Apathy and indifference – “It doesn’t matter”

By Antoine Craigwell

“Do you, ?  take ? to be your lawful wedded spouse?”  “I do” times two, is the standard question and answer at wedding ceremonies where two people verbally commit to each other. It is a refrain likely to be repeated by thousands of same-sex couples across the state anytime after Jul 24 when the new same-sex marriage law takes effect following its passage and signature into law by New York Governor Andrew Cuomo. New York became the sixth state, along with Massachusetts, Connecticut, Vermont, New Hampshire, and Iowa, and the District of Columbia.  In a New York One television interview following the Heritage of Pride parade on Sunday, the governor, said, “I think you would see this message resonate across the country now.”

As a trend setter for the nation, it is expected that other states, dithering about minor issues, mostly religious in nature, would capitulate, thereby legalizing same-sex marriage and rendering any talk of a Constitutional Amendment to protect the institution of marriage moot. Many LGBT couples, who have been in long term relationships, whose states do not recognize same-sex relations, are expected to travel to New York from across the country to take advantage of the law, as a way of forcing their reluctant states into accepting their relationships and commitments.

While the law is seen as a triumph for the New York LGBT community and strengthens the resolve in the march toward same-sex rights across the country, there are palpable reasons why this achievement is tempered by caution. Despite New York’s public image of liberalism and progressiveness, largely attributed to downstate New York City, there are many New York residents who are acutely conservative and rabidly homophobic. The victory celebrated by the New York LGBT community, bolstered by support from national LGBT organizations, reflects a coordinated and determined effort to achieve an objective and flies in the face of many of the hatreds still present. But, just as those state politicians who voted against same-sex laws were voted out at the last elections, this time round, those who voted in favor, including Republicans who because of their religious conservatism and social hypocrisy, are likely to face some backlash from their respective constituents in upcoming elections.

But for many in the Black gay community, there is a sense of apathy and indifference toward the same-sex law. As a community, its feelings are rooted in the inherent homophobia led by religious precepts that are still present in Black families, and as some suggest, will take time to change or maybe not at all. Earlier this month, two Harlem pastors, as leaders of religious communities, demonstrated their homophobia against Harlem Pride’s picnic in Marcus Garvey Park in the heart of Harlem. There were also the unforgettable and hurtful words from Tracy Morgan, the Black comedian. One wonders how foolish he and the pastors must feel now. Yet, prior to its passage, many LGBT were still being attacked, assaulted and abused because of their orientation or perceptions of who they are and many young LGBT are still being cast out, rendered homeless by their parents and guardians. The many LGBT who were victims of recent violent assaults and killings underscore the persistence of hatred. With the passage of the law, there is a concern that many are being lulled into the false sense of security, as the law is one more round in the battery of laws against hate crimes, nondiscrimination, and prohibitions against bullying in schools in defense of the LGBT community. Many LGBT are tempted to think that they could openly display their same-gender affections outside of New York City’s West Village or other already accepted enclaves, on an equal footing, such as holding hands, snuggling, and kissing in public, as heterosexual couples. The question now for the LGBT community is, with their new found sense of empowerment, should they feel free, entitled and equal enough to flaunt their same-sex attractions in public, and should they steel themselves against what would inevitably be some backlash, the dying throes of homophobic heterosexuals or homosexuals in hiding?

For many in the Black and Black gay community, except primarily for those Black gay men and women with White partners who were progressive and forceful in working for the law, there is a general apathy and disinterest among others. Many Black gay men were not involved in activism and advocating for the passage of the law. Many saw it as a middle-and upper-middle class White activity, and not something for and to which they had a stake, or could see any tangible benefit. Many Black lesbians, who stood with their White counterparts in the forefront of the debate, saw the long term benefits of being able to marry their partner. But, many Black gay men were myopic and largely absent, not seeing the law as something to which they had any place, not their business.

Reflecting the view of many of his generation, Aulister Mark, an African-American intern at In The Life Media, Inc., a LGBT film and television company, regards passage of the same-sex marriage law with indifference, “It doesn’t matter to me that much.”

As a 21-year-old, he maintains that his stance is common among his peers. Coming from a single parent family and looking at many of those in his age group, he says that the construction, model and example of marriage is not as sound as it is made out to be. He says that many marriages are in divorce, separation, or for a variety of reasons, there are many single-parent households. And, while he doesn’t foresee marriage, as yet, for those like him who have grown up more accepting of the differences among people, there is less stigma and discrimination surrounding being gay, lesbian or transgender.

