ABOUT THE SPEAKER
LZ Granderson - Journalist
CNN and ESPN columnist LZ Granderson is a celebrated voice on sports, race and gay rights.

Why you should listen

LZ Granderson is no ordinary sports columnist. The scope of his work and interests reaches well beyond the world of athletics into race, politics, and gay and lesbian issues. Granderson was first hired at The Atlanta Journal-Constitution as a home design writer, but with his passion for sports it wasn’t long before he became the lead writer for the paper’s entertainment section, where he made a name as a sportswriter. (Meanwhile he also ran a gay bar in Atlanta.) In 2003 ESPN The Magazine hired Granderson as a freelance writer, and in 2004 he became an NBA editor. Today Granderson continues his work at the Magazine and is a columnist for ESPN.com’s Page 2 and CNN.com.

Read his further thoughts on this talk on CNN Opinion >>

More profile about the speaker
LZ Granderson | Speaker | TED.com
TEDxGrandRapids

LZ Granderson: The myth of the gay agenda

Èlzi Grendèsen (LZ Granderson): Rimè sou objektif de moun ki omoseksyèl yo

Filmed:
1,619,602 views

Nan yon chita pale komik ki kontyen yon mesaj ki vrèman ijan, Èlzi Grendèsen (LZ Granderson) montre ke rimè ki di ke genyen yon «stil de vi omoseksyèl» oubyen ke genyen yon «objektif de moun omoseksyèl yo,» se yon panse fòl ke li ye. (Òganizasyon ki rele TED lan te filme lekti sa nan eta Michigenn (Michigan), nan vil de Gran Rapids.)
- Journalist
CNN and ESPN columnist LZ Granderson is a celebrated voice on sports, race and gay rights. Full bio

Double-click the English transcript below to play the video.

