When I was about 16 years old I can remember flipping through channels at home during summer vacation, looking for a movie to watch on HBO -- and how many of you remember "Ferris Bueller's Day Off"? Oh yeah, great movie, right? -- Well, I saw Matthew Broderick on the screen, and so I thought, "Sweet! Ferris Bueller. I'll watch this!" It wasn't Ferris Bueller. And forgive me Matthew Broderick, I know you've done other movies besides Ferris Bueller, but that's how I remember you; you're Ferris. But you weren't doing Ferris-y things at the time; you were doing gay things at the time.
Lè'm te prèske gen 16 an, m'sonje ke, pandan yon vakans dete, m't'ap vire chèn televisyon lakay mwen pou'm chache yon fim pou'm gade, sou yon chèn ki rele «HBO»... kiyès la ki sonje yon fim ki rele «Jou Konje de Feris Byoulè» (Ferris Bueller's Day Off)? Se yon bèl fim, nès pa? Ebyen, paske'm te wè Matye Bròdrik (Matthew Broderick) sou ekran an, m'te panse, «Oh! Bèl bagay! Fim Feris Byoulè ya. Fò'm gade sa!» Se pa't fim Feris Byoulè ya! Epi tou, eskize'm wi Matye Bròdrik, m'konnen ke'w fè lòt fim ke fim Feris Byoulè ya, men se akoz de li ke'm sonje'w; ou se Feris. Men, se pa't bagay ke Feris konn abitye fè, ke'w t'ap fè nan fim sa ke'm t'ap gade ya; se bagay omoseksyèl ke'w ta'p fè.
He was in a movie called "Torch Song Trilogy." And "Torch Song Trilogy" was based on a play about this drag queen who essentially was looking for love. Love and respect -- that's what the whole film was about.
Fim sa de kiyès m'ap pale la, se yon fim ki rele «Triloji de Kantik Damou» (Torch Song Trilogy). Fim sa, li baze sou yon pyès ki pale de yon «drag queen» ki t'ap chache lanmou. Lanmou ak respè: se de sijè prensipal fim sa.
And as I'm watching it, I'm realizing that they're talking about me. Not the drag queen part -- I am not shaving my hair for anyone -- but the gay part. The finding love and respect, the part about trying to find your place in the world. So as I'm watching this, I see this powerful scene that brought me to tears, and it stuck with me for the past 25 years. And there's this quote that the main character, Arnold, tells his mother as they're fighting about who he is and the life that he lives.
Epi padan'm t'ap gade'l, m'te vin reyalize ke fim nan t'ap pale de mwen. Pa pati ki sou «drag queen» lan; m'pa nan koupe cheve'm pou okenn moun! Men, pati ki adrese sijè de zafè moun ki omoseksyèl yo. Pli presizeman, pati ki pale de kijan moun twouve lanmou ak respè, epi kijan yo twouve plas yo nan le mond. Alò pandan'm t'ap gade fim sa, m'vin rankontre yon sèn ki si tèlman pwisan ke'l te fè'm kriye, epi ki te fè yon enpresyon sou mwen ki te rete avè'm pandan 25 ane ki sot pase yo. Gen yon deklarasyon ke Anòl (Arnold), aktè prensipal fim lan, fè pandan ke'l t'ap goumen ak manman'l, epi ke yo de ya ta'p reflechi sou kiyès Anòl ye, avèk ki stil de vi ke'l t'ap menmen.
"There's one thing more -- there's just one more thing you better understand. I've taught myself to sew, cook, fix plumbing, build furniture, I can even pat myself on the back when necessary, all so I don't have to ask anyone for anything. There's nothing I need from anyone except for love and respect, and anyone who can't give me those two things has no place in my life."
Anòl di: «Gen sèlman yon lòt bagay ke'w dwe konprann. M'montre tèt mwen kijan pou'm koud, kwit, ranje plonbri, konstwi mèb, m'ka menm felisite tèt mwen lè sa nesesè, tout sa jis pou'm pa mande moun anyen! Pa gen anyen ke'm bezwen nan men okenn moun, eksèp pou lanmou ak respè; alò, nenpòt moun ki pa ka ban'm bagay sa yo, pa gen plas nan vi'm.»
