[Script Info] Title: [Events] Format: Layer, Start, End, Style, Name, MarginL, MarginR, MarginV, Effect, Text Dialogue: 0,0:00:06.46,0:00:08.01,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,In 2015, Dialogue: 0,0:00:08.64,0:00:10.87,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,at the age of 23, Dialogue: 0,0:00:11.49,0:00:14.50,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,I had what I consider still today Dialogue: 0,0:00:14.50,0:00:18.46,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,to be one of the single\Nmost profoundly intense Dialogue: 0,0:00:18.46,0:00:21.88,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and equally terrifying\Nexperiences of my life. Dialogue: 0,0:00:22.66,0:00:23.93,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,I’d returned to Belfast Dialogue: 0,0:00:23.93,0:00:27.41,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,after having been in work\Nin London for a few days, Dialogue: 0,0:00:27.91,0:00:32.27,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and I decided that the next morning\NI’d make the journey back home. Dialogue: 0,0:00:33.29,0:00:34.92,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,So I got up, Dialogue: 0,0:00:34.92,0:00:37.22,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,I made the way to the train station Dialogue: 0,0:00:37.22,0:00:41.64,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and I got on a train in Belfast\Nand got off in Ballymoney. Dialogue: 0,0:00:41.64,0:00:44.38,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,And no, being in Ballymoney\Nis neither the terrifying Dialogue: 0,0:00:44.38,0:00:46.04,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,nor the intense part of the story. Dialogue: 0,0:00:46.04,0:00:47.52,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,(Laughter) Dialogue: 0,0:00:48.44,0:00:50.54,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,But my brother was waiting for me, Dialogue: 0,0:00:50.54,0:00:54.68,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and I got in the car and we made\Nthe drive back to the family home, Dialogue: 0,0:00:54.68,0:00:57.28,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,where my mom and dad\Nwere surprised to see me. Dialogue: 0,0:00:57.72,0:01:00.63,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,I hadn’t told them that I would be there. Dialogue: 0,0:01:02.72,0:01:07.57,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,And the moment that followed\Nprobably only lasted for a few minutes, Dialogue: 0,0:01:07.57,0:01:10.76,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,but at the time,\Nit felt like hours were passing. Dialogue: 0,0:01:11.60,0:01:16.17,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,And in that moment, I told my parents\Nsomething that had been consuming me. Dialogue: 0,0:01:17.11,0:01:20.60,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,In that moment, I told\Nmy parents that I was gay. Dialogue: 0,0:01:22.51,0:01:23.78,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Now, Dialogue: 0,0:01:23.78,0:01:30.57,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,I was met by a response of nothing\Nbut unconditional love and acceptance. Dialogue: 0,0:01:32.28,0:01:33.69,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,And to this day, Dialogue: 0,0:01:34.92,0:01:38.07,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,it was the greatest sense of relief\NI’ve ever experienced. Dialogue: 0,0:01:38.07,0:01:42.75,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,It felt like a physical weight\Nbeing lifted from my shoulders. Dialogue: 0,0:01:43.60,0:01:45.66,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,And I remain conscious of two things: Dialogue: 0,0:01:45.66,0:01:50.38,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,the first, that not everyone\Nis as lucky as I am Dialogue: 0,0:01:50.71,0:01:54.15,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,from the response that they get\Nfrom their loved ones when they come out, Dialogue: 0,0:01:54.15,0:01:59.11,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and the second, that up until that point,\Nand even in moments since, Dialogue: 0,0:01:59.53,0:02:03.84,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,I’ve led an existence of variations of me. Dialogue: 0,0:02:05.21,0:02:06.57,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,And it’s funny, Dialogue: 0,0:02:06.97,0:02:11.90,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,because despite knowing, really knowing,\Nin my head and in my heart, Dialogue: 0,0:02:11.90,0:02:13.43,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,that my family loved me Dialogue: 0,0:02:13.43,0:02:16.85,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and that of course\Nthey'd accept me for who I am, Dialogue: 0,0:02:17.41,0:02:19.52,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,it was the world around me Dialogue: 0,0:02:19.52,0:02:23.89,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,that had told me to expect\Na very different response. Dialogue: 0,0:02:25.10,0:02:29.85,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,LGBT people are conditioned\Nto expect the worst, Dialogue: 0,0:02:29.85,0:02:33.38,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,while holding on to a little bit\Nof hope for the best. Dialogue: 0,0:02:39.33,0:02:43.44,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,When we think about\Nthe experiences of LGBT people - Dialogue: 0,0:02:43.91,0:02:49.17,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,I now work for