Via The New Civil Rights Movement, here is a video and summary of former President Bill Clinton's (recipient of GLAAD’s Advocate for Change Award) gave a speech that transcended the LGBT work for marriage equality and touched on the larger issue dividing this nation:

“We have a new bigotry in America — apparently we don’t want to be around anyone who doesn’t agree with us,” the Democrat whose career began in Arkansas, told the audience of thousands at the Marriott Hotel. 

“Whenever we turn away from treating someone with the dignity and honor and the respect that we would like accorded to ourselves, we have to face the fact it’s about us,” Clinton said.

He paid tribute to his daughter, Chelsea, for swaying his opinion on marriage equality - Clinton signed the Defense of Marriage Act in 1996, which is now essentially obsolete. He made a crucial point about his change of heart:

"And over the years, I was forced to confront the fact that people who oppose equal rights for gays in the marriage sphere are basically acting out of concern for their own identity, not out of respect for anyone else.”

Those who still seek to deny marriage equality are doing so out of fear, or insecurity, or some dogmatic religious belief - but they are not doing so in the service of anyone's interests but their own.

First a summary of his speech, then at the bottom there is a video of the full speech.

Watch: Bill Clinton Delivers Speech At GLAAD Awards That Every American Must Hear

by DAVID BADASH on APRIL 21, 2013

“We are stumbling toward our more perfect union”

Bill Clinton last night delivered a heartwarming speech at the 24th annual GLAAD Media Awards last night in L.A. that every person in America must listen to. Clinton, recipient of GLAAD’s Advocate for Change Award, spoke to many issues that impact the LGBT community directly, but on a larger scale, the former two-term U.S. President spoke to issues of equality and how all Americans, regardless of sexual orientation, relate to each other, see each other, and treat each other.

“We have a new bigotry in America — apparently we don’t want to be around anyone who doesn’t agree with us,” the Democrat whose career began in Arkansas, told the audience of thousands at the Marriott Hotel.

“Whenever we turn away from treating someone with the dignity and honor and the respect that we would like accorded to ourselves, we have to face the fact it’s about us,” Clinton said.

“People who oppose equal rights for gays in the marriage sphere are basically acting out of concerns for their own identity, not out of respect for anyone else,” the 66-year old Rhodes Scholar and founder of the William J. Clinton Foundation told the audience.

In his usual fashion, Clinton spoke with reverence and deference about the two women in his life, Hillary, his wife the former Secretary of State, and Chelsea, his 33-year old daughter who is now a special correspondent for NBC News. Both are rumored to be interested in seeking elected office.

“Chelsea and her gay friends have modeled to me how we should all treat each other regardless of our sexual orientation or any other artificial difference that divides us. Many of them come and join us every Thanksgiving for a meal,” the former President said. “I have grown very attached to them. And over the years, I was forced to confront the fact that people who oppose equal rights for gays in the marriage sphere are basically acting out of concern for their own identity, not out of respect for anyone else.”

The president mentioned ENDA several times, urging its passage, and talked about DOMA, the Defense of Marriage Act Clinton signed in 1996 that bans the federal government from recognizing same-sex marriages. The Supreme Court is currently reviewing its constitutionality.

“I believe you will win the DOMA fight, and I think you will win the constitutional right to marry. If not tomorrow, then the next day, or the next day.”

“I want to keep working on this until not only is DOMA no longer the law of the land, but until all people, no matter where they live, can marry the people they love,” Clinton said. When he mentioned DOMA, a heckler shouted, “You signed it!”

“You are the agents of change,” Clinton announced. “I got this award tonight because I was the object of your affection — or not, as the case may be. My daughter led me to support the marriage equality law in New York when we were debating it, and to oppose North Carolina’s denial of marriage equality, and to do all these other things. So I want to thank her too.”

“Make sure this immigration law passes but that it’s fair to everybody,” he added, referencing immigration reform that is now wobbly at best, after the Boston Marathon bombing — which Clinton also referenced.

“You have made this a better, a more interesting, and a better prepared world for the future.”

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