At the other end of the age spectrum, a 51-year-old African-American Harlem resident who owns and lives in his property, says he is in favor of the legal protections the same-sex marriage law affords, including survivability and passing on assets, health visitations, easier adoptions, and tax and other benefits that straight couples enjoy, which bring LGBT on an equal playing field with their heterosexual counterparts.

But, presenting another aspect which underlies Black gay men disinterest toward the same-sex marriage law, Bernard Tarver says that before Black gay men talk about same-sex marriage, they have to think of addressing and dealing with the obstacles to relationships. For many, there are still a lot of other issues, such as self esteem, being comfortable to be out, and being open about their sexual orientation in public. As a result of a number of issues, he says, Black gay men do not possess a long term vision for relationships. With this law, he says,  Black gay men now entering into relationships would able to see a path leading to something tangible and an opportunity to plan for the long term.

“Straight people have the luxury of a long range vision for their relationships. In the Black community, with many examples of people in long term relationships, this allows many people to reap benefits. Before, goals in relationships were always short term and breakable,” he says.

Supporting Tarver’s point of view, Herb Williams, chair of the New York City chapter of Adodi, an empowerment group for Black same-gender loving (SGL) men, says, “If a person wants to take advantage of this, one of the things which is a challenge in gay relationships in the Black community is that the lack of acceptance by a society that made it okay not to take relationships seriously.”

Williams believes that it is a gradual process for Black gay men to be able to walk in public, beyond the West Village, holding hands comfortably, and the law allows many to at least feel they have more freedom.

“This does not mean that Black families would be more accepting of their Black sons saying he is gay,” Williams says.

The young man from Jersey City who stood up at the panel discussion held last Thursday at the Casa Frela Gallery in Harlem voiced one palpable fear many Black gay men live with: that for Black gay men there is the sense of being condemned by a society and culture which values and places expectations on procreation and familial bonds, and in which many see their homosexuality as a curse, damned to live alone and into old age as isolated old men.

In New York, as in many other states, there are Black gay couples who have been together for several years. While for many their relationships and commitment to each other is known to their respective families and friends, some have taken the added step of being married in Canada, Vermont or Massachusetts, or as far away as The Netherlands or South Africa, but many prefer not to have their relationship made public. While many have established, through legal instruments for their joint assets, articles for survivability, they are loath to be out and proud about their committed relationship. There is some speculation among those Black gay men in long term committed relationships of the perceived fear of being known is related to the non-acceptance by the wider society, by others who would ridicule and condemn them as two Black men in a relationship similar to a heterosexual relationship, and further still, by some others who would set about destabilizing and destroying what they cannot understand.

With no viable example for comparison, the new same-sex law gives the Black gay community the tools to define the marriage construct according to their relationships, either using the existing heterosexual model or to create a separate and different model or paradigm suitable to their particular nature.

LGBT Summit on Wall Street, A First

By Antoine Craigwell

The recently concluded summit of lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) financial industry representatives was like breaking through one more glass ceiling on the way to the top of the building that is society. The summit, billed by the organizers, Out On The Street, as the first LGBT Leadership summit on Wall Street, was attended by more than 160 men and women representing several different financial institutions on Wall Street on Wednesday, Mar 30 at Deutsche Bank’s offices on Wall Street.

As a first, the summit discussed the many ways in which being LGBT on Wall Street, seen as a hindrance to hiring, retention and career advancement, can be overcome with understanding and accepting managers, changes in a homophobic culture geared toward greater talent retention, the commercial viability of attracting clients and socially progressive companies, utilizing LGBT specific messages in recruitment, and recognizing global trends toward diversity and inclusion.

In his opening remarks Seth Waugh, CEO of Deutsche Bank Americas said that the diversity of the audience at the summit was like a rainbow. While promoting diversity in the workplace, acknowledging and giving equal rights to LGBT employees, he said that from a business perspective, it was commercially viable to do so.

Partnering with straight allies fosters the relationship between allowing for acceptance and diversity, and the commercial aspect of LGBT employees, Waugh said. It is not a high bar to define someone as an ally, someone who doesn’t discriminate against LGBT.

“This gives us the opportunity to show we care. We educate our LGBT employees about the issues they are likely to face. All types of diversity make better sense as we seek to recruit the best and the brightest; decisions, which are reflected in our client pool and creates a richer mosaic,” he said.

