Prémio
Annemarie
Madison
A Werk Room criou este prémio para homenagear o legado de Annemarie Madison e os valores de solidariedade, coragem e compromisso com a comunidade LGBTQIA+, que marcaram a sua vida.
Este prémio distingue pessoas da comunidade LGBTQIA+ do Algarve que, através da sua dedicação, liderança, ativismo, criatividade ou serviço à comunidade, tenham contribuído de forma significativa para promover a inclusão, fortalecer a comunidade e melhorar a vida de outras pessoas.
Who was Annemarie Madison
To call Annemarie Madison an activist would not do her justice. She was so much more: a woman of action, compassion, and unwavering conviction who sought public attention only when absolutely necessary for the causes she believed in.
“Anyone foolish enough to wish to be remembered deserves to be forgotten immediately.”
— Gore Vidal, chosen by Annemarie Madison for her own obituary
Perhaps that is why Annemarie’s legacy endures. She never sought recognition for herself. Instead, she devoted her life to standing beside those who were overlooked, excluded, or in need of support.
During the height of the AIDS crisis in San Francisco, when there was no cure, transmission routes were still unclear, and fear and stigma led many patients to be ostracised by society and abandoned by their own families, Annemarie volunteered on the front lines in hospice care. She stood beside those whom others turned away from. She later shared these experiences by helping establish exchanges with German hospitals, encouraging them to adopt the compassionate and pioneering approach of the AIDS Care Unit at San Francisco General Hospital.
Long before acceptance of LGBTQ+ people became part of mainstream discourse, Annemarie was an ambassador for understanding and equality. She advocated not through slogans, but through personal example, courage, and quiet determination.
Her commitment to justice extended beyond the LGBTQ+ community. In later years, she championed women’s rights through practical action, supporting former sex workers in India and Nepal by providing sewing machines that operated without electricity, enabling them to build an independent livelihood even in remote areas. This was just one example of her belief that true solidarity means creating opportunities and restoring dignity.
Annemarie Madison touched countless lives through her selfless actions. Her legacy reminds us that meaningful change is built through empathy, courage, and the willingness to act.
To honour her extraordinary life and preserve the values she embodied, Werk Room is proud to establish the Annemarie Madison Award.
The Annemarie Madison Award recognises and celebrates individuals from the Algarvian LGBTQ+ community who have demonstrated exceptional commitment, service, leadership, advocacy, creativity, or other outstanding contributions that have positively impacted the lives of others and strengthened the community.
In keeping with Annemarie’s belief in empowering others through opportunity, the Award includes €1,000 to support the recipient’s educational journey and personal development.
The Award
* Award amount: €1,000
* Frequency: Awarded annually, subject to available funding
* Presented by: Werk Room
Eligibility
Nominees must:
* Identify as a member of the LGBTQ+ community;
* Have a meaningful connection to the Algarve;
* Demonstrate outstanding achievements, voluntary service, leadership, advocacy, artistic contribution, or other significant engagement benefiting the LGBTQ+ community;
* Be enrolled in, accepted to, or planning to undertake a course of study, vocational training, professional qualification, or another recognised educational activity.
Nomination and Selection
The Annemarie Madison Award is intended as a recognition by the community rather than a prize that individuals seek for themselves. Self-nominations are therefore not accepted.
Members of the community, organisations, friends, colleagues, educators, or mentors may nominate individuals whose contributions have had a meaningful impact on the LGBTQ+ community in the Algarve.
Shortlisted nominees will be invited to share how the €1,000 educational award would support their studies, training, or personal development.
Recipients will be selected based on the significance and impact of their contributions, their dedication and leadership, the extent to which they embody the compassion, courage, and spirit of action that defined Annemarie Madison’s life, and the potential of the Award to support their future growth.
Use of the Award
The €1,000 award may be used for educational purposes, including:
* Tuition or course fees;
* Books and study materials;
* Equipment required for study;
* Travel or accommodation related to educational activities;
* Other reasonable expenses that support learning and development.
Continuing a Legacy
The Annemarie Madison Award is more than a financial contribution. It is a recognition of those who quietly make a difference: those who stand beside others, create opportunities, challenge exclusion, and strengthen their communities through action rather than words.
Through this Award, Werk Room seeks to ensure that Annemarie Madison’s extraordinary legacy lives on—encouraging future generations to lead with courage, compassion, humility, and an unwavering commitment to human dignity.
May the Annemarie Madison Award keep alive the values by which she lived: compassion and tact, integrity and determination, and a selfless commitment to those who need support most.