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Text of the award speech given by Beth Zemsky and Friendly Vang,
May 23rd, 2006 at the
Headwaters Foundation's Allies for Justice Dinner
Many of you likely know one of this year's honorees through its "Just
Fair" campaign for GLBT equality; maybe you were among those 5,000-plus
who gathered at the State Capital on this year's Lobby Day to support
that campaign's mission. But OutFront Minnesota's work can't be summed
up as simply representing what is "Just Fair." It isn't limited to what
we all know to be "Just Right." And it certainly doesn't speak to "Just
One" community. We pay tribute to and celebrate this group tonight
because of OutFront Minnesota's broad imagining of "Justice"—a lively
and vibrant recognition of the interconnectedness of our society that
nonetheless speaks to and respects each of us alone. OutFront
Minnesota is our state's largest GLBT organization—and should be
celebrated for that fact alone. But it's also our state's greatest
resource as a place for GLBT Minnesotans AND their allies to find
community, home—a vast membership that brings together the geographic
width and the demographic depth of our state. Just go to their
website. Alongside places to eat out and meet up for popcorn and movie
night are friendly houses of worship, ways to take action collectively
and take care of oneself—paths for individuals to build power and
strength through a massive network. Consider the story of one teen
deathly afraid of being found out by his conservative family. After
discovering OutFront online, he slipped into Pride and, that day, signed
a postcard to his state legislator, risking that he might receive return
mail at his parents' home. Said the OutFront volunteer who met the
youth: "It was a courageous act on his part, and it reminded me how
important it is for each one of us to do what we can to advance the
cause, and how thankful we need to be for those who take risks everyday
in doing so." For 20 years, OutFront has taken those risks—and with
courage and commitment has met with remarkable success. In 1993, for
instance, OutFront was able to guarantee the human rights of GLBT
Minnesotans by adding language to the state's Human Rights Act barring
discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity. And for
three years running, OutFront has led efforts against a state
constitutional amendment that would ban legal recognition of same-sex
couples. So thank you OutFront Minnesota. And congratulations. Twenty
years after commanding one stage you've gained another tonight. OutFront
Minnesota, you are one of Headwaters Foundation 2006 Allies for Justice
because you understand, reveal and make sense of the intersection of
collective activity and single identity. And like that once-scared but
now-emboldened teen, everyone in this room and beyond is so much the
better for your work. Please join us in recognizing OutFront
Minnesota. Beth Zemsky and Friendly Vang |
