President Obama Gives Shout-out to Caitlyn Jenner at 'Trailblazers'
LatestLast night, Logo aired their second annual Trailblazer Honors awards show and President Obama helped kick off the event via video. Orange is the New Black’s Samira Wiley and Jason Collins—NBA’s first openly gay player—introduced the president’s message. “Tonight is a chance to celebrate, not just 10 years of Logo, but 10 years of extraordinary progress for our country,” President Obama began. “When this network aired its first show, gay marriage was a political wedge issue used to divide us. Today the majority of Americans live in states where they can get married, no matter who they love.”
The ceremony was taped on Thursday, the day before the Supreme Court’s ruling on legalizing same-sex marriage was announced, reports Entertainment Weekly. He also recognized Caitlyn Jenner as an example of the nation moving forward. “Today, Don’t Ask Don’t Tell is history. We passed the hate crime law that bears Matthew Shepard and James Berg Jr.’s names. And all you have to do is look at this month’s cover of Vanity Fair to see how America is more accepting of people for who they truly are,” President Obama continued.
While the president pointed out that a lot of work still had to be done, he noted, “Tonight is a reminder that when everybody does their part, when every voice is heard, change is not just possible—change is inevitable. So here’s to 10 extraordinary years, and all the years to come. Let’s keep standing together to make sure every American is treated with dignity and respect they deserve.” Miley Cyrus also recorded a video for the celebration, which featured appearances from Kelly Osbourne, Tituss Burgess, Frankie Grande and Martin Luther King III, as well as performances by Adam Lambert and Jack Antonoff and the Bleachers.
Full video of his message here:
Image via Logo/screengrab.
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