I remember that scene like it was yesterday; I was 16, I was in tears, I was in the closet, and I'm looking at these two people, Ferris Bueller and some guy I'd never seen before, fighting for love. When I finally got to a place in my life where I came out and accepted who I was, and was really quite happy, to tell you the truth, I was happily gay and I guess that's supposed to be right because gay means happy too. I realized there were a lot of people who weren't as gay as I was -- gay being happy, not gay being attracted to the same sex. In fact, I heard that there was a lot of hate and a lot of anger and a lot of frustration and a lot of fear about who I was and the gay lifestyle.
M'si tèlman sonje sèn sa, ke'm santi tankòm si'm te gade fim nan yè; lè sa m'te gen 16 an, dlo t'ap koule sot nan je'm, mwen pa't ko janm di pèsòn ke'm te yon òm omoseksyèl, epi, pandan ke'm t'ap gade de moun sa yo: Feris Byoulè ak yon lòt nèg ke'm pa't konnen, ap goumen pou lanmou. Lè'm te resi rive nan yon plas nan vi'm ki te pèmèt ke'm te ka devwale avèk aksepte kiyès m'ye, m'te kontan anpil, pou'm ba'w tout verite ya, m'te yon nonm omoseksyèl ki te trè kontan. M'te vin reyalize ke te gen anpil moun ki pa't kontan tankou'm ... O kontrè, m'te tande ke te gen anpil rayisans ak kòlè, avèk anpil fristrasyon epi anpil moun ki te pè. o sijè de kiyès ke'm ye, e a pwopo de stil de vi omoseksyèl lan ke'm t'ap mennen.
Now, I'm sitting here trying to figure out "the gay lifestyle," "the gay lifestyle," and I keep hearing this word over and over and over again: lifestyle, lifestyle, lifestyle. I've even heard politicians say that the gay lifestyle is a greater threat to civilization than terrorism. That's when I got scared. Because I'm thinking, if I'm gay and I'm doing something that's going to destroy civilization, I need to figure out what this stuff is, and I need to stop doing it right now. (Laughter)
Kounye ya, m'ap eseye konprann «stil de vi omoseksyèl» «stil de vi omoseksyèl». Sa sa vle di? Epi, chak kou m'tande moun ap repete mo sa yo: stil de vi, stil de vi, stil de vi. M'te menm tande politisyen ap di ke stil de vi omoseksyèl la, se yon bagay ki menase sivilizasyon nou an --plis menm --ke ekzistans de zafè teworis. Kou'm te tande sa, se lè sa m'te vin pè. Paske m'ap panse: si'm omoseksyèl, epi si m'ap fè yon bagay k'ap detwi sivilizasyon, m'bezwen konnen kisa bagay sa ye, pou'm sispann fè'l kounye ya! (Moun ki fè pati de odyans lan ap ri)
So, I took a look at my life, a hard look at my life, and I saw some things very disturbing. (Laughter) And I want to begin sharing these evil things that I've been doing with you, starting with my mornings. I drink coffee. Not only do I drink coffee, I know other gay people who drink coffee. I get stuck in traffic -- evil, evil traffic. Sometimes I get stuck in lines at airports.
Alò, m'te gade vi'm, nan yon fason ki trè pwofond, epi'm te finalman arive wè kèlke bagay ki te trè boulvèsan. (Moun ki fè pati de odyans lan ap ri) Alò, m'vle kòmanse pataje avè'w tout bagay sa yo ki mal, ke'm konn abitye fè. M'ap kòmanse ak sa'm konn fè chak maten. Lè'm leve m'bwè kafe. Pa sèlman sa, m'konn anpil lòt moun omoseksyèl ki bwè kafe tou. M'konn ret kole nan anboutyaj dè fwa, yon anbouteyaj ki move, move. Pafwa, m'konn ret kole nan liy nan ayeropò.
I look around, and I go, "My God, look at all these gay people! We're all trapped in these lines! These long lines trying to get on an airplane! My God, this lifestyle that I'm living is so freaking evil!"
Lè konsa, m'konn gade ozalantou, epi m'konn di, «Bondye! Gade tout moun omoseksyèl sa yo! Kèt! Nou tout bloke nan liy long sa yo, ap eseye monte yon avyon! Bondye'm nan, stil de vi sa ke m'ap menmen la, se vrèman yon bagay ki dyabolik!
