Jay Z’s Mother Gloria Carter Gives Touching And Powerful Acceptance Speech As She Receives GLAAD Award

Source: etonline.com

Jay Z’s mother Gloria Carter received a very special award at the GLAAD Media Awards and during her acceptance speech, the woman opened up about her experience with coming out as gay to her own son. Check out her very powerful message.

As you may already know, Gloria came out of the closet in Jay Z’s song titled ‘Smile’ last year.
Before then, she had kept her sexuality hidden from the public.

As she accepted the honorable award, she recalled the very moment she told Jay Z.

‘My son cried. He said, ‘It must’ve been horrible to live like that for so long.’ My life was not horrible. I chose to protect my family from any ignorance. I was happy, though I was not free. Then one day, I met someone who made my heart sing. Made me no longer want to sneak a peek at them, but actually look at them with loving eyes,’ Gloria said as she choked back tears.

‘Love gave me the bravery to take the power I allowed other people to have over my own life in fear of them revealing my secret that was not really a secret. Here I am. I’m loving. I’m respectful. I’m productive. And I’m a human being who has the right to love who I love. So everyone, just smile, be free. Thank you and God bless,’ Jay Z’s mother went on.

The same powerful idea echoes in her song with Jay.

‘Living in the shadow feels like the safe place to be. No harm for them, no harm for me. But life’s short, and it is time to be free. Love who you love, because life is not guaranteed. Smile,’ Gloria says on the track.