Coming Out Speech For The New York City Gay Pride Rally In 2004 By Stephanie Adams

One year ago, I decided to finally come "out" publicly as a lesbian in spite of what could have come out as a result of it. My journey was one that later took me to the rally for Pride 2003, where I found myself inspired by those who spoke in front of everyone. Today, I am here with the hope of inspiring all of you with my experience of being welcomed and recognized in such a wonderful and diverse community.

I come from a diverse background that includes West Indian, American Indian, Egyptian, Sicilian, Irish, English and Welsh. As a woman of color, I am proud to identify my heritage with several colors of the rainbow, and I do so in a community that prides itself upon embracing a family of colors, colors which represent a beautiful rainbow flag. We are those colors and that is what makes us all beautiful together.

The Gay Rights Movement came to be as a result of the Civil Rights Movement. Martin Luther King Jr. did not die in vain. As time goes by, his dream is becoming more and more of a reality for all people, regardless of their race, religion, sex or sexual preference. In a new millennium that is still filled with hatred and prejudice, we can only win the battle for equality with love, unity, pride and perseverance. Stand up, stand out, stand proud, but remember to stand together.

During the Civil Rights Movement, African Americans fought for the right to walk down the street, the right to go to school and the right to be seen in public places without being segregated or feeling inferior. It took time and it might take time for us to be able to marry our partners of the same sex, regardless of what part of the world we live in, but it will happen. Love is blind, which is exactly why justice will eventually see to it for us…

My aunt raised me since the day of my birth and died on my birthday last year from breast cancer. Even though I was already in a relationship with a woman, I did not decide to come completely out until I came out to my aunt. My aunt loved me tremendously and accepted me unconditionally. Her accepting me for everything I am is what made me realize that I too should love and accept myself for who I am as well.

Being a centerfold, I must say that I took a great chance by coming out to a publication that is dedicated towards straight men. To my surprise, I ended up developing a fan club of women. Trust me when I tell you that I have no complaints about that…Playboy is an entity that is known for expressing freedom in sexuality, which was the primary reason why they accepted my desire to express who I am. Well I’m expressing who I am, and I can truly say now that I am happy.

There was a time when people used the term "gay" and it meant to be "happy". Be happy with who you are. Be happy with what you are or what you want to be. Be happy with who and what makes you happy. It took the death of someone I love in order for me to learn how to live. I will live my life today like there's no tomorrow. I will live my life tomorrow without any regrets for today. I live my live to its fullest as best as I can and I live it with pride…

Coming Out Speech For Jersey City Pride In 2004 By Stephanie Adams

(Note: The same speech for New York City Pride was given the same day Martin Luther King Jr. gave his "I Have A Dream" speech and was given by Stephanie Adams in his honor.)

Coming Out Speech For Staten Island Pride In 2005 By Stephanie Adams

Hi, my name is Stephanie Adams and I'm the first Playboy Centerfold to come "out" as a lesbian...

When I came out, it was somewhat chaotic. Being that I was a centerfold and am still a spokesmodel for Playboy, coming out to a magazine dedicated towards predominantly straight men wasn't easy...Being that I was always a somewhat private person in spite of my profession, seeing myself on the cover of lesbian magazines and in an occasional "Page Six" of the New York Post was somewhat surreal...But I've always enjoyed being controversial. And I've never been afraid to make sudden changes in my life as long as I felt in my heart that it was right for me spiritually.

My aunt raised me since I was three days old and died on my birthday two years ago from breast cancer. Eventually I wrote a book about it and named it after an anonymous poem entitled "He Only Takes The Best". Her death was the most painful experience of my life, yet also the most enlightening. Just days before my aunt died, she told me to live my life the way she always wanted to. After I came out to her, I realized that she too was coming out to me.

I couldn't understand why my aunt died on my birthday until now...It took the death of someone I loved in order for me to learn how to live. My aunt believed in me more than I believed in myself. She encouraged me to pursue my writing and as of today, I am the author of 13 books. I never thought my life would be as it is today, but it is. And so I am here now to tell you that I am living my life as best as I can and I am living my life with pride.

Coming Out Speech For Brooklyn Pride In 2005 By Stephanie Adams

Hi, my name is Stephanie Adams and I'm the first Playboy Centerfold to come "out" as a lesbian...I'm also the author of 13 books and the founder of www.GODDESSY.com.

I'd like to read a few excerpts from my latest book entitled Empress. Empress is a sapphic novel about two powerful women who fall in love in ancient Rome and change the ways of the Roman government. An Egyptian women becomes an Empress and, by falling in love with a Roman female gladiator, she proves to us that "Love has no color, sex or reason…It’s just love". Empress is a book that is very much symbolic of the present fight for gay rights and gay marriage as well as the continuous fight for religious freedom and racial equality. The excerpts I have chosen relate primarily to love and are as follows:

"If you try to get control over it, it will take control over you. If you try to make it work, it will make you work even harder for it. If you no longer believe in it, you will no longer believe that you deserve it. Here’s to love…and the madness that comes along with it…"

"I have no regrets…for the happiness, the sadness, the ecstasy and even the pain. I have lived my life the way I wanted to. Following the mistakes, were valuable lessons. Following the lessons were moments of reflection…but never any regrets. Live your life today because there is no guarantee of tomorrow. Live your life tomorrow without any regrets for today. If I had a chance to do it all again, I would have done it all the same way…I have no regrets…"

"She stood before the people, as their uninhibited admiration of her was evident in their cheers. Their cheers…She loved their cheers and she stood before them with great pride...This might have appeared to be one of many moments, but it was indeed an unforgettable time in her life…as well as history…Who was she? She was the savior of Rome and Rome was willing to save her because of it...Her desire for women was beyond the norm. As most Romans enjoyed fulfillment with both sexes, she enjoyed it with only one...She had so many attributes and achievements that left her as infamous as she was famous. But most of all, she was loved."

Thank You.