Kelly Ripa won GLAAD’s 2015 Excellence in Media Award for being a prominent, vocal supporter of LGBT rights.
But instead of the usual acceptance speech platitudes, thank yous, and humblebrags, Ripa spent significant time talking about about how winning the award made her feel … a little odd.
Because you shouldn’t get extra credit for, as Ripa puts it, “treating people like people.”
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Heck. Yeah.
Ripa deserves credit for using her platform to advocate for equality.
She’s done great work with a foundation that supports LGBT youth who have been abandoned by their parents and communities, and she produces a reality show on Logo, which helps ensure that LGBT folks stay represented on TV.
But she knows that should be the baseline for someone in her position.
It’s not especially admirable to advocate for treating people equally. It’s not “going above and beyond” to believe that all people deserve to love who they want and live without having to worry about discrimination. People shouldn’t need to get an award for treating all fellow humans with dignity and respect.
It’s just what people should do. Period. Full stop.
Which is why Ripa is 100% on point when she tells the audience…