I clean up. This is not an actual photograph of my son's room; his is messier. And because I have a 15-year-old, all I do is cook and cook and cook. Any parents out there of teenagers? All we do is cook for these people -- they eat two, three, four dinners a night -- it's ridiculous! This is the gay lifestyle.
M'konn fè netwayaj. Foto ki so ekran an kounye a, se pa reyèlman foto de chanm ti gason'm nan; pa'l la pi mal! Epi, paske'm gen yon pitit ki gen 15 an, tout jounnen se kwit m'ap kwit. Kiyès nan paran ki la, ki gen timoun ki aje de 13 a 19 an? Chak kou se manje poun nan fè pou moun sa yo chak swa, yo manje nenpòt de, twa, kat fwa -- sa li ridikil! Sa se stil de vi omoseksyèl la wi!
And after I'm done cooking and cleaning and standing in line and getting stuck in traffic, my partner and I, we get together and we decide that we're gonna go and have some wild and crazy fun. (Laughter) We're usually in bed before we find out who's eliminated on "American Idol." We have to wake up and find out the next day who's still on because we're too freaking tired to hear who stays on. This is the super duper evil gay lifestyle. Run for your heterosexual lives, people. (Applause)
Epi, aprè m'fin fè manje, m'fin netwaye, kanpe nan liy, ak rete kole nan anbouteyaj, patnè'm nan avèk mwen, nou reyini epi nou deside ke nou pral byen pran plèzi nou. (Moun ki fè pati de odyans lan ap ri) Souvan, n'al dòmi anvan emisyon ke yo rele «Idòl Ameriken» (American Idol) fini. Se lè'n leve ke nou konn al tcheke pou'n wè rezilta emisyon sa paske nou konn twò fatige pou'n fin gade emisyon sa! Se sa wi ki stil de vi omoseksyèl la, ke moun konn di ki dyabolik la! Ou menm ki la, kouri pou'w ka sove vi eteroseksyèl ou! (Moun ki nan odyans lan ap ri epi y'ap aplodi)
When my partner, Steve, and I first started dating, he told me this story about penguins. And I didn't know where he was going with it at first. He was kind of a little bit nervous when he was sharing it with me, but he told me that when a penguin finds a mate that they want to spend the rest of their life with, they present them with a pebble -- the perfect pebble. And then he reaches into his pocket, and he brings this out to me. And I looked at it, and I was like, this is really cool.
Lè patnè'm nan, Étyèn (Steve), avèk mwen te fèk kòmanse relasyonn nan, li te rakonte'm yon istwa sou pengwen. Lè'l te fenk kòmanse rakonte istwa sa, m'pa't konn sa'l ta'p di ya. Li te yon tijan pè, lè'l ta'p pataje istwa sa avè'm, men li te di'm ke lè yon pengwen jwenn yon konpanyon avèk lekèl ke'l vle pase tout rès vi'l, li ba'l yon ti wòch --yon wòch ki san defo. Apre'l fin rakonte'm istwa sa, Étyèn mete men'l nan pòch li, epi'l montre'm sa. Aprè ke'm te gade'l, m'te twouve ke sa te trè bèl.
And he says, "I want to spend the rest of my life with you."
Epi'l te di'm: «M'vle pase tout rès vi'm avè'w.»
So I wear this whenever I have to do something that makes me a little nervous, like, I don't know, a TEDx talk. I wear this when I am apart from him for a long period of time. And sometimes I just wear it just because.
Akoz de sa, m'mete kolye sa nenpòt lè ke'm gen pou'm fè yon bagay ki fè'm yon tijan enkyete, tankòm, pa egzanp, lekti de «TED» sa. Mwen mete sa, lè'm pa kote'l pou yon peryòd tan ki long. E pafwa, mwen mete'l paske'm jis renmen mete'l.
How many people out there are in love? Anyone in love out there? You might be gay. (Laughter) Because I, too, am in love, and apparently that's part of the gay lifestyle that I warned you about. (Applause) You may want to tell your spouse. Who, if they're in love, might be gay as well. How many of you are single? Any single people out there? You too might be gay! Because I know some gay people who are also single. It's really scary, this gay lifestyle thing; it's super duper evil and there's no end to it! It goes and goes and engulfs!