00:16
When I was about 16 years old
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Lè'm te prèske gen 16 an,
00:19
I can remember flipping through channels at home during summer vacation,
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m'sonje ke, pandan yon vakans dete, m't'ap vire chèn televisyon lakay mwen
00:23
looking for a movie to watch on HBO --
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pou'm chache yon fim pou'm gade, sou yon chèn ki rele «HBO»...
00:25
and how many of you remember "Ferris Bueller's Day Off"?
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kiyès la ki sonje yon fim ki rele «Jou Konje de Feris Byoulè» (Ferris Bueller's Day Off)?
00:28
Oh yeah, great movie, right? -- Well, I saw Matthew Broderick on the screen, and so I thought,
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Se yon bèl fim, nès pa? Ebyen, paske'm te wè Matye Bròdrik (Matthew Broderick) sou ekran an,
00:33
"Sweet! Ferris Bueller. I'll watch this!"
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m'te panse, «Oh! Bèl bagay! Fim Feris Byoulè ya. Fò'm gade sa!»
00:36
It wasn't Ferris Bueller. And forgive me Matthew Broderick,
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Se pa't fim Feris Byoulè ya! Epi tou, eskize'm wi Matye Bròdrik,
00:39
I know you've done other movies besides Ferris Bueller, but that's how I remember you; you're Ferris.
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m'konnen ke'w fè lòt fim ke fim Feris Byoulè ya, men se akoz de li ke'm sonje'w; ou se Feris.
00:43
But you weren't doing Ferris-y things at the time; you were doing gay things at the time.
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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.
00:49
He was in a movie called "Torch Song Trilogy."
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Fim sa de kiyès m'ap pale la, se yon fim ki rele «Triloji de Kantik Damou» (Torch Song Trilogy).
00:52
And "Torch Song Trilogy" was based on a play about this drag queen who essentially was looking for love.
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Fim sa, li baze sou yon pyès ki pale de yon «drag queen» ki t'ap chache lanmou.
00:59
Love and respect -- that's what the whole film was about.
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Lanmou ak respè: se de sijè prensipal fim sa.
01:02
And as I'm watching it, I'm realizing that they're talking about me.
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Epi padan'm t'ap gade'l, m'te vin reyalize ke fim nan t'ap pale de mwen.
01:07
Not the drag queen part -- I am not shaving my hair for anyone -- but the gay part.
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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.
01:13
The finding love and respect, the part about trying to find your place in the world.
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Pli presizeman, pati ki pale de kijan moun twouve lanmou ak respè, epi kijan yo twouve plas yo nan le mond.
01:18
So as I'm watching this, I see this powerful scene that brought me to tears,
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Alò pandan'm t'ap gade fim sa, m'vin rankontre yon sèn ki si tèlman pwisan ke'l te fè'm kriye,
01:24
and it stuck with me for the past 25 years.
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epi ki te fè yon enpresyon sou mwen ki te rete avè'm pandan 25 ane ki sot pase yo.
01:28
And there's this quote that the main character, Arnold, tells his mother
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Gen yon deklarasyon ke Anòl (Arnold), aktè prensipal fim lan, fè pandan ke'l t'ap goumen
01:33
as they're fighting about who he is and the life that he lives.
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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.
01:38
"There's one thing more -- there's just one more thing you better understand.
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Anòl di: «Gen sèlman yon lòt bagay ke'w dwe konprann.
01:43
I've taught myself to sew, cook, fix plumbing, build furniture,
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M'montre tèt mwen kijan pou'm koud, kwit, ranje plonbri, konstwi mèb,
01:49
I can even pat myself on the back when necessary,
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m'ka menm felisite tèt mwen lè sa nesesè,
01:52
all so I don't have to ask anyone for anything.
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tout sa jis pou'm pa mande moun anyen!
01:57
There's nothing I need from anyone except for love and respect,
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Pa gen anyen ke'm bezwen nan men okenn moun, eksèp pou lanmou ak respè;
02:02
and anyone who can't give me those two things has no place in my life."
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alò, nenpòt moun ki pa ka ban'm bagay sa yo, pa gen plas nan vi'm.»
02:07
I remember that scene like it was yesterday; I was 16, I was in tears, I was in the closet,
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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,
02:14
and I'm looking at these two people, Ferris Bueller and some guy I'd never seen before,
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epi, pandan ke'm t'ap gade de moun sa yo: Feris Byoulè ak yon lòt nèg ke'm pa't konnen,
02:20
fighting for love.
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ap goumen pou lanmou.
02:24
When I finally got to a place in my life
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Lè'm te resi rive nan yon plas nan vi'm
02:28
where I came out and accepted who I was, and was really quite happy, to tell you the truth,
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ki te pèmèt ke'm te ka devwale avèk aksepte kiyès m'ye, m'te kontan anpil, pou'm ba'w tout verite ya,
02:32