Out On The Street founder and principal of CODA, LLC, Todd Sears said that it is important to begin the dialog among senior producers in the financial industry. The banks and financial institutions, which make up Wall Street, he said, have an estimated 880,000 employees and collectively hold approximately $440 billion in capitalization.

“I was out in college and when I had my first job on Wall Street, my managing director called the guy next to me a faggot. I promptly went back into the closet and started looking for a new job. I found one and I let them know my sexual orientation and they were supportive. I was able to build with them and brought lots of LGBT clients to the company,” said Sears.

In her presentation, Sylvia Ann Hewlett, Ph.D., placed the theme of the panel discussion “Wall Street as a workplace of choice: Culture” in perspective when she revealed the results of a 2010 study of LGBT out at work in comparison to their straight counterparts. Although the study’s results have been embargoed, Hewlett, as director of the Center for Work Life Policy, said that LGBT acceptance and comfort at being able to be themselves at work has a lot to do with the culture of the organization. Hewlett stated that increasing is the number of companies who see a commercial advantage to participating in the Center’s Hidden Brain Drain Task Force, which assists companies hold on to their LGBT talent, those who would otherwise leave because they are working in an uncomfortable environment.

Considering diverse work pools from a global perspective, companies are taking into account their employees’ sexual orientation by ensuring that they attract and retain the best talent. Hewlett said research revealed that LGBT are more educated and qualified than their heterosexual counterparts. In many ways, Hewlett’s data presentation was similar to the published results of the General Social Survey conducted by The Williams Institute. That survey suggested that 37 percent of lesbian and gay people (LG), and 46.6 percent of those who are bisexual (B) reported higher levels of education either with college or graduate degrees than 26 percent of their heterosexual counterparts. The Institute, a part of UCLA School of Law, said a combined 43.6 percent LG and B are out in the workplace and known among other employees.

But, in workplaces LGBT employees still have to contend with stigma, discrimination and racism. Many feel isolated and disengaged; they are disinterested in participating in company events, including bringing their partners to parties or outings. Many do not have photos on their desks or as screen savers, or have phone conversations with their partners while at work, as do many heterosexuals.

Close to 95-percent of those who attended the summit indicated by standing that they were out at work. Few, who remained seated, raised their hands to show that they are LGBT but not out at work and fewer still said they were straight.

“It says a lot that even at a LGBT event that there are some LGBT who do not feel comfortable to stand up and identify that they are gay or lesbian,” said Brian McNaught, a LGBT trainer and a moderator for one of the panel discussions.

When asked why someone at a branch or a desk should come out, Mark Stephanz, vice chairman of Bank of America Merrill Lynch, said, “Hiding is tiring.  I came out three years ago because I couldn’t continue to expend the time, energy and brain function.”

Married with two children, Stephanz said he told his wife and the first person he told at work was his boss, “I felt it important to have that one-on-one conversation with my colleagues and clients. Then, I thought I was risking my career. Many think that coming out would be much worse that it turned out to be for me.”

But another panelist, Sonelius Kendrick-Smith, who is African-American, and a director and portfolio manager with Deutsche Bank and a member of his company’s Rainbow group, said that in one of his previous jobs, even though at the time he was already out to family and friends, he was concerned about coming out on the trading floor.

“At one of my previous jobs, I went to my boss, the head of the Fixed Income Department, and told her that I am gay and I didn’t want to go back into the closet. She assured me that the company will protect me. She said that she has two brothers who are gay and gave me her support. But the problems I had after coming out was more of some stupid stuff. Once I went to the bathroom. When I walked in, I met another man using a urinal and as soon as he saw me, he turned his back and tried to hide himself,” Kendrick-Smith said.

The definition of a straight ally is someone who is a little more than “pissed-off” who wants to make things better said Bonnie Howard, chief auditor, Global Control Head, Citigroup. Many straight people, who want to be allies often feel as though they would likely say the wrong thing.

Hewlett added that lesbians are more likely to have children and do not seem to receive the harsh treatment as men because that are seen as mothers who are gay. Data shows that isolation and backlash is more often directed toward men than women and that many gay men distrust their employers. And, compared to women, she said, a pattern among gay men has emerged of those who come out after they have been married.

But, McNaught, said that it’s important to have people in the top level management who are out or comfortable with LGBT issues, which makes it easier for employees to come out. Heterosexuals, he added, are not the enemy, management need to be authentic in their demonstrations of support for LGBT.

