Madonna Pays Tribute to First Gay Man She Met at GLAAD Media Awards

Madonna gives a speech while accepting the Advocate for Change Award at the 2019 GLAAD Media Awards on Saturday night (May 4) at the Hilton Midtown in New York City.

The 60-year-old entertainer paid tribute to the first gay man she ever met – her high school dance teacher.

“The first gay man I ever met was named Christopher Flynn,” she said (via People). “He was my ballet teacher in high school and he was the first person that believed in me. That made me feel special as a dancer, as an artist and as a human being. I know this sounds trivial and superficial but he was the first man to tell me that I was beautiful.”

“He took me to my first gay club in downtown Detroit. I told my dad I was having a sleepover at a girlfriend’s house — that got me grounded for the rest of the summer,” she added.

Madonna‘s award was presented to her by Rosie O’Donnell, Anderson Cooper, and Mykki Blanco.

Rosie was joined on the red carpet by her girlfriend Elizabeth Rooney.