Ronan Farrow confirmed last night that he is a member of the LGBT+ community while accepting the Point Foundation's Courage Award.
The journalist was awarded the honour for his New Yorker series on Harvey Weinstein's sexual assault allegations, as well as his work with NBC's Today covering trans issues. The Point Foundation's Courage Award is given to “those who have advocated for the future of the LGBTQ and allied community and believe investing in today’s potential will produce a brighter tomorrow.”
Via a press release from the Point Foundation, Farrow is reported to have said: “Being a part of the LGBT community – which recognised that reporting I was doing early on and elevated it, and has been such a stalwart source of support through the sexual assault reporting I did involving survivors who felt equally invisible – that has been an incredible source of strength for me. LGBT people are some of the bravest and most potent change agents and leaders I have encountered, and the most forceful defenders of the vulnerable and voiceless, because they know what it’s like to be there.”
Speaking with The Advocate, Farrow called it a "huge honour" to be one of the most high-profile LGBT+ journalists working today, and praised the Point Foundation for their work in helping people facing adversity to become "part of the solution".
“I spent a long time reporting on trans issues and I know in the course of that reporting I saw how deeply adversity runs,” Farrow said. “I saw that the LGBT community is one of the most powerful resources we have. These are the most important leaders we can harness. These are the strongest people with the greatest sense of ingenuity, who in the process of facing that kind of adversity become powerhouses. What Point Foundation does is make these people feel seen and facilitate them in being part of the solution, instead of being just another number, and another tragedy.”
