Says GLAAD:
“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.”
But that’s not all!
Spears is a longtime ally and supporter of the LGBTQ community. She has consistently stood up for LGBTQ youth on GLAAD’s Spirit Day by going purple on social media to speak out against bullying. In 2015, she released a Spirit Day video and promoted participation in the anti-bullying campaign by organizing a meet-and-greet for LGBTQ fans, washing her stage at Planet Hollywood purple, and providing anti-bullying materials to concertgoers. In 2016, she was among over 20 music artists to appear on GLAAD’s song “Hands,” released with Interscope Records to remember the 49 lives taken in the Orlando Pulse nightclub shooting. The musical tribute to the victims of Orlando, written by Justin Tranter, Julia Michaels and Blood Pop, benefited Equality Florida, the GLBT Community Center of Central Florida and GLAAD. In 2017, Spears was among 140 leading entertainers including Jennifer Lawrence, Ariana Grande, Laverne Cox, and Whoopi Goldberg to speak out in an open letter against two anti-LGBTQ bills, which targeted transgender youth in Texas and were later defeated. Most recently, Spears sparked global attention when she wore a t-shirt stating ‘We Are All Dreamers’ and called on Congress to pass the Dream Act via Instagram.
(via Broadway World)
Pro Britney:
“She defined a generation of little gays. Hell yes!”
“She is our forever icon, an angel on earth…”
“She means so much to LGBTQ people, this is well-deserved.”
[Organizations like GLAAD] just nominate the people they want to show up or who will get them publicity.
They do it because they can get bigger names and raise more money which makes sense, but doing that tends to mean you’re giving people awards for being famous and not for actually doing anything.
If it’s someone who goes above and beyond to help the community, then it’s warranted.
I mean, it depends. if it’s someone whose out there raising funds, and talking to politicians, and trying to make things better because they see the injustices, then yeah ok. give them an award. Like Liz Taylor. bonus points if they’ve somehow gotten arrested protesting the treatment of the community, worldwide. (since we know some countries are better than others in how they treat lgbtq) — if it’s because they gave a good interview, and retweet a few things, but don’t actually get off their asses, hell no. If it’s cause they gave a speech in defense of loving their gay family member, hell no. if it’s cause they did a photoshoot, hell no.
If an ally wants to win one of these stupid awards, they should do more than just show up. they should turn their attention towards the most vulnerable members of our community and ask them what they need, not just cherry pick the “acceptable” ones, the ones who are conventionally attractive (and usually white) and who look good swaying around in the background of a music video. they need to do more than just pretend to be tragic gays in films and on tv shows and talk about how ~gay love~ is really just like normal person love and how we should all be accepting of others. like. they need to move from acceptance and pandering towards actual action.