Konbyen moun ki la, ki damou yon lòt moun? Si'w damou, petèt ou menm tou, ou se yon omoseksyèl. (Moun ki fè pati de odyans lan ap ri) Paske mwen menm tou, m'damou. Aparamman, sa fè pati de stil de vi omoseksyèl la, ke'm te avèti'w de li ya. (Moun ki nan odyans lan ap ri epi y'ap aplodi) Petèt, ou ka vle di mari'w oubyen madanm ou sa. Si'l damou tou, moun sa, se petèt omoseksyèl ke'l ye tou. Konbyen moun ki la ki selibatè? Ou menm tou, petèt se yon omoseksyèl ke'w ye! Paske, m'konn kèk moun omoseksyèl tou ki selibatè. Sa vrèman efreyan, stil de vi omoseksyèl sa, son'w bagay ki trè, trè, trè, dyabolik! Epi tou, li pa gen limit. Li mache'l, mache, jiskas ke'l anvayi tout bagay.
It's really quite silly, isn't it? That's why I'm so happy to finally hear President Obama come out and say (Applause) that he supports -- (Applause) that he supports marriage equality. It's a wonderful day in our country's history; it's a wonderful day in the globe's history to be able to have an actual sitting president say, enough of this -- first to himself, and then to the rest of the world. It's wonderful.
Ide sa, li pa fè okenn sans, nès pa? Se pou rezon sa ke'm te trè kontan lè'm te tande ke Prezidan Obama te deklare (Moun ki nan odyans lan ap aplodi) ke'l sipòte: (Moun ki nan odyans lan ap aplodi) ke'l sipòte egalite de maryaj. Se yon bèl jou nan istwa peyi nou; se yon jou mèveyez nan istwa mond lan tou dèske gen yon prezidan k'ap gouvène aktyèlman, ki di: ase de deskriminasyon estipid sa kont moun ki omoseksyèl yo li di sa premyeman a tèt li, epi dezyèmman a tout rès moun nan le mond antye. Se yon trè bèl bagay sa ye.
But there's something that's been disturbing me since he made that remark just a short time ago. And that is, apparently, this is just another move by the gay activists that's on the gay agenda. And I'm disturbed by this because I've been openly gay now for quite some time. I've been to all of the functions, I've been to fundraisers, I've written about the topic, and I have yet to receive my copy of this gay agenda. (Laughter) I've paid my dues on time, (Laughter) I've marched in gay pride flags parades and the whole nine, and I've yet to see a copy of the gay agenda. It's very, very frustrating, and I was feeling left out, like I wasn't quite gay enough.
Men gen yon bagay ki kontinye ap deranje'm depi lè'l te fè deklarasyon sa, padan jou ki fenk sot pase yo. Aparamman, gen moun ki panse ke sa se yon lòt inisyativ ke militan omoseksyèl yo ap pouswiv ki fè pati de kaye ki kontyen objektif de moun ki omoseksyèl yo. Epi, sa vrèman boulvèse'm paske sa fè lontan ke'm te anonse ke'm se yon moun omoseksyèl. Menm si'm kon al nan tout seremoni ofisyèl yo, avèk reyinyon kote yo rasanble lajan yo, menm si'm konn ekri sou sijè de zafè de bagay omoseksyalité sa, m'pako janm jwenn kopi de kaye ki genyen objektif de moun ki omoseksyèl yo. (Moun ki fè pati de odyans lan ap ri) M'toutan bay kotizasyon'm nan a lè, (Moun ki fè pati de odyans lan ap ri) M'konn al mache nan defile de drapo ke moun omoseksyèl yo òganize, epi m'konn kontribiye nan anpil lòt fason ankò epi mwen pako wè kopi de kaye sa deki m'ap pale'w la. Sa deranje'm anpil anpil, epi m'santi ke tout moun inyore'm, tankòm si'm pa't omoseksyèl ase.
But then something wonderful happened: I was out shopping, as I tend to do, and I came across a bootleg copy of the official gay agenda.
Men yon jou, yon bagay mèveyez rive'm: kòm dabitid, mwen t'ap fè makèt, epi je'm vin tonbe sou yon kopi ilegal de kaye ofisyèl sa, ki kontyen objektif de moun omoseksyèl yo.
