Dr. Wilhelmina Perry
Acceptance Speech
Parity Awards
November 21, 2019

Good evening.  Thank you Bishop Elect Vanessa, friends, church family and others who came to honor the awardees.

Thank you for this award. I will treasurer it.  I would like to congratulate those who are also receiving the Parity award.  

With this  award that links my faith and my sexuality, I am greatly honored.  For I am both, an Afro American Lesbian and a person of faith.

I have worn these titles proudly and courageously and I do so even more in these troubled times. 

My work as an LGBT activist begun shortly after I lost my partner of 30 years in 2002.  In a powerful spiritual revelation, I was told that this work must become  my mission.  I have considered that this journey has saved my life. 

Prior to 2002,  I had worked in community. In fact, I have done this since about the age of 25. This is a long time considering that I will be 85 in December. 

I have worked  in low income communities around the United States and in Puerto Rico always focusing on leadership and community development.  It has been hard work, but I have been deeply enriched . 

In my early years of work, I used a political ideology to describe the source of my beliefs. It is only in my latter years that I recognize and claim my religious training as the foundation for my social justice work.

I was raised by parents who were both holiness and Pentecostal. Dad was a union leader but he was also very involved in this church as a deacon and treasurer.

From a very early age, I was taught that I am my brother's keeper and that we live in community with responsibility for one another.  These were not idle sayings from my parents because they lived by these principles and we were expected to do the same.

When I think of what is happening in our country, I believe that we are all called upon to be responsible for the “other.” - those that are being targeted by a reactionary and oppressive administration.

Whether YOU identify as a person of faith or a warrior for social justice, you (and I) are called upon to live boldly and fiercely in the struggle against injustice, bigotry and corruption.  Those that are marginalized and disenfranchised are now being victimized more than ever.  We cannot be silent. 

Right now, we are hearing from many who call themselves Christians but they support an unholy administration.

We must take to the public arena, grab the mic and speak up.  We are called upon to be present.

We must speak and at the same time turn our words into action. 

In accepting this award, I pledge to continue in the struggle  and  I invite and challenge you to do the same. In ending, I would like to quote from my late partner,  Dr. Antonia Pantoja, a Puerto Rican leader. 

I quote: “Somehow I learned that I belonged to my people and that I had a responsibility to contribute to them.  I will participate in changing the situations of injustice and inequality that I encounter because they deny the peoples' rights and destroy their potential.” End quote.

In accepting this award, I honor you and I honor her. Thank you. 

Dr. Perry is Founder Emeritus, LGBT Faith Leaders of African Descent

LGBT Faith Leaders of African Descent is an organization of lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender (LGBT), and same gender loving people of African Descent and their allies formed to serve as ambassadors and educators to oppose discrimination, exclusion or intimidation of LGBT persons in our society and particularly in our church communities.

"We promote the spiritual values of love and inclusiveness. Our activities include cultural activities by African American artists who support LGBT rights, public education, social media, op-eds, an annual forum and workshops. Attendance at our events continues to grow, and so does our visibility. We have received encouragement from leading religious institutions, theologians and clergy. By addressing African American homophobia directly, we are engaging in bold and innovative work."

Dr. Perry is also the co-founder of the Circle of Life Celebration and Pride Memorial, established to honor members of the LGBTQ community who have passed, and to provide a space for same-gender-loving and transgender people who have not been mourned or recognized for their authenticity. She was also a co-founder and member of the Black and Latino LGBT Coalition.

Read more about Dr. Perry and watch an NBC News interview.