An openly gay member of the NY Stock Exchange, Walter Schubert, said that as the first person to come out on the trading floor, it took about a year for people to become comfortable with him.

“I’ve learned that homophobia is anti-feminism, where homosexual men are assumed by heterosexuals to be just like women, but being gay is not personal, it’s a public matter. A person’s behavior is private, but their orientation is public. It is important that employers and managers be available to talk,” said Schubert.

Many Wall Street companies have embraced a program where managers have symbols of a tent in their offices as a sign to LGBT employees that these offices are safe places to come for refuge.

A source, who spoke on condition of anonymity because his company’s public relations department had not given permission to speak with the press, said that companies have to assure candidates when they are being hired that it’s okay to go to a multicultural or diversity group, “From the get-go, African-American LGBT are under enormous pressure, such as skin color, their sexual orientation and the number of projects they have to deal with. The challenges are there and everyone has to make the decision which battles they would deal with. I was fortunate that the racism was not that great and the homophobia was dealt with by an overt support system from my managers, which helped my confidence and productivity. Being comfortable, I was able to bring all my talents and skills to my job.”

As if demonstrating the strength and power of being LGBT, Maggie Stumpp, Ph.D., chief investment officer with QMA Associates who is transgender, manages an estimated $80 billion in assets and investments, said she had a picture on her desk of herself in drag. No one commented because they thought it was her sister. She decided to transition from male to female 10 years ago. At the time, she came into her office with a business plan on how to tell people about transitioning. On one occasion, her team was fired by a client when they found out she is transgender.

Introducing the panel discussion on driving innovation with strategic partnerships and investments, and quoting from a national transgender survey, Stumpp said that 47 percent of transgender lose their jobs, 16 percent are involved in the illicit drug trade, and 14 percent have incomes above $100,000. She added that 27 percent of all transgender have college degrees compared to 10 percent of the general population, and 20 percent have graduate degrees as opposed to 9 percent of the same general population.

NGOs worldwide call on world governments to keep their promises.

By Antoine Craigwell

In the middle of the working day, the middle of the week, and the beginning of the middle month in the year, marchers from NYC Bryant Park to the United Nations called on world leaders not to cut funds to HIV programs worldwide. A coalition of 22 community and faith-based agencies from the NY area marched in the week when the world commemorated 30 years since the U.S. Centers for Diseases Control and Prevention identified HIV and AIDS. Despite the noonday heat more than 500 men and women – lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and straight; Black, White, Latino, Asian and Native Indian marched and chanted along the sidewalk with banners and placards emblazoned with slogans on their way to the United Nations.

Many uniformed NYPD officers carrying white plastic ties, used to restrain and detain people in place of handcuffs, escorted the marchers. Legal representatives wearing arm bands as legal observers mingled among the marchers to ensure that the police did not violate their rights. At one point, when the march had diverted from its route on 42^nd Street to pass in front of the offices of the European Union and NY Governor, it seemed as if an altercation between the police and the march organizers was about to erupt over their presence on the sidewalk instead of in the corralled area created by the police barricades on a section of the street. The police, after lots of hurried discussions among them, gave in and allowed the marchers to continue their protest and march.

The march and rally at Dag Hammarskjöld Plaza across from the UN on Wednesday, Jun 8, was intended to urge global leaders and governmental representatives gathered for the quinquennium meeting of the Global Fund to evaluate state and institutional responses to the HIV and AIDS epidemic. The representatives met to examine strides made to combat the disease, to look at funding to fight the virus, especially in light of the financial crisis facing many countries, and to commit to at least $22 billion a year in funding for 15 years to end AIDS globally.

But the document, expected to be presented to the UN on Friday, Jun 10 and negotiated between the governments’ and NGO representatives, and decried by many as watered down from the original demands, declared that governments were prepared to commit to an estimated $18 billion to be spent on the more than 15 million people suffering from HIV/AIDS worldwide.

The protestors, including representatives from many African countries, hardest hit by the HIV/AIDS epidemic, said that the amount is insufficient and called for money to be spent on AIDS treatment and not on wars.

“We’re demanding that 18 million people be brought to treatment by 2015,” said Alan Maleche, a member of the Kenyan Legal and Ethical Network on HIV/AIDS.

