On Saturday, June 1, I was given an award by the American Humanist Association at their annual conference: the LGBT Humanist Pride Award for 2013. It was kind of a big deal, more so than I think I realized until it was actually happening. I thought some of you might like to see my acceptance speech. I went off-script from this somewhat, as I typically do when I give talks, so these aren’t the exact words I spoke from the podium — but they’re pretty close. (There is video from the awards banquet, by the way, with me and Tommy Raskin, the Humanist Magazine’s 2012 Essay Contest Winner. From this page, click through to the AHA13 Saturday Night Awards.)
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Thank you so much: to Jennifer, to all the organizers and volunteers who are making this conference happen, and to the American Humanist Association. I’m very much honored by this award, and I’m very grateful for it.
I’ll also admit, when I was first notified that I was being given this award, I was a little puzzled. Completely honored, and completely grateful — but just a little bit puzzled. I wasn’t quite sure what exactly it meant to be the LGBT Humanist of the Year. It seemed at first like I was being honored for being bisexual. And it’s not like being bisexual is an accomplishment, like something I finally achieved after years of hard work and sacrifice — it’s just who I am.
But I don’t actually think I’m being honored today for being bisexual. I don’t think I’m being honored for who I am. I think I’m being honored for what I’ve done with who I am. There are probably lots of things that it means to the American Humanist Association to name someone LGBT Humanist of the Year — but I can tell you what it means to me. Continue reading “My 2013 LGBT Humanist of the Year Acceptance Speech” →