P!nks Journey

Speeches

"Okay, so, hi, I'm Alecia. Hi, I'm a Virgo. I'm 31 – I'm Gay... Actually I'm not, but that doesn't actually matter. My point is, I would like in the world, the same boring response that I get from "Hi, I'm a Virgo" I would like "Hi, I'm gay" to illicit the same kind of boring response. Or, yeah, okay great, nice to meet you. I don't want there to be a gay marriage, I just want there to be happy marriage, and lasting marriage and healthy marriage. And I look forward to a day when we don't have to talk about it anymore, but that's far off and thank you so much to the HRC for moving this along with the human race. I did write something because I'm silly.I kind of memorized it, but I forgot this part. Okay, so anyway, anyone anytime someone says that, I'm gay it come out even when sometimes when people don't say that. There is a ripple heard around the world, or around the community, the tabloids eat it up, who I call the modern day adult bullies. Your job maybe in jeopardy especially if you serve your country, which is incredible, your friends might turn your back on you, your parents may cry, some parents get angry, some parents never even get to know their children and I think that's a shame.A long time ago I decided that no matter where I went or what I would do with my life, I was always going to be very true to myself and stick up for the underdog. I have always identified with people that struggle, and maybe it's because I'm a Jew. Maybe it's because I don't hold the warped belief that my way is the only way or the better way, maybe it's because I got enough hugs when I was younger. I was given the nickname Pink for a lot of reasons, one being the color of my cookie, which is a long story, which I'm not going to get into.But also and more importantly, it's such a long story. It's not even that funny. It's Pink. But mostly, because I hold on to a very cheesy belief, but true belief that we're all pink on the inside, and some of us on the outside. What I mean by that is, we all bleed red, we all cry clear tears. We all put one foot in front of the other, on this endless search for the meaning of the life and love. Where am I? Shit. Oh, yeah, okay, just because I wrote it down, doesn't mean I don't mean it. We all want to be loved and accepted and understood and unfortunately the human race has not figured this out yet, in a lot of ways. But that's where we think the HRC for helping us along. I want to thank the HRC for having me here tonight, for including me. I don't think I deserve this award, but thank you. But I want to thank the HRC for their spirit, for their heart, for their perseverance in facing down endless obstacles, for inspiring kids and adults alike to keep going. For reminding the world that everyone is different and that's okay. For reminding people that fair is fair and that everyone deserves the same respect. I've marched against Prop 8, the proposition to ban gay marriage. Two things, (uh huh) number one, with all the strife and economic woes in the world, religious intolerance, global warming. It boggles my mind that we are spending time energy and money trying to ban love. Well, Wall Street is crashing, and I'm about to lose my job, but I don't want two people that I have never met to put on nice clothes, say nice things to each other in front of other nice people, and live happily ever after. It's important to me in my life that that not happen. Really and the courts are humoring us. Two, speaking of humour. At this march for equality, the signs that I saw, holy shit they were funny. And I can't even remember the funniest ones, but one I remember is, I went to my sister's wedding and all I got was this lousy sign. Or but I only want one wife held by a woman protesting the Mormon donations given to support the ban on gay marriage, which is actually illegal. But I'm in awe and constantly inspired by the ability to keep a sense of humour in the face of illegal meddling and oppression no one has a better sense of humor than my gay boys. No one does better hair. So forget all the politics forget everything. This is not about laws to me, this is not about who does what? Who dresses this way? Who says this? It's about love. It is – it's about love. It's about who your heart tells you to love straight or gay. Um... (Audiance- 'sing') I'd be much better at that, I think. Anyway the important part is I applaud anyone and everyone who has the balls or not balls, don't have to have balls, to follow their heart. I'm almost done. This isn't going to be long, I swear to god. So, to all the kids out there being bullied, I hope this message gets out to them, first and foremost, if there are any bullies out there and you really want to take your anger out on someone, come find me. But seriously there is life past high school. I wish someone would have told me that. High school sucks. Um...but life past high school is awesome. There are people waiting with open arms to appreciate you for who you are. There is a family that you will create. There is friends out there waiting to just love you and celebrate everything about you. What I miss? What I do? Find a quiet inner strength and hold on to it, life can be fabulous if you stick it out. And I know that seems impossible sometimes when you're young, but I was just there, I feel like yesterday, I was 13, hating my life, contemplating suicide and I found a passion and a hobby and I pursued it with blinders and anyone that didn't like it, could kiss my entire ass, and they still can. So, take my strength, take my heart, take everyone in here strength and just keep the fight alive, keep going and thank you guys all for having me here tonight. I'm so inspired, I'm so in awe all of you. This award is a validation to me that I have stayed true to my beliefs and who I'm – but it's also more so a reminder that there is so much more I could do and there is so much more I want to do and there is so much more left to do, and I'm a fighter, we are all fighters, I will do everything I can to open people's hearts, ears, minds, mouths, pockets to carry on, and to fight along side with you. Thank you."
  
        --- P!nk Ally Of Equality Award Speech

"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 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 six. 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 and I made a PowerPoint presentation for her. And in that presentation were androgynous rock stars and artists that live their truth, are probably made fun of every day of their life, and carry on, wave their flag and inspire the rest of us. And these are artists like Michael Jackson and David Bowie and Freddie Mercury and Annie Lennox and Prince and Janis Joplin and George Michael, Elton John, so many artists — her eyes glazed over. But then I said, 'You know, I really want to know why you feel this way about yourself.' And she said, 'Well I look like a boy,' 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 and the shell 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 and for lighting the way for us. I'm so inspired by you guys. There's so much rad shit happening in music. And keep doing it. Keep shining for the rest of us to see. And you, my darling girl, are beautiful, 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."      ---P!nk Video Vanguard Award 2017 MTV Awards