Teresa and I were totally caught off guard when Harriet Hancock called to tell us we had been nominated and chosen for The Legacy Award from the Harriet Hancock Center in 2025. Surprised, delighted, blown away by the recognition of the contributions two lesbians from the small towns of Richards, Texas, and New Prospect, South Carolina, who grew up in a time before Stonewall, could be celebrated today by one of the defining organizations of the LGBTQ+ movement in Columbia.
No person has meant more to our community than Harriet Hancock, a friend Teresa and I have admired for more than three decades. The Center which bears her name continues to serve as a safety net for young and old alike in the march toward equal justice for all South Carolinians.
The Legacy Award is an affirmation of our efforts to live authentic lives together in a time and place before Will and Grace.
I met Teresa when I wandered into Bluestocking Books in the early 1990s. We were both in other relationships at the time, but we shared values that gave us common goals for our community and ultimately provided the foundation for a personal bond that led to sharing our lives to create a family we both cherish.
We have no words to express our gratitude to the Harriet Hancock Center and our nominators for The Legacy Award in 2025. You are the future we worked for, and we promise to continue the struggle against the enemies of silence and apathy that have always tried to divide us.
Please join us as we celebrate six other award recipients for 2025: PJ Whitehurst, Community Advocate of the Year; Elliott Naddell, Youth Advocate of the Year; Senator Tameika Isaac Devine, Political Advocate of the Year; Rainy Day Fund, Community Partner of the Year; CAN Community Health, Health and Wellness Organization of the Year; The Nickelodeon, Arts and Culture Organization of the Year.
Onward. Together.
I'll Call It Like I See It 
Comments
32 responses to “From Small Towns to Legacy Award: A Love Story of Advocacy”
Bloody awesome – Congratulations to you both!
LikeLiked by 2 people
Thanks so very much, June! We’ve been excited!!
Seems surreal after all these years…
LikeLiked by 1 person
It must do and isn’t that part of the beauty of it in a way 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
Very true.
LikeLike
Congratulations!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks!
LikeLiked by 1 person
I’m back on WordPress. I’m not sure what happened.
LikeLiked by 1 person
A lot of the time I can’t understand WordPress, either!
LikeLiked by 1 person
This is indeed impressive. I am so proud of both of you as you see the fruition of your efforts. I hope the Gala is fabulous. Please send pictures afterwards.
Love, NIta
LikeLiked by 1 person
Hi, Cousin Nita. I’m so happy you saw the post – thank you so much for your ongoing support from our family. You and Heather are both reminders of the love I felt from your Daddy and granddaddy in the early Richards days. I think C. H. and Uncle Clemmie are smiling somewhere at the love we share.
Teresa and I appreciate your connection through the years… Love from us both
LikeLike
I’m so proud of you both and I believe you too deserve this and continued happiness!!!! I’ve always respected you two and I love you both!!!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you so very much, Stephanie! We are so grateful for you and what you mean not only to Ella and Molly but also to us! We love you and respect you and your contributions to making a difference in the lives of so many children and their families. You also deserve an award!
LikeLike
What a delightful honor. Of course, I’m only aware of a small fraction of the things you and Pretty have done and are doing for our community, but I’m quite sure that you deserve the recognition. Be proud and smile a lot. But don’t smile too much. People will think you’re up to something shifty… 😊
LikeLiked by 1 person
Hahaha, good one, Brian, and thank you for your kind words! We will keep that in mind and curtail gratuitous smiling!! Back in the early days of our activism we were much “shiftier” than we are today! But still passionate about our values…
LikeLiked by 1 person
I agree in that we have an administration in DC that in committed to cruelty, incompetence, and chaos.
I also see that we do not have a credible and effective opposition that is willing to look closely at the reasons why they lost ground with so many traditional Democratic voters in 2024.
We need some course correction if we are to have any chance of reversing this trend and winning back at least the House in 2026.
But meanwhile – I am SO happy that you and your work have been recognized and will be celebrated!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Yes, I also agree with your comments on where we are in the opposition to the nightmare our country is watching unfold – where is the Dr. King courage and charisma to turn the tide. I wait with more than fingers crossed.
LikeLiked by 1 person
We are going to need a leader with vision and integrity who is willing to risk everything – political career included. The mealy mouthed need not apply as they can only equivocate. Perhaps that is too much to ask of anyone. But it is what may save us.
LikeLiked by 1 person
100% correct.
LikeLike
Congratulations to my favorite friends in South Carolina! Sheila, you and Pretty deserve this so much. I’ll be with you in spirit.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks so very much, Ann! We know you will be with us regardless of the miles…always.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Congratulations!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks so much!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Whoopdidoop! You have been noticed. Well and truly. Well done you two and well done for everyone around you making this happen. xAx
LikeLiked by 1 person
Hi, my good friend across the Pond! Thank you so very much for celebrating with us – wish you could be with us in person, but we know you will be here in spirit!! We really have been thankful for the kind words of congratulation!! It’s a lesson in humility.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Would very much love to be with you for the celebration. Just know we’ll be smiling along with you xAx
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you, Annie…
LikeLike
A true legacy indeed!!! Congratulations!!!!! Overjoyed for you both!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Hi, Cuz! Thanks so very much for sharing our joy! So good to know I have family in Texas that’s always supportive with love!
LikeLike
Congratulations to both of you! This is a real honor and a recognition of your work, courage and advocacy.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks so very much, Josie, for your words of support and encouragement. The struggle continues with those who would like to wind back the clock on human rights – hopefully people of good will – will stay the course.
LikeLiked by 1 person
It’s always good to be vigilant even while LGB rights are fairly well established and accepted across the political spectrum. (There are always the fringe elements but they don’y have the law and popular opinion on their side. good not to become complacent.) What I see as the biggest threat right now is to kids and young people who don’t conform to sexist stereotypes being led down a path of medicalization before they’ve had a chance to grow up.
LikeLiked by 1 person
I see threats to all ages right now. Battles for the most obvious humanity seem to be under assault at every turn.
LikeLiked by 1 person