Amandla Stenberg: Hunger Games star to be honoured for LGBT crusade
Amandla Stenberg speaks at the 2019 HRC Greater New York Gala in New York City.
Out Hunger Games star Amandla Stenberg is to be honoured by Human Rights Campaign.
Stenberg, 20, became known for their role as Rue in The Hunger Games film franchise, before becoming a passionate LGBT+ rights campaigner.
The actor came out as queer in 2016 and said that they use “they/them” pronouns, before coming out as gay in 2018.
Amandla Stenberg speaks onstage at Equality Now’s Make Equality Reality Gala 2018 at The Beverly Hilton Hotel on December 3, 2018 in Beverly Hills, California. (Randy Shropshire/Getty)
They told Wanderlust Magazine: “I’m grateful for how being gay has afforded me this ability to experience and understand love and sex, and therefore life, in an expansive and infinite way.
“The continual process of unlearning heteronormativity and internalised homophobia can be difficult, but one of the biggest blessings lies in the magic that comes from having to understand love outside the confines of learned heterosexual roles. It is the power to reveal the ethereal love that exists within us underneath socialisation.”
“Once I was able to rid myself of those parameters, I found myself in a deep well of unbounded and untouchable love free from the dominion of patriarchy,” Stenberg added.
“My sexuality is not a byproduct of my past experiences with men, who I have loved, but rather a part of myself I was born with and love deeply.”
Amandla Stenberg uses social media ‘to educate about fairness and equality’
LGBT+ rights group Human Rights Campaign will present Stenberg with the HRC Visibility Award at its 2019 Greater New York Gala on Saturday, February 2, 2019, in New York City.
HRC President Chad Griffin said: “Amandla Stenberg is captivating audiences with her incredible talent while using her public platform to spark conversations on the importance of intersectionality and advancing fairness and equality for all.
“An out and proud member of the LGBTQ community, Amandla is a passionate, bold and compelling voice in the fight for LGBTQ equality.
“HRC is proud to honor Amandla Stenberg with the HRC Visibility Award at the 2019 HRC Greater New York Gala.”
HRC praised Stenberg for leading a “crusade towards sparking thoughtful conversation using social media as a platform to spread awareness and knowledge on topics such as cultural appropriation, intersectional feminism, mindfulness, biracial identity, sexual identity, equality, LGBTQIA acceptance, gender and beauty standards to name a few.”
Kinky Boots theatre exec Jordan Roth to be honoured
Theatre owner Jordan Roth, who has presented inclusive musicals including Kinky Boots, is also set to be honoured at the event.
Griffin said: “For years, Jordan Roth has expertly shaped Broadway musicals and plays in a way that stirs imaginations and speaks to the heart of the human experience.
“Jordan has harnessed the power of storytelling and changed countless hearts and minds in support of LGBTQ equality and for all people to live open and authentic lives.
“HRC is proud to recognise Jordan Roth with the HRC Legacy Award at the 2019 HRC Greater New York Gala.”
