Cynthia Erivo isn’t here for your pronoun debates. The Wicked superstar and Oscar-nominated powerhouse took the stage at the 2025 GLAAD Media Awards last night (March 27) and delivered a blistering, emotional, and unapologetic speech about queer identity—dropping truth bombs about they/them pronouns that left the audience cheering.
Hosted by the fabulous Michael Urie, the 36th annual awards ceremony in Los Angeles celebrated the best in LGBTQ+ representation, and Erivo was honored with the Stephen F. Kolzak Award—a prestigious recognition given to queer trailblazers in entertainment who combat homophobia.
And honey, did she bring the heat.
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“It Isn’t Easy to Be Yourself—But We Do It Anyway”
Clutching her award, Erivo—who has been openly bisexual—got real about the struggles of living authentically in a world that often pushes back.
“I’ve talked about the beauty of being your true self,” she began. “But rarely do I acknowledge how hard it can be. So tonight, I’m making room for those of us still finding the courage to exist as we want—because this is the space to do that.”
Then came the killer line that sent social media into a frenzy:
“Dealing with the frustration of reteaching people a word that has been in the human vocabulary since the dawn of time: they/them.”
Mic. Dropped.
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A Call to Action—And a Nod to the Unseen
Erivo didn’t stop there. She shouted out those who refuse to be erased, urging the crowd to remember those still fighting to be seen—both inside and outside the LGBTQ+ community.
“I’m proud of everyone who can stand here openly,” she declared. “But let’s not forget those who don’t feel safe, who don’t feel visible. We keep going for them, too.”
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Love, Stardom, and a Power Couple for the Ages
Offstage, Erivo’s love life is just as iconic as her speeches. She’s been dating actress and producer Lena Waithe since 2020 (though they first sparked rumors after meeting at the 2018 Met Gala). Together, they’re one of Hollywood’s most adored queer power couples.
And with Erivo’s Oscar nomination for Wicked (alongside Ariana Grande’s Best Supporting Actress nod), it’s clear she’s dominating both the awards circuit and the discourse.
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Why This Speech Matters Now
With anti-LGBTQ+ rhetoric reaching a fever pitch in politics and media—from discriminatory legislation to toxic online debates—Erivo’s words weren’t just inspiring. They were a necessary act of defiance.
As lawmakers in multiple states push bills targeting transgender rights and conservative pundits continue to weaponize they/them pronouns as some kind of “modern absurdity,” Erivo’s speech cut through the noise with undeniable historical truth:
“These words have existed since the dawn of time.” No debate, no compromise—just fact.
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But beyond the linguistic mic drop, her message was a lifeline to queer people exhausted by constant justification of their existence. In a world where simply stating your pronouns can spark outrage, Erivo’s unshakable confidence was a blueprint for resistance—proving that the best clapbacks come wrapped in grace, intelligence, and unapologetic truth.
And let’s be real: Timing is everything. With Wicked poised to be one of the year’s biggest films—and Erivo’s Oscar nomination solidifying her as a Hollywood force—her platform has never been more powerful. She didn’t just speak to the room at the GLAAD Awards; she sent a message to every lawmaker, troll, and skeptic still clinging to the fantasy that gender-neutral pronouns are some kind of “trend.” Spoiler alert: They’re not. And thanks to voices like Erivo’s, the world is finally being forced to listen.
