Clearly moved by the recent rash of suicides among gay teens across the country, Mayor Annise Parker used her acceptance speech for the Guardian of the Human Spirit Award to make a moving statement on behalf of young people suffering at the hands of bullies. Her remarks, which held the Holocaust Museum Houston luncheon crowd in rapt attention, elicited a standing ovation in the Hilton Americas-Houston ballroom.

Seldom is such a large gathering (560) so mesmerized by a speaker that not a single whisper is heard, not a single fork clinked on a plate. Such was the case on Tuesday when Parker gave one of the more poignant, personal and moving speeches of her career. Intermittently, as she paused for words, it appeared that she was overwhelmed with emotion.

"I believe that there is incredible strength in facing the world openly and honestly, in being who I am every day. And I think it has paid off for me over the years in politics, in life. But it has not always been easy to get there," she said. "And how do we connect these young people to their futures, to the lives they deserve, to the support that they need?"

Parker gave the name and age of the six young men, who ended their lives in September as the result of bullying. And, echoing the Holocaust Museum mantra, she said, "Let us agree to stop the hatred, starting here, starting now."

Parker was honored for her lifelong commitment to helping others and to bettering the community, the principles of the Holocaust Museum's award. Praising her 30-plus years of community service were Rice University president David Leebron, OutSmart magazine's Tom Fricke, Trees for Houston's Barry Ward, the Houston Zoo's Deborah Cannon and former Ambassador Arthur Schechter.

Holocaust Museum Houston board chairman Michael Goldberg also praised the mayor. The luncheon was chaired by Kay and Ned Holmes.

Watch Parker's speech (in two parts):