I was happily gay and I guess that's supposed to be right because gay means happy too.
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m'te yon nonm omoseksyèl ki te trè kontan.
02:36
I realized there were a lot of people who weren't as gay as I was --
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M'te vin reyalize ke te gen anpil moun ki pa't kontan tankou'm
02:40
gay being happy, not gay being attracted to the same sex.
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...
02:44
In fact, I heard that there was a lot of hate and a lot of anger
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O kontrè, m'te tande ke te gen anpil rayisans ak kòlè,
02:49
and a lot of frustration and a lot of fear
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avèk anpil fristrasyon epi anpil moun ki te pè.
02:51
about who I was and the gay lifestyle.
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o sijè de kiyès ke'm ye, e a pwopo de stil de vi omoseksyèl lan ke'm t'ap mennen.
02:56
Now, I'm sitting here trying to figure out "the gay lifestyle," "the gay lifestyle,"
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Kounye ya, m'ap eseye konprann «stil de vi omoseksyèl» «stil de vi omoseksyèl». Sa sa vle di?
03:00
and I keep hearing this word over and over and over again: lifestyle, lifestyle, lifestyle.
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Epi, chak kou m'tande moun ap repete mo sa yo: stil de vi, stil de vi, stil de vi.
03:05
I've even heard politicians say that the gay lifestyle is a greater threat
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M'te menm tande politisyen ap di ke stil de vi omoseksyèl la, se yon bagay ki menase
03:09
to civilization than terrorism.
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sivilizasyon nou an --plis menm --ke ekzistans de zafè teworis.
03:12
That's when I got scared.
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Kou'm te tande sa, se lè sa m'te vin pè.
03:15
Because I'm thinking, if I'm gay and I'm doing something that's going to destroy civilization,
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Paske m'ap panse: si'm omoseksyèl, epi si m'ap fè yon bagay k'ap detwi sivilizasyon,
03:22
I need to figure out what this stuff is, and I need to stop doing it right now.
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m'bezwen konnen kisa bagay sa ye, pou'm sispann fè'l kounye ya!
03:27
(Laughter)
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(Moun ki fè pati de odyans lan ap ri)
03:29
So, I took a look at my life, a hard look at my life,
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Alò, m'te gade vi'm, nan yon fason ki trè pwofond,
03:34
and I saw some things very disturbing.
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epi'm te finalman arive wè kèlke bagay ki te trè boulvèsan.
03:39
(Laughter)
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(Moun ki fè pati de odyans lan ap ri)
03:42
And I want to begin sharing these evil things that I've been doing with you,
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Alò, m'vle kòmanse pataje avè'w tout bagay sa yo ki mal, ke'm konn abitye fè.
03:46
starting with my mornings.
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M'ap kòmanse ak sa'm konn fè chak maten.
03:48
I drink coffee.
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Lè'm leve m'bwè kafe.
03:52
Not only do I drink coffee, I know other gay people who drink coffee.
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Pa sèlman sa, m'konn anpil lòt moun omoseksyèl ki bwè kafe tou.
03:57
I get stuck in traffic --
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M'konn ret kole nan anboutyaj
04:01
evil, evil traffic.
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dè fwa, yon anbouteyaj ki move, move.
04:05
Sometimes I get stuck in lines at airports.
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Pafwa, m'konn ret kole nan liy nan ayeropò.
04:08
I look around, and I go, "My God, look at all these gay people!
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Lè konsa, m'konn gade ozalantou, epi m'konn di, «Bondye! Gade tout moun omoseksyèl sa yo! Kèt!
04:11
We're all trapped in these lines! These long lines trying to get on an airplane!
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Nou tout bloke nan liy long sa yo, ap eseye monte yon avyon!
04:15
My God, this lifestyle that I'm living is so freaking evil!"
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Bondye'm nan, stil de vi sa ke m'ap menmen la, se vrèman yon bagay ki dyabolik!
04:22
I clean up. This is not an actual photograph of my son's room; his is messier.
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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!
04:29
And because I have a 15-year-old, all I do is cook and cook and cook.
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Epi, paske'm gen yon pitit ki gen 15 an, tout jounnen se kwit m'ap kwit.
04:34
Any parents out there of teenagers? All we do is cook for these people --
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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
04:39
they eat two, three, four dinners a night -- it's ridiculous!
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chak swa, yo manje nenpòt de, twa, kat fwa -- sa li ridikil!
04:44
This is the gay lifestyle.
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Sa se stil de vi omoseksyèl la wi!
04:47
And after I'm done cooking and cleaning and standing in line and getting stuck in traffic,
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Epi, aprè m'fin fè manje, m'fin netwaye, kanpe nan liy, ak rete kole nan anbouteyaj,
04:54
my partner and I, we get together
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patnè'm nan avèk mwen, nou reyini
04:57
