Nicole Blackman-
the spoken word she performed that I was present at in 2000:

Get Your Hands Off My Brother Get your hands off my brother.I don't care if his name is Stephen or Danielor James or Billy or even if I don't know his name at all.They are all my brothers and you have no right no right at all, to attack any one of them.What is it about love that makes you so scared and angry? You fear what you don't understand but how could a gay man earn such a beating? You think you are mighty because you are 18, ineloquent and full of rage standing over a man with blood pouring from his nose.Where in the world did you get the idea that murdering a man will make your life any better? These men are all my brothers because they were the ones who came to pick me up from a phone booth after I got thrown out of a car. They rubbed my shoulders in taxis when I was tired and bought me a drink when I didn't have the money. They went with me to Audrey Hepburn films and taught me the meaning of words like 'fierce' and 'worthy.' They made me understand that life should be about things that are wonderful, things that are beautiful.These are the men with whom I have the most in common and they taught me more than Cosmo ever did. They drank cup after cup of tea with me when I was unraveling and reeling from being dumped for no reason. They taught me that love is love and who should be the one to judge? We used to say that if I was a gay manor they were straight that we would be lovers.But in many ways,they have been more loving to me than the men I loved.When my courage failed they showed me the power of a good Billie Holiday tune.They told me to do what I believed in, that a glass of wine can fix almost anything,that the music you listen to is the soundtrack of your life,that $1.25 and a sense of style can take you anywhere in this city. They said Everyone is a star and everyone shines it just may be that yours is a little different than mine.They taught me that everyone wants someone to come home to, someone to look after, that everyone adores a tender touch,that everyone needs someone to hold them and say shh when they cry,that everyone like to talk and laugh and cook and watch TV and kiss.They taught me that being a loving person means sometimes getting your heart broken.Whether by violence or virus I've lost some of my guardian angels.Patrick was killed in Boston and I never had the chance to say thank you.Lee died in New York and I never had the chance to say goodbye.Peter didn't want me to see him sick so I didn't know until after he'd gone.I hated him for that.I loved him for that.I made them promise they'd be at my wedding and they made me promise that there would be balloons at their funerals.And I did because they taught me how important promises are.But it's not his time now and I will not let you take him from me,s o get your hands off my brother.(You have no right, no right in the world,to drive through the city breaking the wings off angels.)He may be face down on the pavement but I'm not and I will fight you to save his life because every day in so many ways he saved mine.