And I said to myself, "LZ, for so long, you have been denied this. When you get in front of this crowd, you're gonna share the news. You're gonna spread the gay agenda so no one else has to wonder, what exactly is in the gay agenda? What are these gays up to? What do they want?"
Epi'm di tèt mwen, «Èlzi (LZ), sa gen lontan depi y'ap kache kaye sa pou'w pa jwenn li. Lè'w rive devan moun ki la yo, ou pra'l bay nouvèl la. Ou pral montre kaye sa pou tout moun pa nan devine sa'k ladan'l ankò, ki sa egzakteman ki nan kaye sa? Kisa ki objektif moun omoseksyèl sa yo? Sa yo vle konsa?»
So, without further ado, I will present to you, ladies and gentlemen -- now be careful, 'cause it's evil -- a copy, the official copy, of the gay agenda. (Music) The gay agenda, people! (Applause) There it is! Did you soak it all in? The gay agenda.
Alò, san'm pa nan pale pi plis, mwen pra'l montre'w, mesyedam, fè atansyon, paske sa'k ladan'l lan, se bagay dyab --yon kopi kopi ofisyèl la, de kaye de objektif de moun omoseksyèl yo. (Mizik ap jwe) Mesyedam, men sa'k nan kaye de moun ki omoseksyèl yo! (Moun ki fè pati de odyans lan ap aplodi) Men kaye ya! Èske'w konprann? Se sa ki nan kaye moun omoseksyèl yo wi.
Some of you may be calling it, what, the Constitution of the United States, is that what you call it too? The U.S. Constitution is the gay agenda. These gays, people like me, want to be treated like full citizens and it's all written down in plain sight. I was blown away when I saw it. I was like, wait, this is the gay agenda? Why didn't you just call it the Constitution so I knew what you were talking about? I wouldn't have been so confused; I wouldn't have been so upset. But there it is. The gay agenda. Run for your heterosexual lives.
Gen kèk moun pami'w ki petèt rele'l, kisa, Konstitisyon Etazini yan, èske se sa'w rele'l tou? Konstitisyon Etazini yan, li fè pati de objektif de moun ki omoseksyèl yo. Moun omoseksyèl yo --moun tankou'm --yo vle ke sosyete ya trete yo tankòm sitwayen konplè epi tout sa ekri pou tout moun ki gen je klè wè Sa te fè'm yon bèl plezi lè'm te wè'l. M'te mande tèt mwen: se sa ki nan kaye ya? Poukisa yo pa't jis di ke'l se Kontistisyon yan, pou'm te ka konprann de kisa yo t'ap pale ya? M'tap pi byen konprann,epi m'pa ta'p fache konsa. Antouka, men li. Kaye ki kontyen objektif de moun omoseksyèl yo. Kouri pou'w sove vi etewoseksyèl ou.
Did you know that in all the states where there is no shading that people who are gay, lesbian, bisexual or transgendered can be kicked out of their apartments for being gay, lesbian, bisexual or transgendered? That's the only reason that a landlord needs to have them removed, because there's no protection from discrimination of GLBT people. Did you know in the states where there's no shading that you can be fired for being gay, lesbian, bisexual or transgendered? Not based upon the quality of your work, how long you've been there, if you stink, just if you're gay, lesbian, bisexual or transgendered. All of which flies in the face of the gay agenda, also known as the U.S. Constitution. Specifically, this little amendment right here:
Èske'w te konnen ke nan eta ki pa kolore yo ke moun ki omoseksyèl, lesbyèn, biseksyèl, ou byen transeksyèl pwopriyetè kay ka mete yo deyò nan apatman yo akoz ke yo se omoseksyèl, lesbyèn, biseksyèl, ou transeksyèl? Se sèl rezon sa ke pwopriyetè kay bezwen pou yo mete yo deyò paske moun sa yo pa gen okenn pwoteksyon kont diskriminasyon. Èske'w te konnen ke nan eta ki pa kolore yo ke yo ka revoke'w akoz ke'w se yon omoseksyèl, lesbyèn, biseksyèl, oubyen transeksyèl? Yo pa bezwen konnen kalite de travay ke'w konn fè, si'w gen anpil tan nan travay la, ou byen si'w se yon vye travayè, depi yo konnen ke'w omoseksyèl, lesbyèn, biseksyèl, ou byen transeksyèl, yo ka revoke'w. Tout sa ka pase, menm si kaye moun omoseksyèl yo egziste, yon kaye sa ke yo osi rele Konstitisyon Etazini yan. Presizeman, pati sa ki la:
"No state shall make or enforce any law which shall abridge the privileges or immunities of citizens of the United States."
ki di ke, «Pa gen okenn nan eta yo ki fè pati de peyi ya, ki ka envante oubyen aplike okenn lwa ki ka afebli privilèj oubyen dwa legal de tout sitwayen de peyi Etazini yan.»
