This was the (edited) speech given by Brandon Wolf at FFRF’s 47th national convention in Denver on Sept. 28. He was introduced by FFRF Board Member Todd Peissig.
Todd Peissig: It is my pleasure and honor on behalf of the Board of Directors of the Freedom From Religion Foundation to bestow this year’s Henry Zumach Freedom from Fundamentalist Religion Award to an organization that has represented a population and uniquely targeted by the religious right and by Christian nationalists. The Zumach Award was created in 2017 by our ultra-generous Wisconsin member and activist Hank Zumach. It has grown from its initial $100,000 endowment to over $1 million today. FFRF gives out 5 percent of the fruits of this endowment every year to reward and acknowledge major activism against religious intolerance and bigotry. This year’s recipient is the Human Rights Campaign. The HRC is our nation’s largest organization leading the fight for LGBTQ-plus rights. Here to accept the award today on behalf of the Human Rights Campaign is Brandon Wolf, currently serving as the national press secretary for the HRC. Brandon is a nationally recognized advocate for LGBTQ-plus civil rights and also gun safety laws. Brandon is a survivor of the 2016 Orlando Pulse Nightclub shooting. He was the first survivor of the Pulse tragedy to testify before Congress, and returned in 2022 to testify before the House Oversight Committee on the rise of anti-LGBT hate and violence. His debut memoir, “A Place For Us,” was released last year and became an instant bestseller. Now, I’d like to present Brandon with a plaque that he will keep and a $50,000 check on behalf of the HRC for the vital work that it does. Please welcome Brandon Wolf.
