What an honor it was to accept Outstanding Talk Show Episode at the 28th Annual GLAAD Media Awards on Saturday.  I was the guest on the Daily Show with Trevor Noah and the winning April 2016 episode, which focused on trans people and issues.

In our acceptance speech Trevor and I both emphasize the importance of being able to listen.  Trevor advised,  “You don’t have to know. You just have to listen. Just listen. Whether it means listening to black people in America who are oppressed, black women who are at the bottom of the totem pole in America, whether it means listening to the LGBTQ community. Just listen.”

I went on to add a special message to the trans community and especially to trans women of color “So long we haven’t seen ourselves reflected in media. Hell, we haven’t even seen ourselves reflected in this room. And I am so glad to see that changing and to see that broadening, and I want you to know to never give up.  Because your dreams matter, your stories matter, your lives matter. And no matter what challenge you’re faced with, you can overcome it. You can overcome it.”

“Your dreams matter, your stories matter, your lives matter.

And no matter what challenge you’re faced with,

you can overcome it.  You can over come it.”