What People Are Saying
What people are saying about Stuart and John’s presentations:
University professor (USA, 2016):
“I can’t thank you enough for the powerful and inspiring talk you gave in class yesterday. I know that the students hung on every word and that you really helped them appreciate the way in which the law can make a difference in peoples’ lives in a whole new way.”
“Somehow, [John & Stuart] manage, in one hour, to seamlessly weave legal history and analysis with their compelling personal stories, and with messages about the role that law can play in the lives of individuals and families, and in promoting (or hindering) social change. Their presentation is riveting; their style engaging. All within an hour, we (the audience) laughed, cried, and emerged with a deeper understanding of the story of marriage equality in the United States—from intellectual and vicarious experiential standpoints.”
“My guess is that their class visit will be one of the experiences students will remember throughout their lifetimes.”
College Students (USA, 2016)
John “shared, in my opinion, one of the most inspiring stories I have ever heard because he fought for what he believed in, even when millions of people were against him…[He] “showed that change is possible through participation in government…Lewis was a true leader and role model in the gay community….Even though to society Lewis was “different” he knew and respected the uniqueness of each individual and respected their differences.”
“John Lewis was phenomenal. The fact that his presentation was a personal story made it easier to connect with and understand….John Lewis … is a fighter for human rights.”
Asian University Students (Japan, China, Taiwan, 2017):
“This session is unforgettably impressive. Their real opinions are really meaningful and made me change my mind of LGBTQ”
“It was my first time meeting LGBTQ people face to face, so it was one of the most memorable experiences I had during this program.”
“This session is one of my favorite during these three weeks! PLEASE come and give a talk every year and please share your stories to more parts of the world!!”
University Professor (Tokyo, Japan, 2017)
“Thank you for your inspiring talk and personal conversation. My students were all so inspired. You are great educator!”
Shanghai, China Event Organizer (Shanghai, China, 2017)
“It’s wonderful to have both of you join our sharing event re love, marriage and family. I love the photos and stories that you have shared with us. Your sharing is truly inspirational and encouraging and I can tell that our audience are moved and touched. Thank you for sharing your life experiences with us!”
Attendees at Presentations (Japan, 2017)
“Thank you very much for giving us a talk last night! I was inspired by your unwavering effort and passion to educate people around the world about LGBTQ. Thank you very much for providing us with a wonderful learning opportunity!”
“It’s my great honor to meet you. Thank you for your symposium. As you know, in Japan, grassroots is not active compared to America. It is so interesting for me to listen to the history of Marriage Equality in your country. I will use that as reference in my research from now on.”
“Thank you again for your lecture in Kanazawa. It was such a great time to talk about LBGT activities and politics with you. Every time I meet you, I can become positive and optimistic.”
High School Teacher (USA, 2017)
“My students were moved by your story, and truly enjoyed hearing about your experiences fighting for marriage equality. I was particularly happy to hear you talk about how the personal can become political, and about how important it is to show up, because both of those messages are deeply intertwined in my curriculum. You’re both a joy to have in the class, and your love of your work and connection to students is immediately evident. I’m already looking forward to the next time you can talk to my classes!”
High School Students (2013):
“Going into the assembly, I had put marriage equality on a back burner. Inside I kept thinking, ‘This is going to take decades to happen!’ But after hearing Stuart and John speak, the fire was rekindled, so to speak, and it really reignited my hope and fervor for the fight for marriage equality.”
“The audience connected with the speakers because their compassion resonated. John
and Stuart showed that as humans we are all entitled to the same rights. “
Read the Head Royce Magazine’s full account of Stuart and John’s presentation at that school’s middle and high schools.