Janelle Monáe is making it clear… she’s ready to fight back. The award-winning singer and actress took the stage at the Human Rights Campaign (HRC) Equality Award ceremony in Los Angeles with a powerful message: bullies only win if we let them.
Drawing from her personal experiences with bullying as a child, Monáe made a striking comparison between schoolyard bullies and political leaders, specifically calling out Donald Trump and the Republican Party. She warned that oppressive policies targeting marginalized communities are just another form of bullying on a national scale.
Monáe, who has been a vocal advocate for LGBTQ+ rights, social justice, and Black empowerment, didn’t hold back in her speech. She described how, as a child, she stood up to a bully and learned a valuable lesson: power thrives on fear and submission.
“The bully gets elected president. The bully writes laws and links with other bullies,” she said, urging the crowd to recognize the dangers of political leaders who seek to strip away human rights, limit reproductive freedom, and undermine democracy.
As a pansexual, non-binary artist from a working-class Black community, Monáe emphasized the stakes for those often left unheard.
“It’s infuriating watching them try to take away our human rights, erase our identities, strip away our healthcare, roll back our reproductive freedom, attack our voting rights, pollute our air and water, and eliminate federal jobs,” she stated passionately.
Monáe also took a moment to honor everyday workers, particularly those whose jobs are at risk due to political decisions. “Instead of being paid with dignity and respect, we’ve watched them be bullied by the very system that couldn’t last a day without them.”
Monáe’s speech wasn’t just about identifying the problem… it was a rallying cry. She applauded the HRC’s efforts in resisting discriminatory policies, emphasizing that the fight for justice is far from over.
“Are we ready to start getting scrappy and fighting back?” she challenged the audience. “Let’s make it clear… we will challenge the giant.”
