Madonna gave an emotional speech upon receiving the Advocate for Change Award from LGBT+ media monitoring organisation GLAAD.

At a ceremony held in New York City on Saturday (May 4), the superstar recalled some key moments in her advocacy to fight the stigma against HIV and support those suffering from the disease.

Madonna, who was introduced to the stage by Anderson Cooper, Mykki Blanco and Rosie O’Donnell, remembered how she first felt like she “fit in” once she was introduced to the LGBT+ community.

“Why have I always fought for change? That’s a hard question to answer. It’s like trying to explain the importance of reading or the need to love. Growing up I always felt like an outsider, like I didn’t fit in. It wasn’t because I didn’t shave under my armpits, I just didn’t fit in,” she said.

“The first gay man I ever met was named Christopher Flynn. He was my ballet teacher in high school and he was the first person that believed in me, that made me feel special as a dancer, as an artist and as a human being. I know this sounds trivial and superficial, but he was the first man to tell me I was beautiful.” Read more via Pink News