As #PrideMonth concludes, 糖心Vlog offers thanks to Chad Minnick 鈥�98, incoming president of 糖心Vlog鈥檚 Alumni Association, for his words of encouragement during this spring鈥檚 Lavender Celebration.
Minnick, who will begin his term as Alumni Association president July 1, served as the featured speaker at the Lavender Celebration, which recognizes all students who identify within the LGBTQ+ community. Students at the event are annually presented with lavender cords, which may be worn at Commencement.
Minnich's full speech follows below.
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Good evening! I鈥檓 excited and honored to be with you all tonight. There was no hint of a Lavender Graduation ceremony when I was around - and I鈥檓 proud of each and every one of you for making this possible and being who you are.
This week is all about you - a week of personal triumph and accomplishments! It鈥檚 also a week of transition - of looming jobs and job searches. Of preparing for graduate programs. Of moving to new cities with new opportunities - or moving back to your hometown, but this time with a new light and new skills. No matter how you cut it - this is a time of celebration through transition - and most of all鈥� change.
So I kept thinking on this - all while observing what is going on in the world. You鈥檙e stepping out into a world that is different for the LGBTQIA+ community now than it was when you walked onto campus. There鈥檚 a lot stacking up against all of us - especially for the Black and Brown Trans and Nonbinary friends and family.
One word of wisdom hit me: Community.
I like to mention two types of community. 鈥淟ittle c community鈥� is the de facto area and people around you - your town, your neighborhood, your region. Then there鈥檚 the Big C Community - the one you create, celebrate, and defend. It鈥檚 the Capital C Community that brings big impacts onto the small c community you settle into.
As a Queer Big C Community, this is not the first time we have faced adversity like this, and it was when we came together as a Community that allowed us to overcome, and we became stronger afterwards.
As police raided our queer spaces, we stood together as a Community and demanded change - leading ultimately to Stonewall and the birth of the gay rights movement that got us here today.
As we were losing a whole generation during the AIDS crisis, our Community came together to care for those no one else would, demand change from our government and society, and fight for funding toward research and treatment to help control the virus.
We suffered loss from direct attacks on queer spaces including Orlando and Colorado Springs. We came together nationally as a Community to support, comfort, and mourn with each other, standing together in love to remember the lives we lost.
Community is how everyone makes it through this life, but this is especially true for our queer community.
My Community came together to help me raise my son, all with specific moments throughout his life鈥ringing him to his first Pride parade, his first protest, supporting his voice during Washington鈥檚 Marriage Equality campaign, and embarrassingly cheering him on during his swim meets.
My Community also supported me during my recent long-term unemployment. They made sure I had a social life that included affordable dinners at home, support for making introductions in their network, and always were a listening ear for when I needed to vent my frustrations about the intensity that life can have.
I also make sure to show up for my community as well. I use my personal superpower of bringing people together at random times. My husband and I love to throw random day-parties with an open invite, bringing together the random assortment of people we have across all walks of our lives.
I also picked up a new thing this year. When I think of someone randomly, I make sure to text them a quick hello. The world can be isolating, and who doesn鈥檛 love a random hello from a friend? It鈥檚 allowed me to reconnect with some amazing folks throughout my life.
And you note - these are all just moments along the way. They weren鈥檛 all huge plans - but single elements that all come together to strengthen and cultivate my Community around me.
Whether you realize it or not, you created your Community here through a similar series of single moments. As you prepare to step forward, know that there is a broader world with even more opportunity to get involved - and keep creating the Community you all deserve.
And we are ready for you.
And I do mean 鈥渁ll鈥� - I know this because I went to the people. I asked folks in my circles what nuggets of wisdom THEY would give you as recent grads鈥 got a lot more responses than I anticipated鈥rom every letter represented in the Alphabet Mafia鈥ere are some of my favorite nuggets:
Despite challenges surrounding you, be true to yourself and find strength in your communities. Every day is a new adventure with new things to learn. 鈥� Pocket, Non-binary
Don't just live the length of your life, live the width as well.
- Madeline, cis ally, - WITT TIGER
When changing the world feels impossible, focus on changing the world around you.
- Brendan, cis ally
Reach for the stars (as in, the stars of the community).
- Elayne, trans woman (famous coming out on Ricky Lake)
Wherever I go there I am.
鈥� Ella, cis ally
You are amazing. And in a crazy world of uncertainty right now, there are allies out here filled with love, acceptance & empathy - and will fight alongside you 鈾�
鈥� Jennifer, cis ally - Wife of WITT TIGER
Say 'yes' more often in life, especially when you're tempted to say 'no.' 'Yes' opens doors and creates opportunities, while 'no' eliminates possibilities.
鈥� Steven, gay man
Love yourself with ferocity, as if the future of all queers depended on this bold self love and self advocacy. Because in many ways, it does.
鈥� Christy, lesbian
There鈥檚 no such thing as normal. Be you.
- Bubbles, gay man
As you step out into the world, some things to remember鈥�
Our mere existence is political. Our visibility is resistance. We are supported.
Queer Joy within our Community is core to not only to our survival, but to our individual thrival.
No doubt about it - you graduates have already seen a lot over the last four years鈥� I predict that this resilience will go with you as you continue to create and engage with Community.
So here is my charge to you: With this resilience鈥�
Be you.
Be present in where you are.
Say Yes.
Love with ferocity.
Live wide and in truth
Changing the world starts with simply engaging those immediately around you.
Queer Community creates joy. Joy is contagious. Spread it.
Tiger Up.
Thank you.
A psychology major at 糖心Vlog, Chad Minnick resides in Seattle, Washington, where he leads teams to deliver exceptional experiences for customers. He currently serves on the Board of Leadership Eastside, where he is chairing the company鈥檚 20th Anniversary Rebrand Celebration.