and we decide that we're gonna go and have some wild and crazy fun.
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epi nou deside ke nou pral byen pran plèzi nou.
05:03
(Laughter)
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(Moun ki fè pati de odyans lan ap ri)
05:07
We're usually in bed before we find out who's eliminated on "American Idol."
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Souvan, n'al dòmi anvan emisyon ke yo rele «Idòl Ameriken» (American Idol) fini.
05:11
We have to wake up and find out the next day who's still on
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Se lè'n leve ke nou konn al tcheke pou'n wè rezilta emisyon sa
05:15
because we're too freaking tired to hear who stays on.
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paske nou konn twò fatige pou'n fin gade emisyon sa!
05:20
This is the super duper evil gay lifestyle.
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Se sa wi ki stil de vi omoseksyèl la, ke moun konn di ki dyabolik la!
05:24
Run for your heterosexual lives, people.
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Ou menm ki la, kouri pou'w ka sove vi eteroseksyèl ou!
05:28
(Applause)
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(Moun ki nan odyans lan ap ri epi y'ap aplodi)
05:36
When my partner, Steve, and I first started dating,
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Lè patnè'm nan, Étyèn (Steve), avèk mwen te fèk kòmanse relasyonn nan,
05:41
he told me this story about penguins.
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li te rakonte'm yon istwa sou pengwen.
05:45
And I didn't know where he was going with it at first.
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Lè'l te fenk kòmanse rakonte istwa sa, m'pa't konn sa'l ta'p di ya.
05:48
He was kind of a little bit nervous when he was sharing it with me, but he told me that
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Li te yon tijan pè, lè'l ta'p pataje istwa sa avè'm, men li te di'm ke
05:52
when a penguin finds a mate that they want to spend the rest of their life with,
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lè yon pengwen jwenn yon konpanyon avèk lekèl ke'l vle pase tout rès vi'l,
05:56
they present them with a pebble -- the perfect pebble.
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li ba'l yon ti wòch --yon wòch ki san defo.
06:00
And then he reaches into his pocket, and he brings this out to me.
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Apre'l fin rakonte'm istwa sa, Étyèn mete men'l nan pòch li, epi'l montre'm sa.
06:07
And I looked at it, and I was like, this is really cool.
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Aprè ke'm te gade'l, m'te twouve ke sa te trè bèl.
06:11
And he says, "I want to spend the rest of my life with you."
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Epi'l te di'm: «M'vle pase tout rès vi'm avè'w.»
06:15
So I wear this whenever I have to do something that makes me a little nervous,
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Akoz de sa, m'mete kolye sa nenpòt lè ke'm gen pou'm fè yon bagay ki fè'm yon tijan enkyete,
06:21
like, I don't know, a TEDx talk.
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tankòm, pa egzanp, lekti de «TED» sa.
06:24
I wear this when I am apart from him for a long period of time.
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Mwen mete sa, lè'm pa kote'l pou yon peryòd tan ki long.
06:28
And sometimes I just wear it just because.
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E pafwa, mwen mete'l paske'm jis renmen mete'l.
06:32
How many people out there are in love? Anyone in love out there?
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Konbyen moun ki la, ki damou yon lòt moun?
06:37
You might be gay.
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Si'w damou, petèt ou menm tou, ou se yon omoseksyèl.
06:40
(Laughter)
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(Moun ki fè pati de odyans lan ap ri)
06:41
Because I, too, am in love, and apparently that's part of the gay lifestyle that I warned you about.
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Paske mwen menm tou, m'damou. Aparamman, sa fè pati de stil de vi omoseksyèl la, ke'm te avèti'w de li ya.
06:48
(Applause)
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(Moun ki nan odyans lan ap ri epi y'ap aplodi)
06:54
You may want to tell your spouse. Who, if they're in love, might be gay as well.
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Petèt, ou ka vle di mari'w oubyen madanm ou sa. Si'l damou tou, moun sa, se petèt omoseksyèl ke'l ye tou.
07:00
How many of you are single? Any single people out there?
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Konbyen moun ki la ki selibatè?
07:04
You too might be gay! Because I know some gay people who are also single.
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Ou menm tou, petèt se yon omoseksyèl ke'w ye! Paske, m'konn kèk moun omoseksyèl tou ki selibatè.
07:09
It's really scary, this gay lifestyle thing; it's super duper evil and there's no end to it!
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Sa vrèman efreyan, stil de vi omoseksyèl sa, son'w bagay ki trè, trè, trè, dyabolik! Epi tou, li pa gen limit.
07:16
It goes and goes and engulfs!
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Li mache'l, mache, jiskas ke'l anvayi tout bagay.
07:19
It's really quite silly, isn't it?
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Ide sa, li pa fè okenn sans, nès pa?
07:22
That's why I'm so happy to finally hear President Obama come out and say
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Se pou rezon sa ke'm te trè kontan lè'm te tande ke Prezidan Obama te deklare
07:27
(Applause)
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(Moun ki nan odyans lan ap aplodi)
07:29
