A young woman greeted me on the first day of class, looking at me hard to see if I could place her. Indeed, I had seen her before, in another class two years prior, as a young man. Not only do I remember you, but I remember your writing, I said, happy to have this student return to take my course in creative nonfiction. And through several months, writings that revealed her journey, the physical and emotional aspects of her transition, emerged, not only creating a body of fresh work for her, but that made it okay for others to express what may not have come out otherwise—i.e. a woman who loved women balancing who she is with her Catholicism and strict Spanish family. In each of these cases, and others, I felt proud that The School of Visual Arts where I have taught for four decades was safe and nurturing, with supportive faculty. This is New York City, after all. And I wondered how others in America fared, where in every state, no one can stop same sex couples from marrying, and where basic LBGTQ rights are now rolled back under the present regime. I attended the GLSEN Awards, held at Cipriani 42 Street, and found out.

Speakers included young students, parents of children so bullied and misunderstood they took their lives, and more visible faces: Dr. Jill Biden, teacher, wife of the former vice president, and mother who lost a son. Of all the possible ways of preserving the Biden legacy, this was one she chose. Carla Gugino was honored with a GSLEN Respect Award, as were Ann Clark, Ryan Pedlow, Roland Park Elementary/Middle School and First Data. Guests included Ariana DeBose, Carmen Carrera, Elliot Sailors, Chely Blitzer-Wright, Kyle Farmery, Andrew Morrison, Agnes “Peppermint” Moore, Jeffrey Marsh, Eric Fanning, 22nd Secretary of the Army and John King, Former Secretary Education. Carla Gugino closed her acceptance speech noting that someone wise once told her, “When you are on your deathbed, make sure it is your life you lived.”

Regina Weinreich

Graphic Design: Salpeter Ventura