Austin mourns passing of prominent Fil-Am LGBTQ advocate-volunteer

Ceci Gratias said that her personal mission was “true equality, more about everybody feeling safe wherever they are and not being afraid who they are in expressing themselves.”   RONA QUEJADA

AUSTIN, Texas — To the tune of “Oh When the Saints Come Marching In” played by a Mardi Gras-type band, dozens of followers and supporters of a Filipina champion of equal rights and social justice marched as they danced, from Austin’s City Hall grounds towards Oilcan Harry’s, a well-known Lesbian Gay Bisexual Transgender and Queer (LGBTQ) watering hole to continue the memorial for Cecilia Lourdes Bulaong Gratias.

The memorial was held exactly a week after honoree Gratias, 53, died from a short battle against aggressive breast cancer that slowed down her very active public life.

From left to right, Austin City Mayor Steve Adler, City Council Member Jimmy Flannigan with the family of Cecilia Bulaong Gratias: cousin Rona Quejada (with proclamation); brother Raul, among others after the Austin city officials handed the proclamation declaring November 12 as Cecilia Bulaong Gratias day.  LEO BALTAZAR)

Mayor Steve Adler had read his  and the council’s proclamation of November 12 as Cecilia Lourdes Bulaong Gratias Day, and Cecilia’s dear friends led by City Council Member Jimmy Flannigan shared memories of her.

Cecilia’s close cousin Rona Quejada, who grew up with her in the Philippines, said that she was not surprised by the impact Gratias had had in helping communities. But she was amazed with the number of people who came forward to tell how she had helped them.

Councilor Flannigan said the memorial showed Gratias’ accomplishments and “how important she was to me and the whole city.”

Flannigan said “Ceci Gratias was irreplaceable” although he noted that his close friend for 20 years “was a behind-the-scenes, get-things-done kind of person.”

“She is the best person I have ever known. Her warmth, her love, her openness she was able to build bridges across communities that nobody else could build. She walked into a room the people instantly loved her,” added Flannigan.

Proclamation of Cecilia Bulaong Gratias day signed by Austin Texas Mayor Steve Adler. RONA QUEJADA

“She was most at home in coffee shops — late-night meetings over food and drinks brainstorming about the future and how to make the world a better place.”

Gratias was most recently Flannigan’s constituent relations director. She also did volunteer work for “Austin nonprofit groups OutYouth, Allgo, Queerbomb, Human Rights Campaign (HRC)-Austin, Lifeworks’ homeless youth program, the Austin Gay and Lesbian Chamber of Commerce (AGLCC), the National Gay Chamber and her specific and unique commitment to Austin LGBTQ issues diversified the scope of traditional activism to include and encourage intersectional collaborations with groups from all ages, races, orientations, beliefs, and economic backgrounds,” Flannigan said.

Gratias initially organized Pride parades and festivals and then served as the AGLCC’s president and CEO. One of her most lauded achievements was setting up a scholarship foundation that was responsible for sending many people to college.

In early January this year, she was chosen by the Human Rights Campaign-Texas to receive the 2017 Bettie Naylor Visibility Award, a prestigious commendation for promoting and embodying LGBTQ visibility, while the National LGBT Chamber of Commerce is set to commemorate her life and legacy at their annual National Dinner celebration.

In a video prepared in time for her Betty Naylor Visibility Award Ceci Gratias, a Univrsity of the Philippines graduate, shared that her “personal mission is true equality really. It is more about everybody feeling safe wherever they are and not being afraid who they are in expressing themselves.”

Gratias was honored by many friends and government officials, among them Austin Council Member Ora Houston, Congressman Lloyd Doggett of 35th District of Texas and Mike Madrid of Hispanic Chamber of Commerce.

Houston called Gratias “such a kind spirit she has a gentle heart. She is one of those people who listened, really listened with empathy to the things that person tries to share with her.”

Austin’s Mayor Steve Adler honoring Ceci Gratias at her memorial. RONA QUEJADA

“I was very visible, but I was an invisible gay. Until I was 43 just a couple of years ago, and I felt like Ceci gave me the inspiration and the strength to be able to (come out). And it was very liberating. And I have her to thank,” Madrid stated.

Cousin Quejada, who fondly called her “Cecilu,” said Gratias will always be remembered as someone who did not enrich herself.

“Even while she only had meager income and she is not compensated for what she does, she still does it.  She was more into volunteering that is why she did not become rich. She did not become materially rich yet lived a rich and full life dedicated to kindness, social justice, equality humility, and public service. She was also the reason why my family decided to settle here in Austin instead of any other place in the U.S.”

“Cecilu believe(d) in God and (that) God will accept everybody regardless of sexual orientation. I’m also of the strong belief that Filipinos are accepting. We are all equal and the same in the eyes of God. Although her services for the LGBTQ community were given more attention, she also worked for other minority communities like African Americans, Latinos, and of course Filipinos, among others.”

Gratias’ ashes were flown back to the Philippines for burial.