that he supports --
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ke'l sipòte:
07:31
(Applause)
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(Moun ki nan odyans lan ap aplodi)
07:35
that he supports marriage equality.
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ke'l sipòte egalite de maryaj.
07:38
It's a wonderful day in our country's history; it's a wonderful day in the globe's history
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Se yon bèl jou nan istwa peyi nou; se yon jou mèveyez nan istwa mond lan tou
07:43
to be able to have an actual sitting president say, enough of this --
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dèske gen yon prezidan k'ap gouvène aktyèlman, ki di: ase de deskriminasyon estipid sa kont moun ki omoseksyèl yo
07:48
first to himself, and then to the rest of the world.
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li di sa premyeman a tèt li, epi dezyèmman a tout rès moun nan le mond antye.
07:51
It's wonderful.
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Se yon trè bèl bagay sa ye.
07:53
But there's something that's been disturbing me since he
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Men gen yon bagay ki kontinye ap deranje'm depi lè'l
07:57
made that remark just a short time ago.
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te fè deklarasyon sa, padan jou ki fenk sot pase yo.
08:01
And that is, apparently, this is just another move by the gay activists
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Aparamman, gen moun ki panse ke sa se yon lòt inisyativ ke militan omoseksyèl yo ap pouswiv
08:07
that's on the gay agenda.
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ki fè pati de kaye ki kontyen objektif de moun ki omoseksyèl yo.
08:11
And I'm disturbed by this because I've been openly gay now for quite some time.
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Epi, sa vrèman boulvèse'm paske sa fè lontan ke'm te anonse ke'm se yon moun omoseksyèl.
08:16
I've been to all of the functions, I've been to fundraisers,
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Menm si'm kon al nan tout seremoni ofisyèl yo, avèk reyinyon kote yo rasanble lajan yo, menm si'm konn ekri sou sijè
08:20
I've written about the topic, and I have yet to receive my copy of this gay agenda.
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de zafè de bagay omoseksyalité sa, m'pako janm jwenn kopi de kaye ki genyen objektif de moun ki omoseksyèl yo.
08:24
(Laughter)
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(Moun ki fè pati de odyans lan ap ri)
08:26
I've paid my dues on time,
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M'toutan bay kotizasyon'm nan a lè,
08:29
(Laughter)
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(Moun ki fè pati de odyans lan ap ri)
08:31
I've marched in gay pride flags parades and the whole nine,
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M'konn al mache nan defile de drapo ke moun omoseksyèl yo òganize, epi m'konn kontribiye nan anpil lòt fason ankò
08:36
and I've yet to see a copy of the gay agenda.
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epi mwen pako wè kopi de kaye sa deki m'ap pale'w la.
08:39
It's very, very frustrating, and I was feeling left out, like I wasn't quite gay enough.
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Sa deranje'm anpil anpil, epi m'santi ke tout moun inyore'm, tankòm si'm pa't omoseksyèl ase.
08:44
But then something wonderful happened: I was out shopping, as I tend to do,
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Men yon jou, yon bagay mèveyez rive'm: kòm dabitid, mwen t'ap fè makèt,
08:49
and I came across a bootleg copy of the official gay agenda.
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epi je'm vin tonbe sou yon kopi ilegal de kaye ofisyèl sa, ki kontyen objektif de moun omoseksyèl yo.
08:58
And I said to myself, "LZ, for so long, you have been denied this.
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Epi'm di tèt mwen, «Èlzi (LZ), sa gen lontan depi y'ap kache kaye sa pou'w pa jwenn li.
09:03
When you get in front of this crowd, you're gonna share the news.
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Lè'w rive devan moun ki la yo, ou pra'l bay nouvèl la.
09:08
You're gonna spread the gay agenda so no one else has to wonder,
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Ou pral montre kaye sa pou tout moun pa nan devine sa'k ladan'l ankò,
09:12
what exactly is in the gay agenda?
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ki sa egzakteman ki nan kaye sa?
09:15
What are these gays up to?
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Kisa ki objektif moun omoseksyèl sa yo?
09:19
What do they want?"
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Sa yo vle konsa?»
09:22
So, without further ado, I will present to you, ladies and gentlemen --
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Alò, san'm pa nan pale pi plis, mwen pra'l montre'w, mesyedam,
09:27
now be careful, 'cause it's evil -- a copy,
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fè atansyon, paske sa'k ladan'l lan, se bagay dyab --yon kopi
09:31
the official copy, of the gay agenda.
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kopi ofisyèl la, de kaye de objektif de moun omoseksyèl yo.
09:37
(Music)
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(Mizik ap jwe)
10:02
The gay agenda, people!
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Mesyedam, men sa'k nan kaye de moun ki omoseksyèl yo!
10:05
(Applause)
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(Moun ki fè pati de odyans lan ap aplodi)
10:09
There it is!
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Men kaye ya!
10:11
Did you soak it all in? The gay agenda.
