J: Good night and thank you. We have a few brief words we would like to share but first there are a few people to thank for this.

M: Elizabeth Birch and the entire staff of the Human Rights Campaign

J: Everyone from the Human Rights Campaign here in Minneapolis and two other groups from Minnesota. Rainbow Families of Minnesota and OutFront Minnesota

M: The National ACLU Gay and Lesbian Rights Project especially Matt and Michael

J: The New Jersey ACLU especially Ed and Lenora

M: I guess when you get one of these you should thank your Mom and Dad

J: Yeah

M: And all of our family and friends

J: And God

M: And most importantly, our children

J: Right the children! You know when I was a child I can remember having two real dreams. One was that I would grow up and be a father someday. In many ways, I was raised to be a father. I was taught how to take care of children younger than me, how to change diapers. The other dream was to become a good American, a contributor to society, someone that gives back

When I was a teenager and knew that I was gay I became very depressed. I suffered depression because to me it meant giving up my dreams of fatherhood. It also meant that I could not be a contributing member of society because gay meant second class, that I would have to sit on the sidelines. Unless of course I wanted to live a lie and a double life.

But then all that changed the moment I met Michael.

M: When Jon and I met in college and fell in love 16 years ago I could of never imagined being where we are today. We were just so scared, just to be, let alone achieve anything else. We believed for years that there was something wrong with homosexuality – well guess what – there isn't!

You know they say you are never really as out as you are if you have a child and whoa…our struggle brought us way out. (Jon – Ala Ellen) Well I say you are never really out until you are on the cover of USA Today with your husband and son or Time Magazine or Good Morning America. Yeah you can imagine how we felt when we were going on Larry King Live opposite the Rev. Jerry Fallwell no less, when we were told it is seen in over 20 countries (Jon – 80 dear)

Anyway something amazing did happen through all this publicity. The letters started pouring in. We received hundreds of letters, emails, phone calls, gifts etc. and out of all the correspondence we received there were only 3 that were negative.

This taught as that the world is a much better place then we were lead to believe. But there still is a long way to go.

J: And no where is it more evident then here in Watertown. We are honored to have with us as our guests tonight Brian and Robert from Watertown. Their journey and struggle towards acceptance and freedom demonstrates just how far we have to go. So tonight the Galluccio Family, New Jersey salutes you Brian and Robert.

M: So tonight as we proudly, yet humbly accept this award for Family Civil Rights, it is with this pledge.

That we will continue to speak out for our families

That we will continue to challenge those who would look at us and say that we are not a family - because Families always have and always will come in all shapes and sizes!

That we will continue to put our family "out there" and show the world that we have nothing to hide….

…..and we invite you to join us.

J: If we all proudly stand up and be equal then we will achieve equal rights.

A great man, Mahatma Ghandi once said "We must become the change we want to see"

M: Together, let us "Be The Change". Let us make the world a better place. If not for ourselves then for our children – all of our children.

As parents – As Americans

J: As Gay Men. Michael and I could not possibly ask for anything more.

J & M: Good Night and God Bless