I'm looking at you, North Carolina. But you're not looking at the U.S. Constitution. This is the gay agenda: equality. Not special rights, but the rights that were already written by these people -- these elitists, if you will. Educated, well-dressed, (Laughter) some would dare say questionably dressed. (Laughter) Nonetheless, our forefathers, right? The people that, we say, knew what they were doing when they wrote the Constitution -- the gay agenda, if you will. All of that flies in the face of what they did.
M'ap pale avè'w wi, eta de Kawolin di Nò (North Carolina). Men, ou menm, ou refize obeyi Konstitisyon peyi ya. Egalite, se sa wi ki objektif de moun omoseksyèl yo. Se pa pou di ke y'ap mande dwa spesyal non, men yo pito vle dwa ki te deja ekri pa moun swivan sa so elit sa yo, si'w vle ba yo non sa. Anpil moun ki enstwi, ki byen abiye, (Moun ki fè pati de odyans lan ap ri) gen moun ki gen dwa pa renmen jan yo abiye ya. (Moun ki fè pati de odyans lan ap ri) Men, yo se zansèt nou kan mèm, nès pa? Se moun ke'n di ki te konn sa yo t'ap fè lè yo te ekri Konstitisyon an kaye de moun omoseksyèl yo, si'w vle rele'l sa. Tout sa kontradi tout sa yo te fè.
That is the reason why I felt it was imperative that I presented you with this copy of the gay agenda. Because I figured if I made it funny, you wouldn't be as threatened. I figured if I was a bit irreverent, you wouldn't find it serious. But when you see the map, and you see our state of Michigan -- it's legal to fire someone for being gay, lesbian, bisexual or transgendered, that it's legal to remove someone from their home because they're gay, lesbian, bisexual or transgendered, then you realize that this whole conversation about marriage equality is not about stripping someone's rights away, it's about granting them the rights that [have] already been stated. And we're just trying to walk in those rights that have already been stated, that we've already agreed upon. There are people living in fear of losing their jobs so they don't show anyone who they really are right here at home. This isn't just about North Carolina; all those states that were clear, it's legal.
Sepou rezon sa ke'm te twouve sa enpòtan pou'm te montre'w kopi de kaye de moun ki omoseksyèl yo. Paske, m'panse ke si'm te prezante'w sa nan yon fason ki komik, ou pa te'p santi ke m'ap menase'w. M'panse ke si'm te fè prezantasyon an yon ti jan derespektab, ou pa t'ap pran sa seryezman. Men, lè'w gade kat jewografik peyi yan, ou wè eta nou an, ke yo rele Michigenn (Michigan) lan li legal si'w revoke yon moun paske'l omoseksyèl, lesbyèn, biseksyèl, oubyen transeksyèl, li legal tou, si'w mete yon moun deyò lakay yo paske yo se omoseksyèl, lesbyèn, biseksyèl, oubyen transeksyèl, lè'w panse de sa, ou wè ke tout diskisyon sa sou zafè de egalite de maryaj lan se pa sou sispann dwa li ye pito, se sou sijè de garanti moun dwa yo, ki te ekri deja. Epi, nou jis ap eseye itilize dwa yo, ki te deja deklare ke nou te deja aksepte. Gen moun k'ap viv, ki pè pèdi travay yo akoz de sa, yo pa montre okenn moun kiyès yo vrèman ye nan eta isit tou. Lekti sa, se pa jis sou Kawolin di Nò ke l'ap pale li vle pale sou lòt eta yo tou, kote aksyon sa yo legal.
