The 3rd night of the Democratic National Convention was one for the books. Last night, another exciting session of the convention took place in Chicago. The celebratory night included moving speeches, Minnesota Governor Tim Walz officially accepting the democratic nomination to run for Vice President in the 2024 election, and several surprise celebrity appearances.
Audience members were stunned when none other than Oprah Winfrey took the stage. “After watching the Obamas last night,” Winfrey began. “We’re now so fired up, we can’t wait to leave here and do something!” She was met with an uproar of applause.
“And what we’re gonna do is elect Kamala Harris as the next president of the United States!” she continued.
She reminds the audience what’s at stake at this year’s election and how there is nothing more important than freedom. “There are people who want you to see our country as a nation of us against them, people who want to scare you, who want to rule you, people who’d have you believe that books are dangerous, and assault rifles are safe, that there’s a right way to worship and a wrong way to love. People who seek first to divide and then conquer.”
She goes on to say, “When we stand together, it is impossible to conquer us.”
At the 2024 GLAAD Media Awards, Winfrey was honored with the Vanguard Award. Each year, the Vanguard Award is presented to an LGBTQ ally who has used their platform to promote acceptance of LGBTQ people and issues.
Throughout her career hosting The Oprah Winfrey Show, she sought “to create a space, a safe space, to bring the lives and the profound stories of the LGBTQ community front and center to our audience.”
Guests at the GLAAD Media Awards were moved by Winfrey’s openness when speaking publicly for the first time about her brother who died from AIDS. She shared, “What I’ve learned over the years of interviewing over 35,000 people, one-on-one, is that every single person wants the same thing, and that is the desire and need to feel seen and know that what we say matters and to know that we matter.”
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Winfrey came wearing queer designer Christian Siriano to the DNC.
Also a GLAAD Media Award honoree, bisexual singer Maren Morris took the stage at the convention.
Morris, who came out publicly this past Pride Month on Instagram, was introduced by New Jersey Senator Cory Booker. He described her as “one of the true greats in America, someone to bring the joy to this incredible arena.”
Morris sang a protest song titled Better Than We Found It, a single she wrote in 2020. “‘If you don’t like it, then get the hell out,’ That’s what they yell when I open my mouth,” the song begins. “Over and under and above the law, My neighbor’s in danger, who does he call? When the wolf’s at the door all covered in blue Shouldn’t we try something new?” the song asks, touching on America’s police brutality issue.
“America, America, Divided we fall, America, America, God save us all, From ourselves and the Hell, That we’ve built for our kids, America, America, We’re better than this,” she pleads for change.
Formerly a country singer, Morris has spoken out against right wing extremists countless times throughout her career, earning her GLAAD’s Excellence in Media Award in 2023.
She faced great criticism for her devout advocacy for the trans community, even being branded a “Lunatic country music person” for her bold allyship. In her acceptance speech at the GLAAD Awards, she stated “Making the right decision shouldn’t take bravery or courage. It shouldn’t take heroic effort to want basic human rights for everybody.” She then explained that “leaving your house knowing that you can face violence, just for being who you are… that is bravery. This community stood up for me and made me feel safe when I felt alone and I’ll never be able to repay them, but I hope I get spend the rest of my life and career settling up.”
Other notable moments at the 3rd night of the DNC included performances by John Legend and Stevie Wonder, a powerful speech from out Secretary of Transportation Pete Buttigieg, a poem reading from Amanda Gorman, and so much more.
GLAAD is working to ensure media covering the convention and campaign is inclusive of LGBTQ voices in the national conversation. Research, data, and best practices for political reporters can be found here.