Madonna offers emotional speech at GLAAD Awards

NEW YORK — Madonna, a pioneer for homosexual rights, accepted the Advocate for Change Award on the 2019 GLAAD Media Awards with a rousing speech that went from playful to emotional, bringing the viewers to its ft.

The 60-year-old pop icon turned heads as she walked to her desk on the Hilton Midtown in New York on Saturday evening, earlier than taking the stage to have fun her three a long time of advocacy work within the LGBTQ neighborhood.

“Why have I all the time fought for change? That is a tough query to reply. It is like making an attempt to clarify the significance of studying or the necessity to love. Rising up I all the time felt like an outsider, like I did not slot in. It wasn’t as a result of I did not shave underneath my armpits, I simply did not slot in, OK,” she stated. “The primary homosexual man I ever met was named Christopher Flynn. He was my ballet trainer in highschool and he was the primary individual that believed in me, that made me really feel particular as a dancer, as an artist and as a human being. I do know this sounds trivial and superficial, however he was the primary man to inform me I used to be lovely.”

Madonna went on to say Flynn took her to her first homosexual membership in Detroit, and that the night modified her life.

“For the primary time I noticed males kissing males, ladies dressed like boys, boys carrying scorching pants, insane, unbelievable dancing and a form of freedom and pleasure and happiness that I had by no means seen earlier than,” she stated. “I lastly felt like I used to be not alone, that it was OK to be completely different and to not be like everyone else. And that in spite of everything, I used to be not a freak. I felt at residence, and it gave me hope.”

Madonna additionally stated Flynn pushed her to go away Michigan and go to New York to pursue her goals. And when she arrived within the Large Apple in 1977, she was in awe with all New York needed to supply – variety, creativity – however she additionally discovered concerning the AIDS epidemic.

“The plague that moved in like a black cloud over New York Metropolis and in a blink of an eye fixed,” she stated and snapped her fingers, “took out all of my buddies.”

“After I misplaced my finest pal and roommate Martin Burgoyne after which Keith Haring – completely satisfied birthday Keith – I made a decision to take up the bull horn and actually battle again,” she added.

Madonna, teary-eyed from her seat, acquired the award from Anderson Cooper, Mykki Blanco and Rosie O’Donnell, who gave a strong speech about how Madonna helped her turn into extra comfy in her personal pores and skin.

“So right here I used to be – VG, very homosexual – relationship a person and I went to Madonna for recommendation,” stated O’Donnell, who co-starred in 1992’s “A League of Their Personal” with the singer. “I used to be questioning and not sure, my homosexual life was blossoming however I did not fairly know what to do. And he or she informed me, ‘Rosie, simply observe your coronary heart’ – recommendation I nonetheless observe to today.”

The multi-hour GLAAD occasion additionally gave awards to Andy Cohen, the FX collection “Pose” and “The Assassination of Gianni Versace: American Crime Story,” Samantha Bee, the movie “Boy Erased,” CNN’s Don Lemon and R&B singer Janelle Monae. The occasion will air on Emblem on Could 12.

Regardless of profitable seven Grammys, two Golden Globes and numerous different honors, Madonna stated getting GLAAD’s Advocate for Change Award has a particular place in her coronary heart.

“As a result of it is recognition of years and years of labor that I’ve accomplished over three a long time. It is not something superficial,” Madonna stated in an interview with The Related Press after receiving her honor. “It means one thing to me as a result of I put plenty of blood, sweat and tears into all of the work that I’ve accomplished over time advocating for change.”

Madonna will launch her 14th album, “Madame X,” on June 14. It was impressed from residing in Lisbon, Portugal, for the previous few years and consists of collaborations with Colombian singer Maluma, Migos rapper Quavo, Brazilian singer Anitta, and singer-rapper-songwriter Swae Lee of the duo Rae Sremmurd.

The album additionally options the monitor “Batuka,” co-written by Madonna’s 13-year-old son, David Banda.

“That was a household affair – the decision and response track,” Madonna stated. “(David) likes to take extra of the credit score than the remainder of my kids. It is all the time enjoyable to work with my children, particularly David.”