| |
| |
|
|
SENATE RESOLUTION
|
|
|
WHEREAS, The Senate of the State of Texas honors and |
|
|
commemorates the life of Kirk D. Myers-Hill, who died on April 4, |
|
|
2023, at the age of 54; and |
|
|
WHEREAS, Kirk Myers-Hill was born on June 25, 1968; he was |
|
|
the chief executive officer and founder of Abounding Prosperity, |
|
|
Incorporated, a nonprofit organization in Dallas that is |
|
|
dedicated to addressing health, social, and economic disparities |
|
|
among Black Americans, with a particular emphasis on LGBTQ |
|
|
individuals and their families; and |
|
|
WHEREAS, Kirk was a visionary and an activist who |
|
|
dedicated his life to serving vulnerable groups who face |
|
|
discrimination with respect to medical services and in society at |
|
|
large and to fighting for the rights of people suffering from HIV |
|
|
and AIDS; he concentrated his energies on the right to health |
|
|
care and on mobilization efforts to increase equity and access to |
|
|
services for ethnic minority groups that are disproportionately |
|
|
affected by HIV and AIDS; and |
|
|
WHEREAS, For more than 20 years, Kirk fought to influence |
|
|
HIV and AIDS policy, championing increased access to biomedical |
|
|
interventions, treatment as prevention, and research on behalf |
|
|
of Black communities; and |
|
|
WHEREAS, Expanding his mission to encompass direct medical |
|
|
and social services, in 2005, Kirk founded Abounding Prosperity, |
|
|
an HIV testing, counseling, and referral agency; the |
|
|
organization now offers a comprehensive range of services, |
|
|
including HIV primary care, transgender health care, substance |
|
|
abuse counseling, mental health counseling, supportive housing, |
|
|
financial assistance, tele-wellness, and research and |
|
|
recreational centers; and |
|
|
WHEREAS, Kirk established an ethos of education, |
|
|
prevention, and treatment and served with the State of Texas |
|
|
Community Planning Group, chairing the Interventions Committee; |
|
|
he also served on the City of Dallas Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and |
|
|
Transgender Task Force and represented his community as a |
|
|
founding member of the Dallas Chapter of the Texas Black Gay |
|
|
Network; and |
|
|
WHEREAS, A pillar of support and treasured member of his |
|
|
community, Kirk was a passionate, selfless man whose courage, |
|
|
warmth, and commitment to equitable health services has inspired |
|
|
his colleagues, friends, and fellow citizens; Kirk's labors and |
|
|
activism touched the lives of countless people, and he will be |
|
|
long remembered by his many loved ones and by all who were |
|
|
privileged to share in his life; now, therefore, be it |
|
|
RESOLVED, That the Senate of the State of Texas, 88th |
|
|
Legislature, hereby extend sincere condolences to the bereaved |
|
|
family of Kirk D. Myers-Hill; and, be it further |
|
|
RESOLVED, That a copy of this Resolution be prepared for |
|
|
his family as an expression of deepest sympathy from the Texas |
|
|
Senate and that when the Senate adjourns this day, it do so in |
|
|
memory of Kirk Myers-Hill. |