Evening Wrap-Up

Over the years, the GLBT community has suffered some pretty exhausting hits. Just this past election, the passage of Proposition 8 shook us to our core. It humbled our hearts as well as our faith in democracy. But it’s amazing what a good wake-up call can do. Case in point: the 2009 Human Rights Campaign Hero Awards.

Host Wanda Sykes kicked off the night with her always-keen wit. From there, the line-up of appearances seemed to build on top of each other as the night went on. It served as a testament to the range of activists in the community, from the new (Sykes, who came out in November), to the seasoned (John Duran, who’s been an activist since the ‘80s). Advocates from all walks of life showed up to support equal rights. Senator Dianne Feinstein spoke of how she did not always back the gay rights movement, but rather arrived at that conclusion over time. NAACP Chairman Julian Bond gave possibly the most enlightening speech of the night. To see a long-time civil rights leader express his empathy and correlation to the GLBT community is heart-rending beyond words. It is proof that people don’t have to be directly involved to understand. They need only be willing to listen.

Last night’s gala ushered in a new accolade: the E-Hero Award. This category paid homage to five of the most inspirational internet videos that promoted GLBT equality this year. [The nominated videos can all be viewed here: http://www.hrcladinner.com/ehero/index.php]. It just goes to show how much of a tool the internet has become. The web is now a utility to educate the world about us. It is the ultimate soapbox, and the addition of sites like YouTube has encouraged activists and rookie filmmakers alike to speak up and reach out.

What we must take away from last night lies in the title itself: heroes. But if we are the only gay rights movement in modern history, who do we look up to? Role models give us strength, but we must ultimately inspire ourselves. We are the ones who are breaking down boundaries daily, and we can’t stop. No matter how many ballot initiatives tell you you’re less than perfect, know that equality is closer than you think. Hearts must be changed and eyes must be opened; this is the work that lies before us. The way to get it done? Get out there, be yourself, and don’t let anyone tell you it’s not called for.

-Alex Pakzad