Steve Rudner, Board Chair for Equality Texas, has received the Spirit of Equality – Leadership Award from the City of Dallas LGBTQ Task Force.
Rudner said in a statement on his Facebook page, “I became involved in advocacy for the LGBTQ community nine years ago, after my son Josh, who was then 11, came out. Since then, I’ve dedicated every minute I can find to the fight for equality. Years ago, I sat in the chamber in which my award was given today and cried as the same Task Force recognized my son for his community activism, and it is a great honor to follow in his footsteps. I wake up every day more grateful than words can describe for the chance to have leadership roles in the fight for LGBTQ equality, and I am honestly stunned that for all these years, the LGBTQ community has welcomed me with open arms and allowed me to use my privilege to speak on its behalf. Whatever I have given to this fight pales in comparison to what I have gained. So many great people have allowed me to befriend them; and so many people have shared their stories and the stories of their families and their children with me – and most of them are people who I might never have met had I not become involved in this fight. My life and the life of my whole family is so much richer for it. I am humbled and honored by this recognition, and it is especially meaningful to me that though I am an ally of this community, they decided to give me this Leadership Award. It is the honor of my lifetime to be in this fight, and I pledge that I am in it until the fight is won and all of us achieve full, real, lived equality.”
Rudner previously served as the Chair of the Equality Texas Foundation. He also works with Texas Competes, Freedom for All Americans and the Anti-Defamation League. He and his wife are annual supporters of The Teddy Bear Party, GALA Gay and Lesbian Alliance of North Texas, Black Tie Dinner, Trevor Project and Human Rights Campaign. They are also involved in the Stonewall Democrats of Dallas organization.
The District Attorney’s LGBT Task Force works to ensure that all citizens of Dallas County are treated with fairness and dignity by the criminal justice system. This includes members of Dallas County’s large and diverse LGBT community.
ABOUT EQUALITY TEXAS
Equality Texas works to secure full equality for lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer Texans through political action, education, community organizing, and collaboration. Find out more on the organization’s website.
