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NEW YORK (AP) – Madonna, a gay rights pioneer, received the Advocate for Change award at the 2019 GLAAD Media Awards with an exciting speech that went from playful to emotional and brought the audience to the fore.
The 60-year-old pop icon turned heads as she headed to her table at the Hilton Midtown in New York on Saturday night, before going on stage to celebrate her three decades of work. advocacy within the LGBTQ community.
"Why have I always struggled for change? It's a difficult question to answer. It's like trying to explain the importance of reading or the need to love. Growing up, I always felt like a stranger, as if I was not up to it. It's not because I did not shave under my armpits, I just was not up to it, OK, "she said. "The first gay man I met is Christopher Flynn. He was my ballet teacher in high school and he was the first to believe in me, which made me feel special as a dancer, artist and human being. I know it sounds trivial and superficial, but he was the first to tell me that I was beautiful.
Madonna went on to say that Flynn had taken her to her first gay club in Detroit, and that the evening had changed her life.
"For the first time, I saw men kissing men, girls dressed in boys, boys dressed in not very hot pants, an incredible dance and a kind of freedom, joy and happiness that I had never seen before, "she said. "I finally felt that I was not alone, that it was good to be different and not to be like everyone else. And that after all, I was not a monster. I felt at home and that gave me hope.
Madonna also said that Flynn had pushed her to leave Michigan and go to New York to pursue her dreams. And when she came to the Big Apple in 1977, she was impressed by all that New York had to offer – diversity, creativity – but she also learned about the AIDS epidemic.
"The plague that has shifted like a black cloud over New York and in the blink of an eye," she said, snapping her fingers, "killed all my friends."
"After losing my best friend and roommate, Martin Burgoyne, and then Keith Haring – happy birthday, Keith – I decided to take the bull's horn and beat me," she added.
Madonna, with tearful eyes in her seat, received the award from Anderson Cooper, Mykki Blanco and Rosie O'Donnell, who delivered a powerful speech on how Madonna helped her become more intimate. comfortable in his skin.
"So I ended up – VG, very gay – with a man and I went to see Madonna for advice," said O'Donnell, co-star of the song "A league apart" of 1992 with the singer . "I was wondering and I was uncertain, my gay life was flourishing but I did not know what to do. And she said to me, "Rosie, follow your heart"
The GLAAD event, which lasted several hours, also rewarded Andy Cohen, the FX series "Pose" and "The Gianni Versace assassination: American Crime Story", Samantha Bee, the movie "Boy Erased", Don Lemon's CNN and singer R & B Janelle Monae. The event will be broadcast on Logo on May 12th.
Despite winning seven Grammy Awards, two Golden Globes and countless other honors, Madonna said that obtaining the Advocate for Change Award from GLAAD held a special place in her heart.
"Because it's recognition of the years and years of work I've done over the last three decades. It's nothing superficial, "said Madonna in an interview with Associated Press after receiving her honor. "It means something to me because I have put a lot of blood, sweat and tears into all the work that I have done over the years in favor of change."
Madonna will release her 14th album, "Madame X", on June 14th. Inspired by life in Lisbon, Portugal, in recent years he has collaborated with Colombian singer Maluma, rapper Migos Quavo, Brazilian singer Anitta and singer-songwriter Swae Lee of duo Rae Sremmurd.
The album also includes the title "Batuka", co-written by Madonna's son, David Banda, 13 years old.
"It was a family affair, the call and answer song," Madonna said. "(David) likes to take more credit than the rest of my children. It's always fun to work with my kids, especially David. "
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