Learn English Katy Perry Be a champion for the LGBTQ with BIG subtitles
so a little backstory
Shannon Woodward one of my best friends
a lot of my best friends are here
tonight because I love them and I’m I’m
obsessed with and I’m loyal and they’ve
taught me pretty much everything I know
but Shannon actually I used to sleep on
our couch and I was couch surfing on her
couch and I used to eat her frozen
chicken tenders from Trader Joe’s they
were so good here’s the thing about that
woman we’ve kind of like raised each
other I’ll get into it in a second but
basically one time I said I’m not a
feminist because you know I don’t grow
hair underneath my arms and stuff like
that cuz I really didn’t understand what
that meant and she like lovingly pulled
me aside as the strong woman she is and
great friend and those are great friends
and she goes hey um this is what the
word feminist means I was like what this
whole time I’m a feminist
[Applause]
so I love her so very much and I love
all my friends that teach me everything
that I’ve learned today so thank you so
much for this incredible humbling award
I gotta say there is no other community
that has done more to shape Who I am
today and there is no other community
that I believe in more than you
[Music]
[Applause]
this community here tonight has achieved
more progress toward a more perfect
union in a short amount of time as any
group in our history so I stand with you
and I know that we stand together
against discrimination whether it be in
the LGBTQ community or our Latino
brothers and sisters or the millions of
Muslims in this country I’m just a
singer/songwriter honestly I speak my
truths and I paint my fantasies into
these little bite-sized pop songs for
instance I kissed a girl and I liked it
[Applause]
[Music]
truth be told a I did more than that
and
hold up but be how was I gonna reconcile
that with the gospel singing girl raised
in youth groups that were pro conversion
camps what I did know is that I was
curious and even then I knew sexuality
wasn’t as black and white as this dress
and honestly I haven’t always gotten it
right but in 2008 when that song came
out I knew that I started a conversation
that a lot of the world seemed curious
enough to sing along to so let’s take a
trip down memory lane for one second my
first words were mama and Dada God and
Satan right and wrong were taught to me
on felt boards and of course the
glamorous
Jan Krauss crying diamond teardrops
every night on that Vaseline TBN
television screen make some noise if you
know who I’m talking about when I was
growing up homosexuality was synonymous
with the word abomination and help a
place of gnashing of teeth continuous
the burning of skin and probably Mike
Pence’s ultimate guest list for a
barbecue no way no way I wanted the
pearly gates and the unlimited Froyo
toppings so must of my unconscious
adolescence I prayed the gay away at my
Jesus camps but then in the middle of it
all in a twist of events I found my gift
and my gift introduced me to people
outside my bubble and my bubble started
to burst these people were nothing like
I had been taught to fear they were the
most free strong kind and inclusive
people I have ever met
they stimulated my mind and they filled
my heart with joy and they freaking
danced all the while doing it these
people are actually magic and they are
magic because they are living their
truth oh my goddess what a revelation
and not the last chapter of the Bible
[Applause]
suffice to say it’s been a long road for
me and I’m sure a long road for many of
you out there I know it always I know it
doesn’t always feel safe to live out who
you are but here’s the thing though I
would have not chosen a different road
priceless lessons have been learned the
path of discovery has made me has tested
me and forever changed me you don’t get
to choose your family but you can choose
your tribe many of the people I admire
and trust and work with belong to the
LGBTQ community and without them I would
be half of the person I am today my life
is rich in every capacity because of
them they are trusted allies that
provide a safe space to fall to not know
it all and to make mistakes these are
the people I hold dear see I hope I
stand here as real evidence for all that
no matter where you came from it’s about
where you are going and that real change
real evolution and real perceptions
shift can happen if we open our minds
and soft in our hearts people can change
believe me it would have been easier
just to stay the whipped-cream tit
spring poppy light fluffy fun anthems by
the way of animal totems singing girl
who was basically somewhat neutral in a
stance and just that more hugs could
save the world no way no longer can I
sit in silence I have to stand for what
I know
is true and that is equality and justice
for all period that’s why the HRC is so
important and I am so grateful for them
being on the front lines every day from
civil union legislation to repealing
Don’t Ask Don’t Tell to getting rid of
DOMA at the Supreme Court which paved
the way for marriage equality across the
country and continuing to fight for
trans equality amongst all things I
[Applause]
don’t have to tell you that we have a
lot more to do we have to create a safe
space for us to ask questions of
ourselves and others and to keep the
conversation going because the loudest
voice in the room or on your TV set
isn’t always right but that little voice
inside of you pushing you to discover
who you are is a trusted friend none of
us have the answers or all of them at
least but it’s time to lead with empathy
and grace and compassion now more than
ever to find the unity we need now I’ll
never cease to be a champion an ally a
spotlight and a loving voice for all
LGBTQ identifying people whatever your
sexuality your gender your preferred
pronouns blossom t2b we all know it
ain’t so black and white and I will
continue to champion the people that
have been a champion for me many friends
and loved ones from the LGBTQ family
have raised me into the woman I am today
and I want to dedicate this award to one
of my greatest champions in my life
my manager Bradford Alden Kupferberg
[Applause]
make it’s almost been like 15 years cuz
he believed in me before it all secretly
paying my rent four years and bringing
me leftovers from hamburger scary’s he
really did I know we really connected on
a soul level though because we came from
the same upbringing where it was
difficult to be our authentic selves we
had similar struggles breaking out of
our suppressive shells but we kept
inspiring each other challenging each
other and retiring our past frame of
mind
we broke the cycle and now we’re living
our best most authentic lives I love you
be calm there will be obstacles but we
all know everything good takes work but
we can’t let our past get in the way of
our brilliant future these days I get an
incomparable high from finally knowing
myself and it feels more real than any
story I was ever told on a felt board
it feels sparkly as and truth be
told I think a lot of that has to do
with the magic that has rubbed off on me
from all of you thank you so much
[Applause]