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NEW YORK – Madonna, a gay rights pioneer, received the Advocate for Change Award at the GLAAD Media Awards 2019 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 did I always fight for change?" It's a hard question to answer, it's like I'm trying to explain the importance of the reading or wanting to love growing up, I always felt like a stranger, as if I was not up to scratch because I did not shave my armpits, I did not just not suitable, OK, "she said. "The first homosexual man I met called Christopher Flynn, he was my ballet teacher in high school and the first to believe in me, which made me feel special as dancer, artist and human being.I know it sounds trivial and shallow, but he was the first to tell me that I was beautiful. "

The Honore Madonna accepts the Law Change Award at the 30th edition of the GLAAD Media Awards at the Hilton Midtown New York on Saturday, May 4, 2019 in New York. (Photo: Evan Agostini, Evan Agostini / Invision / Associated Press)

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 as boys, boys dressed in hot pants, crazy people, an incredible dance and a kind of freedom, joy and happiness that I had never seen it 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 after all, I do not have to be alone. I was not a monster, I felt at home and it gave me hope. "

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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 defend myself," she added.

Madonna, with tearful eyes from her seat, received the award from Anderson Cooper, Mykki Blanco and Rosie O Donnell, who delivered a powerful speech on how Madonna helped her to 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, who co-starred in the movie "A league apart" of 1992 with the singer. "I was questioning and I did not know too much, my gay life was flourishing but I did not really know what to do, and she said:" Rosie, please follow me. your heart – advice that I am still to this day. "

The GLAAD event, which lasted several hours, also rewarded Andy Cohen, the series FX "Pose" and "The assassination of Gianni Versace: American Crime Story", "Samantha Bee", the movie "Boy Erased", Don CNN's Lemon and R & B singer 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 that I have done over the past three decades.This is not superficial," said Madonna in an interview with the Associated Press after receiving his 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 contains 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 kids.It's always fun to work with my kids, especially David."

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