00:00Hello, everyone, and greetings from Barcelona.
00:04I am deeply honored to be one of the honorees of the Icons of Change Award this year.
00:08To be recognized for contributions in leadership, innovation, and social transformation is absolutely humbling.
00:13But I also accept this award on behalf of all those whose courage, authenticity, and resilience inspire me every single day.
00:20This year, the United Nations has declared 2025 the International Year of Peace and Trust.
00:26For me, those words are not abstract ideals. They are the foundation of how we build a just and sustainable world.
00:32Peace is not only the absence of conflict. It is the presence of dignity, equality, and opportunity.
00:38And trust? Trust is what binds us together across differences, making cooperation possible.
00:43Without peace and trust, the sustainable development goals are just words on a page. With them, they become a blueprint for real transformation.
00:51As we reflect on the SDGs, I'm reminded of the South African philosophy of Ubuntu, a philosophy first shared with me by my former mentor and boss, the late Archbishop Desmond Tutu.
01:02Ubuntu roughly translates to, I am because we are. My humanity is bound up in yours, and we can only be human together.
01:09This idea is at the heart of the SDGs' central promise to leave no one behind. If we are truly going to eradicate poverty, reduce inequality, and create a sustainable future, then all communities, including those too often marginalized, must be included in that vision.
01:24Many of you know that much of my work is with the LGBTQ plus community. For this community, inclusion is not just symbolic, it is life saving.
01:33Around the world, millions still face discrimination, exclusion, and violence, simply for being themselves.
01:39And yet, the SDGs give us a clear mandate. SDG 1 reminds us that poverty cannot be eradicated while communities are denied access to opportunity.
01:48So often, LGBTQ plus people experience exclusion from economic resources like employment and business opportunities, face higher rates of poverty, and have limited access to social safety nets and family support, making it harder to achieve financial security and to overcome poverty.
02:02SDG 4 calls for inclusive and equitable education, yet far too many LGBTQ plus youth face bullying that drives them from schools. SDG 8 seeks decent work for all, yet fewer than half of the countries have protections for LGBTQ plus workers from discrimination.
02:20And SDG 10, on reducing inequalities, makes explicit that we must promote the inclusion of all people, irrespective of status.
02:29And now I have learned, sometimes I've learned this in difficult ways, that visibility and authenticity are powerful tools of transformation.
02:36When we dare to live openly and to speak truth, even in places where it feels risky, we give courage to others.
02:42We show that progress is possible, and we remind the world that human rights are not partial, conditional, or negotiable.
02:49They belong to all of us.
02:51That is why the theme of peace and trust resonates so deeply with me.
02:54Building peace means creating a world where everyone, regardless of their gender, identity, race, ability, or orientation, can live free from fear.
03:02Building trust means showing up as our authentic selves, standing with others in solidarity, and committing to action that matches our words.
03:09I am grateful for this recognition, but even more, I am hopeful.
03:13Hopeful because of the young leaders I see stepping forward.
03:16Hopeful because of the allies who choose to listen, to stand behind us, and to act.
03:20And I'm hopeful because each of us has the power to create ripples of change that, together, can become a huge wave.
03:26Let us move forward with courage, authenticity, and compassion.
03:30Let us build peace and trust, not just as ideals, but as daily practices.
03:34So I don't just accept this award.
03:36I accept a responsibility to keep showing up, to keep speaking out, to keep building a world where authenticity is celebrated and where no one is left behind.
03:46Let us never forget Ubuntu.
03:48I am because we are.
03:50My humanity is bound up in yours, and we can only be human together.
03:54Thank you so much.
