Oprah Winfrey, while accepting the Vanguard Award at the 35th GLAAD Media Awards, emotionally honored her late brother, Jeffrey Lee, who died of AIDS at age 29 in 1989. Reflecting on their upbringing and the lack of understanding around sexuality and gender at the time, Winfrey expressed regret that her brother couldn't witness the progress made in accepting LGBTQ+ identities. She credited her brother's inspiration for The Oprah Winfrey Show and emphasized the importance of authenticity and personal freedom. Winfrey, recognized for her allyship and advocacy for LGBTQ+ rights, pledged continued support for LGBTQ+ storytelling through her production company and collaborations with GLAAD.
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