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Hillary Clinton to be honoured by Elton John Foundation for support of gay rights

Sep 04 2013
Written by Joseph McCormick

The Elton John AIDS foundation is to honour former US secretary of state, senator and first lady Hillary Clinton at the foundation’s award ceremony in October.

The foundation’s inaugural Founder’s Award will be given to Clinton on 15 October, and comes following a 2011 speech on International Human Rights Day during which she said gay rights were human rights, and that recognition of that would help to lead to a world free of HIV and AIDS.

The former US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, officially announced her support for equal marriage in a moving speech back in March in which she called moves towards equality “breathtaking and inspiring”.

In the video for the Human rights Campaign, Mrs Clinton reflected on four years of “tough conversations” with world leaders reluctant to accept LGBT rights, says said she has “pride” in the US and its ideals, and goes on to share what she learned.

Clinton will be honoured at the benefit alongside celebrity chef Sandra Lee, businessman Ronald Perelman and Howard Rose, a founding member of the organisation.

The gala will be hosted by gay journalist Anderson Cooper.

In his acceptance speech at the GLAAD Media Awards in May, former US President Bill Clinton, noted he and Hillary’s daughter Chelsea’s part in his change in stance on the issue of equal marriage.

Bill Clinton was a controversial choice for the Advocate for Change award, as he signed the Defense of Marriage Act into law during his presidency.