On November 13, 2021, Chris Luna and Veletta Lill received the Kuchling Humanitarian Award from the Dallas Black Tie Dinner, the largest annual fundraising event in the City of Dallas, with an audience of 2.300 guests. The following is the written text of Chris Luna’s acceptance speech.

Thank you to the Black Tie Dinner Board of Directors and the Black Tie Dinner Advisory Board for this honor. As a former Black Tie Dinner board member myself, I know firsthand the work, passion, and love that goes into presenting this evening. And I am especially humbled to receive this award as I knew Ray Kuchling and so many of the previous recipients are good friends of mine and like family, especially the ones at my table tonight. And it is so nice to be honored along with my longtime friend Veletta Lill. Veletta and I stand on Ray’s shoulders and the shoulders of the men and women who have received this award before us.

It is hard to be profound or memorable in the few minutes that I have with you. So instead, I have three asks of you.

1. Volunteer. I know that that with this group I am probably preaching to the choir. But the strength of Dallas and North Texas is our people. These beneficiaries and other non-profits need your time, talents, and treasure. A benefit to you is the great people that you will meet and befriend. Some of my best relationships are the ones that came through my volunteering. Another benefit is the personal satisfaction of your great work. Several years ago, after successfully leading the pro bono effort for the Dallas Employee Retirement Fund to treat same-sex married couples equally for pension benefits, I received a handwritten note from a female retiree. Her note said: “Without your timely intervention, without your legal acumen, without your direct, hands on, personal involvement and commitment, my wife would not have the survivor benefits that I worked thirty years for.” Wow.

(Left to Right) Chris Luna, Jack Evans, George Harris. (Foreground) John Thomas

2. Vote. And I mean every time and in every race. I know too many people that only vote in national elections or only vote in the general election and not in the primary or the run-offs. Or blow off races for the school board or community college. And your vote is especially important in close races. The LGBTQ vote made a difference in the elections for the American Airlines Center and the Omni Convention Center Hotel. So we need every vote in every race and every time. And I know firsthand: 30 years ago this week I won my first race for the Dallas City Council by 156 votes, earning the nickname “Landslide Luna”. Vote.

3. Learn our LGBTQ history. Dallas and North Texas has a long and rich LGBTQ history. We have had many successes, but we have also had a few setbacks. There is a great KERA documentary called “Finding Our Voice: The Dallas Gay & Lesbian Community”, which I encourage you to watch on YouTube. And The Dallas Way website is a great way to learn this history with videos, oral histories, and articles. And as the next generation of LGBTQ leaders take over, we need to remember the past as we plan for the future. As Albert Einstein said: "Learn from yesterday, live for today, hope for tomorrow.”

As I close, I have two big thank you’s.

First, when I moved to Dallas 35 years ago, two of the first people that I met were George Harris and the late Jack Evans, long before they were the first same-sex couple legally married in Dallas or were media darlings on their 50th anniversary. They took me under their wings and were my mentors and role models. I jokingly called them my gay fairy god parents, but I think that is redundant. But I am very grateful and appreciative of their friendship, support, and counsel.

Second, there is a saying in the straight community that behind every great man is a greater woman. Well, I think that we need to update that saying for our community. Behind every great woman, is a greater woman. And in my case, behind me has been a greater man. For 25 years, Kent Mecklenburg has been my partner … now my husband, my love, and the one who could always make me laugh. Kent, thank you for your unwavering support of my volunteerism and for understanding the time that it took. There is no way that I could have done this without your love and encouragement. I love you!

Chris Luna (right) with husband Kent Mecklenburg

Well, tomorrow is my birthday. Thank you for the best birthday present ever! Thank you from the bottom of my heart