Hannah Einbinder and Janelle Monáe Denouce Donald Trump’s Politics at Human Rights Campaign Dinner: ‘Bullies Only Win When We Let Them Think They Can’

variety.com:

Rance Collins The Human Rights Campaign Los Angeles dinner became politically charged as its speakers and honorees used their platforms to uplift and rally the LGBTQ+ community. “Bullies only win when we let them think they can,” Janelle Monáe said while accepting the organization’s Equality Award. “Here’s the truth, bullying doesn’t stop when we grow up.

It doesn’t end when we leave school. It just gets bigger. It rebrands itself. The bully gets elected president.” While the Grammy-nominated musician, actor and producer stopped short of saying President Donald Trump’s name, the crowd assembled at the Fairmont Century Plaza in Los Angeles knew who Monáe was referring to.

Monáe pledged allegiance to marginalized communities, including immigrants, people of color and, in particular, transgender and nonbinary people, who have been the subject of several of Trump’s executive orders. “Let’s make it clear.

We will challenge the giant,” she concluded. Hannah Einbinder, who was presented the HRC’s Visibility Award for expanding LGBTQ+ representation on and off-screen, said those with a platform must use it to “ensure that speaking out is not outlawed altogether.” So, the “Hacks” star used her speech to speak out about climate change and against the ongoing war in Gaza. “My queerness is a tradition of social justice, as is my Judaism,” Einbinder said. “To me, these are traditions of humanity, of care for human life, all human life.