Maleche, a human rights lawyer and a part of the African Civil Society, said, “The problem is that governments are saying they don’t have enough money to provide treatment, but we are saying that they have the money, which they use for wars. Many governments signed documents to protect the rights of people and we’re here to ensure they keep their promises.”

Nonkosi Kuhumalo, national chairperson for Treatment Action Campaign from Johannesburg, South Africa, said “My view of the document is that in its current form with the political language, which doesn’t say much, is a step backward from where we were in 2001. The three million difference was political, arriving at the $15 billion was also difficult.”

Twenty-five year old Nabhumba Nuru, called “Princess” from Uganda, who was born with HIV and takes medication, said that she is one of five million people with the virus and that 124 thousand people contract HIV each year in Uganda. She came to the UN to make it clear to world leaders that there is need for more HIV medicines for people.

“In Uganda, the spending on HIV has flat lined; there is no increase in funding from the government and from donors there is discussion to ensure there are no cuts. While my country does not follow the World Health Organization’s guidelines for HIV, in the Ugandan budget much of the government expenditure is being used for the military and it should be used for HIV prevention and treatment programs.”

Obtaining drugs for HIV in Uganda, Nuru said is not as expensive, since its availability at a low cost through the US PEPFAR program makes up 90 percent of the country’s HIV budget.

One of the march organizers, Bobby Tolbert, a board member with Vocal-NY, said that on the day when annually the UN celebrates AIDS Day, “We’re appealing to them to make a recommitment to HIV/AIDS programs and to ensure the continued funding.”

A Jun 4 Economist article, “The 30 years War”, examining the history and effect of HIV and AIDS on the world, suggested that while war costs money, which at the moment is in short supply, 10 years ago, when countries’ economies were doing better and were able to give more, the global financial crisis which has hit many rich countries; has caused many to either cut their contributions or scale back the level of their commitment.

According to the article, the Global Fund, formed 10 years ago, about the time of the 20^th anniversary of the HIV/AIDS epidemic, was a response by a collection of rich countries to provide funds for the estimated 139 poor or underdeveloped countries severely impacted by and whose peoples have been severely devastated by the virus, tuberculosis and malaria. Despite the financial crisis’ effect on the Global Fund, rich donor countries such as the US, Great Britain, France, Canada and Scandinavia are still committed, with Spain, the Netherlands announcing cuts, Germany delaying payments, and Italy withdrawing from its promise altogether.

But, 29-year-old John Mathenge, a Kenyan sex worker and country coordinator of the Kenyan Sex Workers Alliance, said he came to the UN so that the voice of the male, female, and transgender sex workers could be heard. As a sex worker, as with the many sex workers who are barred from entry into the US, he detailed the difficulties he had to obtain an entry visa into the US. He said he appealed to the US embassy using the provisions of President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR), initiated by former president George Bush.

Mathenge, who is a member of the Kikuyu tribe, said that among his people being gay could get him killed. He said he is HIV negative because for the 18 years since he was in the sex trade, he has consistently used protection, considering himself one of the lucky not to have contracted the virus. He added, “Many people think that sex workers are criminals, but we are the ones at the front of the HIV epidemic. I expect the G8 and European Union to put more money to fight HIV/AIDS and not for wars.”

LGBT social causes and concerns as undertone

By Antoine Craigwell

Chairs neatly arranged seemingly with military precision in the large main room of Manhattan’s Irving Plaza, a locale for progressive musical performances, and the tight security were the first signs that this year’s 7^th Annual OUT Music Awards was going to be different from the chaos and confusion which undermined the 2009 event held at Webster Hall. This 2011 awards show program was produced by the LGBT Academy of Recording Artists and organized by Deidre Meredith, its executive director.

As the floodlights illuminated the stage on May 23, harried section managers, assistants and volunteers scurried about in a frenzy to complete last minute tasks. From the vantage point of the well stocked and controlled bar at the rear of the room, gay and straight men, women, and transgenders – multi hued, a mixture of ethnicities and ages, slowly filled the chairs. In a room to the right of the stage, performers gathered for last minute rehearsals, costume adjustments, make-up touch ups, and instrument tunings; and just outside the door, in a cordoned off area, photographers and camera men jostled for plumb spots to get the best shots.

This award show was the seventh since it was started by Dan Martin and Michael Biello in their living room. At the 2009 awards they said that when they started it, then it was about men singing to men and women singing to women.

