"You know, there are people on this list that have dedicated their lives to advocating and fighting for our community, making real changes in our government, battling disproportionate LGBTQ homelessness rates and fighting to keep families together while the government and ICE is trying to rip them apart. That being said, I played a bald teenager on TV this year."
"We're in a very strange time right now, and it really is more important than ever that we uplift each other and celebrate our achievements because it really wasn't that long ago that being here tonight would have been incredibly dangerous, and it really is because of the LGBTQ community that came before us that fought for a world where we could all be here tonight celebrating safely,"
"So I really hope to use this platform to continue what they started and to remind the world that our message is very simple: It's love, acceptance, and equality. That's literally it. I don't know why there's so much pushback on that, but fortunately, our community is incredibly resilient and we are ready to face any challenge that comes our way, the same way we've done time and time again through history."
Miles Heizer felt unworthy of inclusion on the Out100 list despite being honored. He contrasted his television role as a bald teenager with activists who have fought systemic challenges like homelessness, family separation, and policy change. He said he was starstruck by attendees and joked about seeing their pictures on Grindr. He emphasized the importance of uplifting one another and celebrating achievements, noting past dangers that activists faced to create safer spaces. He expressed a commitment to use his platform to continue that work and summarized the community's message as love, acceptance, and equality.
Read at Advocate.com
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