Click here to read Beth’s OutFront Gala Legacy Award Acceptance Speech.

Hear Beth as a guest host on a StoryCorp podcast episode.

Beth Zemsky of Minneapolis is an activist for gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender rights. At StoryCorps Atlanta, she told fellow activist Kierra Johnson about a deeply affecting moment back in 1987—at the March on Washington for Lesbian and Gay Rights.

This story was recorded at the National Gay and Lesbian Task Force’s Creating Change Conference.

Rosh Hashanah Sermon 5774

Beth Zemsky

Shir Tikvah, Minneapolis MN

Shanna Tovah

In my work I give a lot of speeches and keynotes. I have to say that delivering this sermon has given me way more agitation than anything I’ve ever done. So, I want to follow Ray’s advice for a moment, that he gave us last night about those of us who have the privilege of being up on the bima, to take a moment to take this all in, and to be all in, in the moment here with you.

Guest post by Beth Zemsky, former board co-chair of the Task Force

Election 2012: The country comes out

Election Day 2012 was a momentous day. In my adopted home state of Minnesota, we fought back two regressive constitutional amendments, an anti-marriage-equality amendment and one calling for voter ID. We also turned both chambers of our state Legislature blue again for the first time in decades.