Pop icon Christina Aguilera got "Dirrty" mentioning a NSFW skill during her acceptance speech after winning GLAAD's 2023 Advocate for Change Award.
On Thursday, notable industry members gathered at the annual GLAAD Media Awards event, which honors various media branches–including film, music, television, and journalism–for promoting LGBTQ+ visibility.
Former recipients of the Advocate for Change Award include inaugural recipient former Democratic President Bill Clinton, for advocating same-sex marriage and calling for the U.S. Supreme Court to strike down the Defense of Marriage Act; and Madonna, who throughout her career has advocated for LGBTQ+ equality and acceptance since the beginning of the HIV/AIDS crisis in the 80s.
When the award was presented to Aguilera, the "Genie in a Bottle" singer thanked the organization and began commenting on how she grew up with those who identified as LGBTQ+.
“So much of who I am and what I do is because of each of you, and the shared experience of having to fight for equality and freedom in some capacity," she said, adding:
“Side by side, we’ve learned and taught each other everything about life, from business to relationships to music, family, partying―I don’t know who does it better."
"And, of course, how to give a good blowjob.”
You can watch her speech, here.
The room erupted in laughter.
“I’m just saying, we know how to get dirrty," she said, referencing her 2002 hit single of the same name.
Gay Twitter said, "you're welcome."
She continued:
"While I've had incredible moments with this family, the community has endured decades of fighting and we will continue to do so."
"I'm constantly impressed by your examples of the courage it takes to fight for acceptance, respect and safety that every human being deserves, which happens to be the core of the music and art I've created over the years."
Aguilera took a moment and addressed a difficult part of her life as a child growing up in a home with domestic violence.
“When you’ve been a victim of violence, abuse or trauma, it’s incredibly hard and scary to find your voice and fight back."
“Having grown up in a home with domestic violence, it was seeing my mom in a powerless position that first ignited the fire in me to speak up for all of the people whose voices don’t get heard. And it is not easy.”
When Aguilera started her career in the music industry in the late 90s, she endeavored to "creatively empower others" through her music.
She said she admittedly "ruffled some feathers" along the way but explained it felt natural for her to "showcase what the world is really like."
Aguilera said she was constantly inspired by all of the:
"HIV activists, trans rights leaders, and LGBTQ rebels who've worked tirelessly to push back against conformity and injustice."
The award was presented to her by Michael Anderson, the bartender who survived the mass shooting at Club Q–a nightclub in Colorado Springs on November 19, 2022–that killed five people and injured 25 others.
"To me, you're the true hero," said Aguilera of Anderson–who in December 2022 testified before Congress in Washington D.C. and shared his account of the night's harrowing events and spoke out against anti-LGBTQ+ policies pushed by right-wing politicians.
"It takes incredible courage to live through violence and then decide 'I'm going to do something to change this,'" said Aguilera.
"That takes guts. It's heroic."
She added:
"We all need to raise our voices if wanna live in a world that's free of discrimination, hate, and violence."
The singer concluded her speech by asserting that her greater purpose was to use her platform to "change lives for the better."
She thanked GLAAD for the recognition and also for making sure that every voice in the LGBTQ+ community is being heard.
"We can't help each other if we can't hear each other."
The following day after receiving her award, Aguilera acknowledge International Transgender Day of Visibility, which is on March 31.
Aguilera has long fought for LGBTQ+ equality and inclusion for most of her career.
Examples of her advocacy included featuring an unapologetic same-sex kiss in the music video for the 2002 single, "Beautiful"; raising half a billion dollars for HIV research; supporting two transgender charities through launching her Pride clothing collection; and speaking out against Florida's GOP-backed "Don't Say Gay" bill that was signed into law by Republican Governor Ron DeSantis.
In 2019, she was awarded the Equality Award by the Human Rights Campaign.
HRC president Chad Griffin called her a "true LGBTQ icon" for using her "platform to share a message of hope and inspiration to those who have been marginalized simply because of who they are."
He added in his statement:
“Through her powerful music and her tireless efforts for positive change, she is making a real difference in the lives of countless people while bringing greater visibility to the LGBTQ community.”
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