Britney Spears accepted the Vanguard Award at last night’s GLAAD Media Awards in Los Angeles. The Britney Spears GLAAD speech sent the crowd full of LGBT people into disarray, as host Wanda Sykes declared after her speech, “Britney has broken the show.”
Spears walked the red carpet, and posed for pics with Olympians Gus Kenworthy and Adam Rippon before taking the stage to the accept the award that honors an ally who has made a significant difference in promoting equality and acceptance of LGBTQ people. Previous Vanguard Award honorees include Jennifer Lopez, Cher, Kerry Washington, Elizabeth Taylor, Whoopi Goldberg, Antonio Banderas, Drew Barrymore, Janet Jackson, Demi Lovato, Eric McCormack, Josh Hutcherson and Patricia Arquette.
“An irrefutable icon, Britney Spears has entertained the world while also embodying the spirit of GLAAD’s Vanguard Award by speaking out on significant issues that face her fans – from the Dream Act to anti-transgender bills in Texas,” said Sarah Kate Ellis, President and CEO of GLAAD. “She is a force in the music world who has used her global platform to share messages of love and acceptance, something that the world needs today more than ever.”
Ricky Martin presented Spears with the award. “She fights for acceptance in her own way,” Martin began. “It’s incredible. She could be one of those stars with a huge LGBTQ following that says and does nothing, but instead, she uses her platform to remind audiences around the globe that intolerance is unacceptable.”
The pop star went into a brief speech about how society has “put such an emphasis on what’s normal” and treats things that are different “as strange.” She said, “To be able to express yourself as an individual through art is such a blessing.”
Read the entire Britney Spears GLAAD speech below:
Wow. This is so incredibly amazing. I wrote this speech, it’s basically… I feel like our society has always put such an emphasis on whats normal and to be different is unusual or seen as strange. But to be accepted unconditionally and to be able to express yourself as an individual through art is such a blessing. Events like this — the one that we are attending here tonight — show the world that we are not alone. We can all join hands here together and know that we are all beautiful. And we can lift each other up and show our gifts without hesitation. Being a mother has shown me what it means to love unconditionally and all of you in this room have showed me throughout my career what it means to be loved unconditionally. It’s such an honor to be here, and thank you so much GLAAD and thank you to the LGBTQ community and my family and all of my friends and fans, I love you all very much.
Watch the Britney Spears GLAAD speech right here:
Britney Spears at GLAAD Awards. pic.twitter.com/xmyYgBDVv1
— Britney Spears FR (@NewsBritneyFR) April 13, 2018
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