Anderson Cooper on Vito Russo Award: “I’m only here because of what others have done – so much more than I will ever be able to do”

Last night I posted the full presentation of Madonna presenting Anderson Cooper with GLAAD’s Vito Russo Award. But this post is all about Anderson and not Madonna whose presentation took up more than twice the amount of time of Cooper’s speech.

I want to put the focus here just on Anderson and the portion of his speech where he uses his moment in the spotlight to shine light on some of the true heroes of the LGBT movement.

He called it “an incredible honor” to receive an award named in honor of Vito Russo, the LGBT activist, film historian and author who is best remembered as the author of the book The Celluloid Closet and subject of the HBO documentary film Vito.

“The truth is that I know I’m not worthy of it at all. I read The Celluloid Closet when I was in high school and it opened my eyes to the way the movies and the media for generations portrayed us and how those fair and inaccurate portrayals affected us all. Vito Russo was a hero. Hero as was Harry Hay and Frank Kameny, Audre Lorde, Sylvia Rivera. A hero is Larry Kramer and Peter Staley – and I am very happy that Peter is here tonight. A hero as was Randy Shilts and Spencer Cox who sadly are not here tonight. I know that I am only here tonight because I benefited from what they and so many others have done. What they have spoken up for, stood up for, been arrested and fired for and been beaten and bloodied and bruised for.”

“I’m only here because others have done so much more than I will ever be able to do.”

“As a gay person, it’s important for me to remember that all of us come from a community whose stories have for too long been forgotten or ignored. A community whose lives have for too long been ridiculed or misrepresented. A community that in spite of all of that, has found ways to love and to laugh and to care for one another. A community that has found ways to stand up and to stand tall and make ourselves visible.”

“I’ve only been able to be on this stage because of generations of people who have come before.”

Well said Anderson!