Kathy Griffin received a supremely deserved award for LGBTQ activism, and go, girl!
Kathy Griffin fans rejoice! A year after a photo of the comedian posing with the fake severed head of Donald Trump caused her to receive death threats and a whirlwind of backlash, she’s back in the public eye — and continuing to speak out against the president. And most recently, she’s being honored for her LGBTQ activism.
Yesterday, June 5th, the city of West Hollywood, California, presented Griffin with a Rainbow Key Award. For the past 25 years, the annual ceremony has honored those who contribute to the LGBTQ community. According to the awards ceremony’s website, Griffin has raised more than $5 million for HIV/AIDS services, and several other activists received awards alongside her.
During her acceptance speech, Griffin raised her concerns about the Trump administration’s discriminatory policies towards LGBTQ individuals. She mentioned the Supreme Court’s June 4th ruling that a baker in Colorado could not be compelled to make a cake for a gay couple’s wedding, as well as Trump’s attempted ban on transgender troops. She urged the crowd to vote against the administration and concluded her speech by imagining a future with a gay president.
"So, when we have our first gay president, which I hope to see, I just want you to know that for all I've put up with in the last 25 years, I better be invited to a state dinner and I want to stay in the Lincoln bedroom," she joked. "I've put in my time."
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j5DWeC2tEXo?feature=oembed
Griffin also used her acceptance speech to pay tribute to designer Kate Spade, who died from suicide at the age of 55 on June 5th. The comedian was dressed entirely in Kate Spade, and the designer’s logo could be seen on her handbag, which she prominently displayed on the podium.
I decided to wear head-to-toe Kate Spade to an event tonight to honor her contributions to fashion and women in business. I always admired that she was self-made and was so sad to hear the news of her passing. Rest easy, Kate..and thank you for making so many women feel wonderful pic.twitter.com/fuRCrv8Ozx
— Kathy Griffin (@kathygriffin) June 6, 2018
Griffin has remained her same fierce, funny self throughout this past year’s ordeal, and we applaud both her spirit and her continued committed to the LGBTQ community. Congratulations to all the Rainbow Key Award recipients.