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Èske'w konprann? Se sa ki nan kaye moun omoseksyèl yo wi.
10:14
Some of you may be calling it, what,
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Gen kèk moun pami'w ki petèt rele'l, kisa,
10:18
the Constitution of the United States, is that what you call it too?
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Konstitisyon Etazini yan, èske se sa'w rele'l tou?
10:21
The U.S. Constitution is the gay agenda.
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Konstitisyon Etazini yan, li fè pati de objektif de moun ki omoseksyèl yo.
10:26
These gays, people like me, want to be treated like full citizens
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Moun omoseksyèl yo --moun tankou'm --yo vle ke sosyete ya trete yo tankòm sitwayen konplè
10:31
and it's all written down in plain sight.
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epi tout sa ekri pou tout moun ki gen je klè wè
10:35
I was blown away when I saw it. I was like, wait, this is the gay agenda?
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Sa te fè'm yon bèl plezi lè'm te wè'l. M'te mande tèt mwen: se sa ki nan kaye ya?
10:41
Why didn't you just call it the Constitution so I knew what you were talking about?
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Poukisa yo pa't jis di ke'l se Kontistisyon yan, pou'm te ka konprann de kisa yo t'ap pale ya?
10:45
I wouldn't have been so confused; I wouldn't have been so upset.
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M'tap pi byen konprann,epi m'pa ta'p fache konsa.
10:48
But there it is. The gay agenda.
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Antouka, men li. Kaye ki kontyen objektif de moun omoseksyèl yo.
10:53
Run for your heterosexual lives.
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Kouri pou'w sove vi etewoseksyèl ou.
10:59
Did you know that in all the states where there is no shading that
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Èske'w te konnen ke nan eta ki pa kolore yo
11:06
people who are gay, lesbian, bisexual or transgendered
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ke moun ki omoseksyèl, lesbyèn, biseksyèl, ou byen transeksyèl
11:09
can be kicked out of their apartments
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pwopriyetè kay ka mete yo deyò nan apatman yo
11:11
for being gay, lesbian, bisexual or transgendered?
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akoz ke yo se omoseksyèl, lesbyèn, biseksyèl, ou transeksyèl?
11:15
That's the only reason that a landlord needs to have them removed,
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Se sèl rezon sa ke pwopriyetè kay bezwen pou yo mete yo deyò
11:20
because there's no protection from discrimination of GLBT people.
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paske moun sa yo pa gen okenn pwoteksyon kont diskriminasyon.
11:26
Did you know in the states where there's no shading that
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Èske'w te konnen ke nan eta ki pa kolore yo
11:31
you can be fired for being gay, lesbian, bisexual or transgendered?
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ke yo ka revoke'w akoz ke'w se yon omoseksyèl, lesbyèn, biseksyèl, oubyen transeksyèl?
11:37
Not based upon the quality of your work,
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Yo pa bezwen konnen kalite de travay ke'w konn fè,
11:41
how long you've been there, if you stink,
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si'w gen anpil tan nan travay la, ou byen si'w se yon vye travayè,
11:45
just if you're gay, lesbian, bisexual or transgendered.
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depi yo konnen ke'w omoseksyèl, lesbyèn, biseksyèl, ou byen transeksyèl, yo ka revoke'w.
11:52
All of which flies in the face of the gay agenda,
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Tout sa ka pase, menm si kaye moun omoseksyèl yo egziste,
11:57
also known as the U.S. Constitution.
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yon kaye sa ke yo osi rele Konstitisyon Etazini yan.
12:01
Specifically, this little amendment right here:
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Presizeman, pati sa ki la:
12:05
"No state shall make or enforce any law which shall abridge the privileges or immunities
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ki di ke, «Pa gen okenn nan eta yo ki fè pati de peyi ya, ki ka envante oubyen aplike okenn lwa
12:10
of citizens of the United States."
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ki ka afebli privilèj oubyen dwa legal de tout sitwayen de peyi Etazini yan.»
12:14
I'm looking at you, North Carolina.
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M'ap pale avè'w wi, eta de Kawolin di Nò (North Carolina).
12:17
But you're not looking at the U.S. Constitution.
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Men, ou menm, ou refize obeyi Konstitisyon peyi ya.
12:22
This is the gay agenda: equality. Not special rights,
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Egalite, se sa wi ki objektif de moun omoseksyèl yo. Se pa pou di ke y'ap mande dwa spesyal non,
12:27
but the rights that were already written by these people --
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men yo pito vle dwa ki te deja ekri pa moun swivan sa so
12:31
these elitists, if you will.
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elit sa yo, si'w vle ba yo non sa.
12:34
Educated, well-dressed,
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Anpil moun ki enstwi, ki byen abiye,
12:38
(Laughter)
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(Moun ki fè pati de odyans lan ap ri)
12:41
some would dare say questionably dressed.
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gen moun ki gen dwa pa renmen jan yo abiye ya.
12:43
(Laughter)
