I know I dont have a lot of time but if I may tell you a quick story.
Recently I was driving my daughter to school and she said to me out of the blue
Mama? I said Yes baby? She said Im the ugliest girl I know.
And I said Huh? And she was like Yeah I look like a boy with long hair.
And my brain went to Oh my god youre 6. Why? Where is this coming from?

Who said this? Can I kick a 6-year-olds ass like what?

But I didnt say anything.
Instead I went home and I made a Powerpoint presentation for her.
And in that presentation were androgynous rockstars and artists that live their truth
Are probably made fun of every day of th?ir life and carry on
Wave their flag and inspir? the rest of us.
And these are artists like Michael Jackson and David Bowie
And Freddie Mercury and Annie Lennox and Prince and Janis Joplin
And George Michael Elton John so many artists -
Her eyes glazed over.
But then I said You know I really wanna know why you feel this way about yourself.
And she said Well I look like a boy and I said Well what do you think I look like?
And she said Well youre beautiful. And I was like
Well thanks. But when people make fun of me thats what they use.
They say I look like a boy or Im too masculine or I have too many opinions
My body is too strong.

And I said to her Do you see me growing my hair?
She said No Mama. I said Do you see me changing my body?
No Mama. Do you see me changing the way I present myself to the world?
No Mama. Do you see me selling out arenas all over the world?
Yes Mama. OK! So baby girl. We dont change.
We take the gravel and the shell and we make a pearl.
And we help other people to change so they can see more kinds of beauty.
And to all the artists here Im so inspired by all of you.
Thank you for being your true selves and for lighting the way for us.
Im so inspired by you guys.
Theres so much rad shit happening in music.
And keep doing it. keep shining for the rest of us to see.
And you my darling girl are beautiful and I love you.
Thank you MTV. This is a really special night. Thank you Ellen.
I couldnt love you more. Thank you guys. Goodnight.