Pictured Politicians and activists at the OPALGA awards. Photo by Suzanne Kraus
The following is the acceptance speech given by honoree Curt Hicks at the June 11 Oak Park Area Lesbian and Gay Association Awards.
Thank you very much. It is a heartwarming and humbling honor to have my work recognized by friends and colleagues in OPALGA who I hold in such high esteem.
Members of our Rainbow tribe have to be pathfinders. Rarely are we parented by people who know the paths we must follow. We hear a call on the wind, unheard by others, and we are compelled, perhaps in adolescence, perhaps much later, to break away from our tribe of blood and find our way through wilderness to our tribe of spirit. On this perilous path, many are lost to suicide, addiction, disease and homicide. Too many stumble into our camp so damaged that they will carry their trauma with them for life.
In memory of our own quests, in memory of those who died alone on their quests, we survivors share a solemn duty. We must mark paths, create maps, construct shelters, and set signal fires so that our young—and not-so-young—may find us sooner, stronger and in their full numbers.
This charge is not an easy one. To undertake it, we must leave the comforts of camp to reenter hostile territories. We must retrace our steps to our tribes of blood—who may not always welcome us—and try to share what we have learned of ourselves and our tribe of spirit. We take this risk to find allies within our tribes of origin who will provide their rainbow young with the maps and lore they need to guide them safely to us.
We envision a day when our tribes of blood will embrace our tribe of spirit, nourishing and celebrating us simultaneously as our true selves and as their own. Many tribes are still so far from this that the quest for a vision of them embracing us would require a lot of cactus buttons.
But within one very special village, we see omens for the birth of our vision into the world. We experience electrifying, disorienting moments when we are at once waking and dreaming—our feet in the dust, our spirits amongst the clouds.
Oak Park invites us to be not just in their world, but of it. This village shows the world a new way.
But this portal between life and vision is no accident. It is the achievement of many medicine women and shamans of OPALGA working their magic over many years. Many are gathered with us here tonight. If my work has helped anyone, it is because they have helped, inspired and guided me.
I need to thank our pioneers, Nathan Linsk and Mel Wilson, Rebekkah Levin, Ethel Cotovsky, Jim Kelly, Jim Aull and others who had already had a welcoming campfire blazing when I arrived here. I need to thank Nancy Johnson, Vivian O'Dell, Rob Ward, Susan Abbott and countless volunteers who have preserved and strengthened our youth programs. Mitzvahs to my brilliant and tireless collaborator at work, Alan Amberg. Kisses to my loving partner Michael who forgives my late-night office hours and kisses my bruises after brutal skirmishes. And I am truly grateful to Alan Amato, Ray Johnston and Joanne Trapani and many other who have fought long and hard and smart to secure our rights to live in safety, openess and equality here.
We have much work yet to do. As numerous and fabulous as we look assembled here, I warn you, that our tribe and those who love us are still sizably outnumbered by those who do not understand us, fear us, even hate us. As far as we have come, we are still second-class citizens in our own country. Indeed, our president has publically declared himself an enemy of our equality under the law. And many powerful, cunning, hardworking bigots support him in his goal.
To rest now is to risk losing much that we have gained. No excuses, folks. Anyone of any disposition and skill set can contribute something. You don't have to be fierce or rich or degreed. Coming out to one person can win an ally. Registering and voting can turn an election. Volunteering as a youth advisor, maintaining a membership database, or hosting a potluck in your teepee can help keep our village healthy and whole. Take part, folks. As Ghandi urged us, 'Be the change that you want to see in the world.'
Thank you.