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(Moun ki fè pati de odyans lan ap ri)
12:46
Nonetheless, our forefathers, right?
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Men, yo se zansèt nou kan mèm, nès pa?
12:50
The people that, we say, knew what they were doing when they wrote the Constitution --
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Se moun ke'n di ki te konn sa yo t'ap fè lè yo te ekri Konstitisyon an
12:54
the gay agenda, if you will.
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kaye de moun omoseksyèl yo, si'w vle rele'l sa.
12:57
All of that flies in the face of what they did.
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Tout sa kontradi tout sa yo te fè.
13:03
That is the reason why I felt it was imperative that
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Sepou rezon sa ke'm te twouve sa enpòtan pou'm te
13:08
I presented you with this copy of the gay agenda.
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montre'w kopi de kaye de moun ki omoseksyèl yo.
13:13
Because I figured if I made it funny, you wouldn't be as threatened.
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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.
13:18
I figured if I was a bit irreverent, you wouldn't find it serious.
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M'panse ke si'm te fè prezantasyon an yon ti jan derespektab, ou pa t'ap pran sa seryezman.
13:23
But when you see the map, and you see our state of Michigan --
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Men, lè'w gade kat jewografik peyi yan, ou wè eta nou an, ke yo rele Michigenn (Michigan) lan
13:28
it's legal to fire someone
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li legal si'w revoke yon moun
13:34
for being gay, lesbian, bisexual or transgendered,
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paske'l omoseksyèl, lesbyèn, biseksyèl, oubyen transeksyèl,
13:38
that it's legal to remove someone from their home
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li legal tou, si'w mete yon moun deyò lakay yo
13:42
because they're gay, lesbian, bisexual or transgendered,
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paske yo se omoseksyèl, lesbyèn, biseksyèl, oubyen transeksyèl,
13:47
then you realize that this whole conversation about marriage equality
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lè'w panse de sa, ou wè ke tout diskisyon sa sou zafè de egalite de maryaj lan
13:51
is not about stripping someone's rights away,
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se pa sou sispann dwa li ye
13:54
it's about granting them the rights that [have] already been stated.
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pito, se sou sijè de garanti moun dwa yo, ki te ekri deja.
13:59
And we're just trying to walk in those rights that have already been stated,
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Epi, nou jis ap eseye itilize dwa yo, ki te deja deklare
14:03
that we've already agreed upon.
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ke nou te deja aksepte.
14:07
There are people living in fear
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Gen moun k'ap viv, ki pè
14:12
of losing their jobs
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pèdi travay yo
14:16
so they don't show anyone who they really are
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akoz de sa, yo pa montre okenn moun kiyès yo vrèman ye
14:21
right here at home. This isn't just about North Carolina;
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nan eta isit tou. Lekti sa, se pa jis sou Kawolin di Nò ke l'ap pale
14:26
all those states that were clear, it's legal.
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li vle pale sou lòt eta yo tou, kote aksyon sa yo legal.
14:31
If I could brag for a second,
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Si'm ka fè dyolè pou yon moman,
14:35
I have a 15-year-old son from my marriage.
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m'gen yon ti gason ki gen 15 an ke maryaj mwen yan te fè'm kado.
14:41
He has a 4.0.
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Mwayèn li lekòl, sa pafè.
14:43
He is starting a new club at school, Policy Debate.
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L'ap kòmanse yon asosiyasyon lekòl li ya ki rele «Deba Politik».
14:50
He's a budding track star;
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Li se yon atlèt ki trè fò nan kouri
14:54
he has almost every single record in middle school for every event that he competed in.
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li konn premye prèske nan chak evènman atletik ke'l patisipe ladan'l, nan lekòl li ya.
15:01
He volunteers.
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Li travay gratis pou kèk òganizasyon.
15:03
He prays before he eats.
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Li priye avan li manje.
15:06
I would like to think, as his father -- and he lives with me primarily --
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M'ta renmen panse, ke kòm papa'l -- se lakay mwen yan li plis rete
15:13
that I had a little something to do with all of that.
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--ke siksè'l yo, mwen te ede'l akonpli yo tout.
15:16
I would like to think that he's a good boy,
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M'ta renmen panse ke'l se yon bon ti gason,
15:19
a respectful young man. I would like to think that
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yon ti moun ki respekte moun.
15:24
I've proven to be a capable father.
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M'ta renmen panse ke mwen pwouve ke'm se yon bon papa.
15:27
But if I were to go to the state of Michigan today,
