Culture

Video: Madonna wears Boy Scout outfit to present GLAAD award and condemns anti-gay ban

Mar 17 2013
Written by Joseph McCormick

Madonna took to the stage at the 24th annual GLAAD awards on Saturday dressed as a boy scout, as she gave a passionate speech about LGBT rights, before presenting TV host Anderson Cooper with an award.

In an impassioned speech she made before bringing out Anderson Cooper to present the coveted Vito Russo award the Frozen star said she used to be a Girl Scout, but they kicked her out because her “skirt was too short” and she “ate all the cookies”.

She said: “I wanted to be a Boy Scout, but they wouldn’t let me join,” Madonna said. “I think that’s fucked up. I can build a fire. I know how to pitch a tent. I have a very good sense of direction. I can rescue kittens from trees.

“I want to do good for the community. But most importantly I know how to scout for boys.”

She went on to emphasise the importance of “getting to know one another”, citing that she thought Russian President Vladimir Putin would understand the incarcerated band Pussy Riot, if they sat in a room together and spoke.

She also said “he’d probably want to fuck all of them”.

The 52-year-old star’s speech went on for twelve minutes, during which she attacked bullying, homophobia and advocated for freedom of speech, before she called out Anderson Cooper, to whom she said: “The reason I love you is you are a freedom fighter”.

The Vito Russo award is given to an openly gay, lesbian or transgender media figure that has worked to promote equality.

The CNN journalist follows a long line of famous recipients including Sir Elton John, Ricky Martin and Rosie O’Donnell.

According to GLAAD, its media awards are to recognise and honour the media for its fair, accurate and inclusive representations of the LGBT community, and the issues it faces.

The ceremony was the first LGBT event that Cooper attends since coming out in July last year. He came out via a letter published on The Daily Beast.

The 45-year-old journalist wrote: “The fact is, I’m gay, always have been, always will be, and I couldn’t be any more happy, comfortable with myself, and proud.”

In 2011 Ricky Martin was honoured with the Vito Russo award, citing the positive LGBT role model he has become for the Latino community. He is the father of twin boys.

This year, singers Frank Ocean and Adam Lambert were nominated for GLAAD Media Awards, as well as the NBC series, The New Normal, Tom Hanks film, Cloud Atlas and the Buffy the Vampire Slayer comic book series.

In July 2012, after a two year review, the Boy Scouts of America announced it would retain its ban on gay members, volunteers and staff.

Reports suggest that the BSA has been secretly convening a committee to look at whether to change or get rid of the ban.

Back in February, the Boy Scouts of American delayed a vote on whether or not to lift the ban, until May “due to the complexity of the issue”.