Celebrating LGBTQ+ Advocacy: A Legacy Gala Reflection

Being celebrated for our work in the LGBTQ+ community in the midlands of South Carolina was a remarkable experience last week for Pretty and me. We wanted to share a few highlights with our friends in cyberspace, too.

Are you a friend of Dorothy?

a code phrase back in the day which was translated to mean

“are you gay?”

Teresa (a/k/a Pretty) and me outside the Columbia Museum of Art in Columbia, South Carolina

the First Lady of the event and a dear friend of ours for three decades

Harriet Hancock, for whom our community center was named

Pretty and another warrior friend, Nekki Shutt

daughter-in-law Caroline with Dick Hubbard looking dapper

Dick is an institution himself – has been in the trenches with us

from the beginning 35 years ago

The Legacy Award

Pretty and I accepting award presented by last year’s winners

Bert Easter and Ed Madden – and Emcee Patti O’Furniture

(their words were awesome, moving, inspiring)

Drew and Caroline made us proud for their love and support

a bit of foolishness after the ceremony – I look like James Cagney

A perfect evening of celebration for Pretty and me as we learned about the current projects spearheaded by the Harriet Hancock Center and met young leaders with their own moving stories like Elliot Naddell who was named the Youth Advocate of the Year, PJ Whitehurst, the Community Advocate of the Year, and Senator Tameika Isaac Devine, the Political Advocate of the Year whose support as an ally of the LGBTQ+ community is historic.

Organizations like Can Community Health recognized as the Health & Wellness Organization of the Year, the Nickelodeon named the Arts & Culture Organization of the Year, and the Rainy Day Fund which was selected as the Community Partner of the Year.

Teresa and I were honored to be included with these current champions of causes so dear to us. You all share our legacy of “speaking the truth boldly, loving fiercely, and ensuring that future generations inherit a state where equality is not questioned but celebrated.”

Thank you, thank you, thank you to those who nominated us, to Harriet Hancock and the Center for selecting us, and to all our friends and family who showed up to celebrate on a magical night that stirred memories, inspired hope, and cast out fear.

No longer a secret, never again silent. These words by the Hancock Center Executive Director Cristina Picozzi and Board President Matt Butler must be etched in our collective consciousness from this day forward. They are not just a theme for a gala but a mantra for everyday living. The struggle is real.

Onward.

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Guess what? We discovered over the weekend that we have lost our actual Award! There was a misunderstanding about who took the blue box containing the award home post Gala. Turns out none of us picked it up because we thought someone else had it. We have contacted the Columbia Museum of Art and the Harriet Hancock Center but, alas, no luck. If anyone has any information concerning its whereabouts, PLEASE contact us. We would love to solve the mystery!

P.S. I would also love to credit all photos but I lifted the images from multiple places. Thank you to all who took pictures including Erin, who gets extra credit because she drove from Charleston to celebrate with us.