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Men, si'm ta'l mande eta Michigenn jodi ya,
15:31
and try to adopt a young person who is in an orphanage,
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pou'm adopte yon òfelen
15:36
I would be disqualified for only one reason:
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yo pa t'ap kite'm fè sa pou yon rezon sèlman:
15:40
because I'm gay.
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paske'm se omoseksyèl.
15:43
It doesn't matter what I've already proven, what I can do with my heart.
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Sa pa vle di anyen, menm si m'te gentan montre sa'm ka fè avèk kè'm.
15:48
It's because of what the state of Michigan says that I am
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Se akoz de sa eta Michigenn di ke'm ye
15:51
that I am disqualified for any sort of adoption.
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ke yo pa t'ap kite'm adopte okenn timoun.
15:57
And that's not just about me,
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Epi, sa m'ap di la, se pa pwoblèm mwen sèlman ke'l ye
16:01
that's about so many other Michiganders, U.S. citizens,
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se pwoblèn anpil moun ki rete Michigenn, moun ki se sitwayen Ameriken,
16:06
who don't understand why what they are
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ki pa konprann pou kisa, sa yo ye
16:11
is so much more significant than who they are.
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pi enpòtan ke kiyès yo ye.
16:17
This story just keeps playing over and over
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Bagay sa, li rive anpil, anpil
16:22
and over again in our country's history.
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nan istwa peyi nou.
16:26
There was a time in which, I don't know,
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Te gen yon tan ke,
16:29
people who were black couldn't have the same rights.
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moun ki te nwa pa't ka gen menm dwa ak moun ki blan.
16:33
People who happened to be women didn't have the same rights, couldn't vote.
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Epi, paske fanm pa't gen menm dwa ak gason, yo pa't ka vote nan eleksyon.
16:39
There was a point in our history in which, if you were considered disabled,
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Te gen yon tan nan istwa peyin'n nan, ke si'w te paralize fizikman oubyen mantalman, ke yo te ka jis revoke'w,
16:44
that an employer could just fire you, before the Americans with Disabilities Act.
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avan egzistans de lwa ki rele «Lwa pou tout Ameriken ki Paralize (Americans with Disabilities Act).
16:48
We keep doing this over and over again.
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Nou kontinye fè menm bagay la ankò e ankò.
16:52
And so here we are, 2012,
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Alò, ane sa, ane 2012 lan
16:56
gay agenda,
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objektif de moun omoseksyèl yo,
16:59
gay lifestyle, and I'm not a good dad
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stil de vi moun omoseksyèl yo, epi ke'm se yon vye papa
17:02
and people don't deserve to be able to protect their families
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epi ke moun pa merite pou yo pwoteje fanmiy yo
17:06
because of what they are, not who they are.
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akoz de sa yo ye, pa akoz de kiyès yo ye.
17:11
So when you hear the words "gay lifestyle" and "gay agenda" in the future,
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Alò, lè'w tande mo swivan sa yo: «stil de vi omoseksyèl» avèk «objektif de moun omoseksyèl yo»,
17:17
I encourage you to do two things:
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mwen ankouraje'w fè de bagay:
17:21
One, remember the U.S. Constitution, and then two,
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Premyeman, sonje Konstitisyon Etazini yan, epi, dezèmman,
17:27
if you wouldn't mind looking to your left, please.
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gade sou bò goch ou, sil vou plè,
17:32
Look to your right.
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gade sou bò dwat ou.
17:35
That person next to you is a brother, is a sister.
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Moun sa ki bò kote'w la, se frè'w oubyen sè'w ke'l ye.
17:41
And they should be treated with love and respect.
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Akoz de sa, fòk ou trete yo ak lanmou e respè.
17:43
Thank you.
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Mèsi.
Translated by Boukman Nomolas
Reviewed by Nedcar Faugas

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ABOUT THE SPEAKER
LZ Granderson - Journalist
CNN and ESPN columnist LZ Granderson is a celebrated voice on sports, race and gay rights.

Why you should listen

LZ Granderson is no ordinary sports columnist. The scope of his work and interests reaches well beyond the world of athletics into race, politics, and gay and lesbian issues. Granderson was first hired at The Atlanta Journal-Constitution as a home design writer, but with his passion for sports it wasn’t long before he became the lead writer for the paper’s entertainment section, where he made a name as a sportswriter. (Meanwhile he also ran a gay bar in Atlanta.) In 2003 ESPN The Magazine hired Granderson as a freelance writer, and in 2004 he became an NBA editor. Today Granderson continues his work at the Magazine and is a columnist for ESPN.com’s Page 2 and CNN.com.

Read his further thoughts on this talk on CNN Opinion >>

More profile about the speaker
LZ Granderson | Speaker | TED.com