If I could brag for a second, I have a 15-year-old son from my marriage. He has a 4.0. He is starting a new club at school, Policy Debate. He's a budding track star; he has almost every single record in middle school for every event that he competed in. He volunteers. He prays before he eats. I would like to think, as his father -- and he lives with me primarily -- that I had a little something to do with all of that. I would like to think that he's a good boy, a respectful young man. I would like to think that I've proven to be a capable father. But if I were to go to the state of Michigan today, and try to adopt a young person who is in an orphanage, I would be disqualified for only one reason: because I'm gay. It doesn't matter what I've already proven, what I can do with my heart. It's because of what the state of Michigan says that I am that I am disqualified for any sort of adoption. And that's not just about me, that's about so many other Michiganders, U.S. citizens, who don't understand why what they are is so much more significant than who they are.
Si'm ka fè dyolè pou yon moman, m'gen yon ti gason ki gen 15 an ke maryaj mwen yan te fè'm kado. Mwayèn li lekòl, sa pafè. L'ap kòmanse yon asosiyasyon lekòl li ya ki rele «Deba Politik». Li se yon atlèt ki trè fò nan kouri li konn premye prèske nan chak evènman atletik ke'l patisipe ladan'l, nan lekòl li ya. Li travay gratis pou kèk òganizasyon. Li priye avan li manje. M'ta renmen panse, ke kòm papa'l -- se lakay mwen yan li plis rete --ke siksè'l yo, mwen te ede'l akonpli yo tout. M'ta renmen panse ke'l se yon bon ti gason, yon ti moun ki respekte moun. M'ta renmen panse ke mwen pwouve ke'm se yon bon papa. Men, si'm ta'l mande eta Michigenn jodi ya, pou'm adopte yon òfelen yo pa t'ap kite'm fè sa pou yon rezon sèlman: paske'm se omoseksyèl. Sa pa vle di anyen, menm si m'te gentan montre sa'm ka fè avèk kè'm. Se akoz de sa eta Michigenn di ke'm ye ke yo pa t'ap kite'm adopte okenn timoun. Epi, sa m'ap di la, se pa pwoblèm mwen sèlman ke'l ye se pwoblèn anpil moun ki rete Michigenn, moun ki se sitwayen Ameriken, ki pa konprann pou kisa, sa yo ye pi enpòtan ke kiyès yo ye.
This story just keeps playing over and over and over again in our country's history. There was a time in which, I don't know, people who were black couldn't have the same rights. People who happened to be women didn't have the same rights, couldn't vote. There was a point in our history in which, if you were considered disabled, that an employer could just fire you, before the Americans with Disabilities Act. We keep doing this over and over again.
Bagay sa, li rive anpil, anpil nan istwa peyi nou. Te gen yon tan ke, moun ki te nwa pa't ka gen menm dwa ak moun ki blan. Epi, paske fanm pa't gen menm dwa ak gason, yo pa't ka vote nan eleksyon. Te gen yon tan nan istwa peyin'n nan, ke si'w te paralize fizikman oubyen mantalman, ke yo te ka jis revoke'w, avan egzistans de lwa ki rele «Lwa pou tout Ameriken ki Paralize (Americans with Disabilities Act). Nou kontinye fè menm bagay la ankò e ankò.
And so here we are, 2012, gay agenda, gay lifestyle, and I'm not a good dad and people don't deserve to be able to protect their families because of what they are, not who they are. So when you hear the words "gay lifestyle" and "gay agenda" in the future, I encourage you to do two things: One, remember the U.S. Constitution, and then two, if you wouldn't mind looking to your left, please. Look to your right. That person next to you is a brother, is a sister. And they should be treated with love and respect. Thank you.
Alò, ane sa, ane 2012 lan objektif de moun omoseksyèl yo, stil de vi moun omoseksyèl yo, epi ke'm se yon vye papa epi ke moun pa merite pou yo pwoteje fanmiy yo akoz de sa yo ye, pa akoz de kiyès yo ye. Alò, lè'w tande mo swivan sa yo: «stil de vi omoseksyèl» avèk «objektif de moun omoseksyèl yo», mwen ankouraje'w fè de bagay: Premyeman, sonje Konstitisyon Etazini yan, epi, dezèmman, gade sou bò goch ou, sil vou plè, gade sou bò dwat ou. Moun sa ki bò kote'w la, se frè'w oubyen sè'w ke'l ye. Akoz de sa, fòk ou trete yo ak lanmou e respè. Mèsi.