Tammy Peay, the comedienne made famous from her appearances on Laurence Pinckney’s Nubian Criuses, as the show’s MC, alternated her appearances on stage in various styles of black gowns. Using her wits and sharp, but realistic humor, she singlehandedly carried the entire night’s event, and kept the audience entertained in the small gaps between performances. Notwithstanding, Sekia Dorset, who is believed to have been the stage manager corralled the acts to appear on cue.

More than 45 minutes into the show, when it seemed as if the entire hall was pulsating with music, an intermission was announced. The audience, once held in thrall by the performers evacuated the hall as if glad for the break, if only to catch a breath from the intensity of the performances. A short time later, with her commanding voice and personality, Peay summoned everyone back for the second half. Those who felt that an intermission would break the spirit of the evening were disappointed.  Everyone returned as if they wanted more, and aided by the talented performers, the audience reentered into the spirit of the evening.

It seemed as if the organizers had taken gamble on the audience’s reaction when they placed Tona Brown and the Aida String Ensemble to perform a classical piece immediately after the intermission. A hush descended on the audience as notes from a classical piece washed over everyone. Aware that their performance was unusual, the musicians sawed their bows over strings, as if their lives depended on it, and even though there was sporadic applause, when the piece ended, the entire audience stood and cheered unabated for several minutes. Before going on stage as part of the ensemble, Jarvis, who started playing the viola since he was 14, remarked, “I’m openly gay and a classical musician. One doesn’t hear much talk about gay classical musicians.”

As the evening progressed, following Antoinette Montague jazz rendition, homage was paid to Paula “Stix” Hampton who appeared on stage to accept the OUT Music Living Legend Award. To gales of laughter from the audience and with mock belligerence, she said, “Y’all had to wait till I’m damn near 73 years before y’all come down here to honor me.”

The awards’ twenty different categories captured the diversity in the musical presentations and included “OUTstanding R&B Song”, “OUTstanding International Song”, and “The Biello-Martin Love Song of the Year”. Through the categories and the performances, it became clear that LGBT people are involved in as many different music genres, such as R&B, soul, jazz, country and western, gospel, and classical music. The internationally recognized performing artist, Melissa Ethridge, who was awarded the 2011 OUT Music Lifetime Achievement Award, appeared in a prerecorded video on a screen to deliver her acceptance.

Nhojj (pronounced en-hoj), who was the 2009 OUT Music Award R&B winner and won the 2011 award in the same category for “Gay Warrior Song” said, as he did in 2009, that the awards validates what he’s doing, that he is appreciated by people, and being nominated and winning is getting seen and heard in the LGBT community.

“In the LGBT community we need music which tells our own story out there,” he said.

The inspiration for “Gay Warrior” Nhojj said, was to give the LGBT community its own anthem to which they could rally and be militant. Its distinctive reggae beats, he added, strikes at the homophobia this type of music often contains, “I wanted to show that there are people from the Caribbean who are gay and proud. I wanted to create a song for LGBT people who like reggae.”

Nhojj who was born and grew up in Guyana said proceeds from the sale of “Gay Warrior” will go to the Guyana-based LGBT organization Society Against Sexual Orientation Discrimination. His most recent work included releasing a music video “Amazing Grace” which celebrates marriage equality, especially interracial relationships, and has been working on promoting it.

Adding his voice to the chorus of praise for the awards, DJ Baker, radio and television host for Da Doo Dirty Show, who presented Nhojj with his award, said that he was glad there is an OUT Music award so that gay hip hop artists could celebrate each other’s achievements.

Almost all the performers and award recipients seemed to be committed to social causes and concerns, with one major theme as an undertone to the awards, drawing attention to the number of homeless LGBT children and teens.

Accepting the Song Writer of the Year award, for her song “No Se Porque”, the Latin artist Silvia said, “This song was written for the children of Latin America. I’m from Argentina and it’s for the children who are neglected, abused and homeless.”

After a music video of Sylvester’s Mighty Real was shown, Tim Smith, the video’s producer accepted the Icon Award on behalf of the artist, “I know that Sylvester never felt it necessary to apologize for who he was, and he did this in the 70s, at a time when it wasn’t cool to talk about himself. He knew what it was like to be homeless as a 14-year old gay teen in Los Angeles.”

Smith said that Sylvester never liked talking about the time he spent living on the streets, and when at 18 he returned home, he went back to school. In his high school graduation photo he chose to make a statement about who was by wearing a gown with pearls.