04/17/2008
Judy Shepard: 'We Need to Change Hearts and Minds'
Yesterday I posted about Judy Shepard's appearance at Houston's High School for the Performing and Visual Arts. While in Houston, she also spoke at the Human Rights Campaign's gala dinner. Her powerful and, at times, funny speech, AFTER THE JUMP...
Sphere: Related ContentPosted 9:55 AM EST by Andy in Houston, Judy Shepard, News | Permalink
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Judy Shepard nothing short of remarkable, she is a terrific person who has been at the U.S. National Library of Medicine the past 2-days helping to open the new Global Health exhibition that has a big AIDS exhibit. You can see more info online at http://www.nlm.nih.gov/. She spent most of her time here with local high school students from across the DC region talking about AIDS and the impact of the decease on her family and life…it made a reaffirming impression on all the kids.
Posted by: Bojo | Apr 17, 2008 10:09:53 AM
God bless Judy Shepard. I'm so moved by her speech. I graduated from HSPVA and feel a certain cyclical connection because she spoke there. The power of her words makes me want to get more involved in HRC's mission. I feel like she is my other mom.
Posted by: tooboot | Apr 17, 2008 10:13:10 AM
I absolutely LOVE this woman. What a powerful and consistent hero she is for the gay community. She is the embodiment of the Matthew Sheppard legacy.
As for HRC, not so much. With all the spurious charges of "elitism" flying around these days, does ANYTHING scream ELITE like an organization that seems to revolve around "gala dinners", celebrity packed awards shows and big wig, elbow rubbing, black tie cocktail parties? I really miss the down in the trenches style of gay activism. It's not nearly as glamorous but I think it's much more effective.
Posted by: Zeke | Apr 17, 2008 10:39:48 AM
Zeke, I have felt the same way too, it seems that HRC has gotten too big for it's britches. I tend to acknowledge NGLTF more for their grassroots efforts in talking to constituencies about their biases.One example was how they tried to affect change through the African-American church communities in Houston and their beliefs about gays and marriage. Along with groups like Soulforce, they speak to the emotional motivations that influence people's predjudices and consequently shape their values.
Posted by: tooboot | Apr 17, 2008 10:49:29 AM
Zeke once again doing his "pissing dance"on HRC...the fact remains if you admire Judy so much do you think she is disingenuous by aligning herself so closely with HRC as A BOARD MEMBER no less!
And you old comments of eletism is ridiculous because HRC does not revolve around gala dinners....their fundraising does include gala dinners true but nothing compares to the embarrassment of vacuous awards and galas that GLAAD awards spoits out annually--come on thats ALL they do...and TooBoot as well does the annual drug fueled Winter Party and Ascension for the Task Force a more appropriate expression of your grass roots activisim that HRC needs to strive for?
Lets see NGLTF just had a black tie gala in NYC.
No matter what HRC does Zeke and his ilk will piss on it---you can count on it!
Posted by: MCnNYC | Apr 17, 2008 6:07:46 PM
It's funny: I heard about HRC from a kid with a clipboard near 23rd Street in Manhattan. I remember HRC's storefront in Provincetown, where men and women would hand out information and talk to anyone & everyone. I've seen their profile grow in the media, and that is a direct result of the work they've done. Let's not divide the issue, and really listen to what Judy is saying. Let's let the authenticity of the cause unite us, no matter what organization we choose to throw our support behind. We're all after the same thing!
Posted by: Jaime | Apr 18, 2008 11:13:01 AM
This speach really touched me deeply and I wanted to say thank you for sharing it with me. I am so deeply moved and my heart was touched my this.
Posted by: The Tizzle | Apr 21, 2008 2:14:10 AM