Lena Dunham pays tribute to gay sister at awards ceremony
Actress Lena Dunham paid tribute to her sister Grace as she received an award for supporting the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) community on Monday (07Apr14).
The Girls creator was honoured by the Point Foundation at a gala event held at New York City's Public Library and the TV star took the opportunity to honour her openly gay sibling as she accepted the trophy.
She told the audience, "I have always felt a strong and emotional
connection to members of the LGBTQ (lesbian, gay, bisexual,
transgender and questioning) community. It was actually a huge
disappointment for me, when I came of age and realised that I was
sexually attracted to men. So when my sister came out, I thought,
'Thank God, someone in this family can truly represent my passions
and beliefs.'
"My sister Grace coming out as a gay woman at age 17 was a huge
turning point for me in my understanding of the issues facing LGBTQ
people. We were raised in an environment - the art world of
downtown Manhattan - where no one hid their sexual orientation, and
a common question from four-year-old me was 'Mom, are those ladies
gay together?'
"I was always very jealous of any child who had two dads. And
because of our parents' deeply held commitment to acceptance and
equality, my sister's process of coming to terms with her sexuality
was as angst-free as anything involving sex can really be. She was
assured by the adults in her life that she was not only accepted,
but adored for who she is. I am so happy that this is the way she
was able to enter the world as a woman and an LGBTQ person."