • Incomplete forms, forms with missing required information, or duplicate nominations will be disqualified.
  • The selection committee reserves the right to re-categorize a nominee if they deem another category more appropriate.
  • Deadline: All nominations must be received by January 30, 2026. Submissions received after the deadline will not be considered.

4. Selection Committee


The Selection Committee is made up of volunteers from regional LGBTQIA, Service, and Support organizations. Each organization may choose one member of their leadership team to serve on the Selection Committee. Past awardees may also serve on the Selection Committee. The Selection Committee may also choose members of the community to serve on the committee. Each member of the Selection Committee may only vote for one nominee per category.


5. Disqualification


Outlife 757 reserves the right to disqualify any nomination that violates these rules, contains false information, or is deemed to be contrary to the mission and values of the organization.