Josh Hutcherson was 19 when he took the stage at the 2012 GLAAD Media Awards, and what he said that day is still making the rounds years later.
The actor, known for playing Peeta Mellark in The Hunger Games, received recognition for his support of the LGBTQ+ community and shared a very personal reflection: “I’m tired of having to say the words ‘gay’ and ‘lesbian’… They’re simply people”.
Then he imagined an everyday scene: his future child coming home from school to tell him they’d met someone and loved them. He already has his response rehearsed: “Yes, you love him, and that’s okay”.
His commitment has roots in his own family. Two of his uncles were gay and died of AIDS-related illnesses. As he has said, both left a deep mark on how he understands acceptance. He also supported initiatives to help straight young people become allies to their LGBTQ+ peers.
His message isn’t asking us to erase words that represent identity and a history of struggle for many, but to build a world where no one has to hide whom they love for fear of rejection. How many children are still waiting to hear that response at home?