Tutu feted by IGLHRCBy Michael Leonard
Archbishop Desmond Tutu offered his sincerest thanks and gratitude on Tuesday night to the audience in Grace Cathedral as he closed a moving acceptance speech, upon receiving the OUTSPOKEN Award from the International Gay and Lesbian Human Rights Commission (ILGHRC).
All pics by Michael Leonard
Nobel Peace Prize Laureate Tutu, 76, was grateful not only for the award, he said, but also the continuous support and allegiance that lesbian, gay, bisexual, transsexual, and intersex persons offer to oppressed communities around the globe. “Thank you for making the world a better place,” he said.
The theme of the evening was "A Celebration of Courage." Tutu is most definitely a living example of fearlessness, given his noted stand against apartheid in his native South Africa, as well as his outspoken support of female, as well as gay and lesbian, ordination in the Episcopal Church, a topic that has threatened a schism in that denomination. His fight against homophobia and sexual exclusivity in religion earned him the honors on this particular occasion.
“How sad, how tragic, that the Church be so concerned with this issue when God’s children all the world over are suffering,” Tutu said. “I ask for your forgiveness for the way the Church has ostracized you.”
Tutu summed up his activist persona in a statement consistent with the humorous and humble manner with which he charmed and captivated the large crowd throughout his 20-minute speech.
“I wish many times that I would or could’ve shut up. But, I could just as well try not to breath… I cannot be but as God made me.”
Courage was the theme, but not the only term used to describe the Archbishop. Rev. Alan Jones, Dean of Grace Cathedral, reflected upon his 30-plus year relationship with Tutu during an opening speech, and deciphered the word ‘kindness’ to explain how his friend is “a person who treats everyone as a sister or a brother.”
While Tutu was certainly the main attraction, the event also served to celebrate the accomplishments of ILGHRC, both in the US and internationally.
Founded in San Francisco in 1990, the commission now has staff members on three continents, and is “an ally with advocates and defender of human rights across the world,” according to Paula Ettelbrick, IGLHRC Executive Director.
Ettelbrick explained that the Commission uses the UN Declaration of Human Rights as “our guide” and that human rights advocacy “are for everyone, everywhere.”
IBM Corporation also received a SPECIAL RECOGNITION Award for workplace policies supporting LGBTI employees and issues.
Though not mentioned during the ceremony, the late Congressman Tom Lantos (D-CA) also received the OUTSPOKEN award posthumously.
The ceremony was beautifully introduced and closed by Transcendence, the first all transgender choir in the nation. A rousing rendition of ‘I Need You to Survive’ had the audience singing arm in arm.
Another ILHRC event will take place in New York City on April 28, 2008.
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Comments (1)
Great article I felt like I was there! Thanks for covering this incredibly important event!
Posted by Emily Howard | April 9, 2008 01:06 PM