On October 18, 2020, Bruce Monroe received the Kuchling Humanitarian Award from the Black Tie Dinner, the largest annual fundraising event in the City of Dallas. The following is the written text of his acceptance speech. [See note at end]
Bruce Monroe
I am speechless and stunned. I want to thank the Black-Tie Dinner board for this heartwarming honor. And thank you to all those who made this possible. I stand, or rather, sit here humbled when I think of all those who have received this award before me.
I stand on shoulders of giants, such as Bill Nelson, John Thomas, and William Waybourn, all of whom shaped and encouraged me; and, now more than ever, propped up by my best friends Ron Allen and John Rogers, who are literally carrying me through this difficult time. Also, I would like to give a special shout out to those who make my life brighter through your visits.
The truth be told, I was "tricked" into a life of activism when I thought I was going on a dinner date, but instead, I was taken to a general membership meeting of the Dallas Gay Alliance, now the Dallas Gay and Lesbian Alliance. Afterward, I went to "dinner" in the Bronx's back room, where many of the heavy-hitters of the DGA board of directors dined. I got "religion," immediately, and signed up to volunteer, and walked out of that dinner with committee assignments. And friends for life. Sadly, many are now gone. But that meeting and dinner was a remarkable recruitment tool, just like the Black-Tie Dinner serves to empower thousands.
Who knew that all those Monday nights of board meetings -- and I mean EVERY Monday night, during some of the worst times of our lives, would culminate today in the incredible Resource Center Dallas, run by the fabulous Cece Cox? Over the years, the Center and its services have been helped by years of generous contributions through the Black Tie Dinner, for which I am eternally thankful.
When we were raising funds to buy the former MCC church on Reagan Street, people asked, "How can you spend all this money on a building when so much is needed for AIDS?" I would answer, "We need to throw an anchor into a future when AIDS was no longer a crisis that dominates our community's well-being. The Resource Center Dallas bears that out.
If you are not currently a volunteer for any of the Black-Tie Dinner's beneficiaries, please consider doing so; it can be a life-changing experience. It certainly changed mine. I am grateful for my front-row seat to history, plus I knew all the players!
Finally, for those anxious about the COVID-19 crisis, just remember that we went through this with the AIDS crisis, and we came through it stronger. And not just because of science, but our sense of community. I am so proud. Thank you!
Bruce Monroe (seated). Standing behind him, left to right: old friends George Harris, Craig Spaulding, Mike Anglin, Don Maison, Ron Allen, and William Waybourn.
“Note: On October 18, 2020, the Dallas Black Tie Dinner presented its coveted Kuchling Humanitarian Award to Bruce Monroe. Unfortunately, Bruce was unable to participate personally in the presentation for health reasons and had to type out his response (shown above) on his cell phone, one laborious letter at a time. On the afternoon of the televised broadcast of the event, the award was accepted by the reading of Bruce’s written statement by several of Bruce’s old friends, each one also being a previous recipient of this award. ”