Europe’s\Nlargest LGBT rights organization. Dialogue: 0,0:02:49.17,0:02:53.12,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,I often joke that that allows me to say\Nthat I’m a professional homosexual now. Dialogue: 0,0:02:53.12,0:02:54.93,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,(Laughter) Dialogue: 0,0:02:55.66,0:02:58.90,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,That doesn’t mean there are amateurs;\Nit just means I’m better at it. Dialogue: 0,0:02:58.90,0:03:00.43,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,(Laughter) Dialogue: 0,0:03:04.17,0:03:08.42,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,But the reality is\Nthat in every new interaction, Dialogue: 0,0:03:08.80,0:03:10.70,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,with every new job or every new boss, Dialogue: 0,0:03:10.70,0:03:14.10,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,with every new colleague,\Nin every new social situation, Dialogue: 0,0:03:14.47,0:03:18.14,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,or in every new introduction\Nto a friend of a friend, Dialogue: 0,0:03:19.36,0:03:22.11,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,LGBT people make decisions. Dialogue: 0,0:03:22.80,0:03:27.55,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,We make conscious, pragmatic decisions\Nabout who knows what. Dialogue: 0,0:03:27.55,0:03:32.90,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,We make split-second assessments\Nabout what we disclose. Dialogue: 0,0:03:34.63,0:03:37.44,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,And I’m not talking about\Nanything particularly intricate. Dialogue: 0,0:03:37.79,0:03:41.24,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,I’m talking about things that are\Neveryday interactions for other people. Dialogue: 0,0:03:41.67,0:03:46.03,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,If I get into a taxi and the driver asks,\N“What are you getting up to this weekend?” Dialogue: 0,0:03:46.03,0:03:48.81,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,do I say, "I’m going for dinner\Nwith my boyfriend"? Dialogue: 0,0:03:48.81,0:03:51.22,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,If I do, do I say\N“boyfriend” or “partner”? Dialogue: 0,0:03:51.22,0:03:54.32,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,If I say “partner,” is that as obvious\Nas saying “boyfriend”? Dialogue: 0,0:03:54.32,0:03:57.100,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,So if I choose not to say anything at all,\Nwhat do I have to make up instead? Dialogue: 0,0:03:59.83,0:04:01.59,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,You might be surprised Dialogue: 0,0:04:01.59,0:04:07.31,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,by how often we go through these things\Nin our head and in our life Dialogue: 0,0:04:07.31,0:04:12.40,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,because the world around us\Nhas told us to expect the worst. Dialogue: 0,0:04:15.34,0:04:17.20,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,But when I came out, Dialogue: 0,0:04:17.20,0:04:19.47,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,that sense of relief Dialogue: 0,0:04:19.47,0:04:24.35,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,was one of the single most empowering\Nfeelings I’ve ever experienced. Dialogue: 0,0:04:24.97,0:04:27.04,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,And so, I want you to imagine Dialogue: 0,0:04:27.88,0:04:33.62,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,if the choices we face on a daily basis\Nrange from being entirely open and honest, Dialogue: 0,0:04:33.62,0:04:35.93,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and the vulnerability\Nthat comes with that Dialogue: 0,0:04:36.61,0:04:41.30,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,to offering a redacted\Nor edited version of ourselves, Dialogue: 0,0:04:41.64,0:04:43.100,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,to withholding our truth entirely, Dialogue: 0,0:04:44.87,0:04:49.32,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,are any of those things\Nmore or less authentic than each other? Dialogue: 0,0:04:50.92,0:04:52.18,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Probably. Dialogue: 0,0:04:52.73,0:04:54.40,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,But I want you to imagine Dialogue: 0,0:04:55.31,0:05:01.22,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,what it must be like to be faced\Nwith those choices every single day Dialogue: 0,0:05:01.22,0:05:02.71,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,for an individual. Dialogue: 0,0:05:03.20,0:05:05.26,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,I want you to imagine\Nwhat it must feel like Dialogue: 0,0:05:05.26,0:05:09.38,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,to be faced with those choices\Nevery day of every week Dialogue: 0,0:05:09.38,0:05:11.62,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,of every month of every year Dialogue: 0,0:05:11.62,0:05:15.31,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,for an entire community of people. Dialogue: 0,0:05:18.95,0:05:20.53,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Earlier this year, Dialogue: 0,0:05:20.53,0:05:26.72,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,the UK government published the findings\Nof the first-ever national LGBT survey. Dialogue: 0,0:05:27.33,0:05:30.06,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Spoiler alert: it was pretty grim reading. Dialogue: 0,0:05:31.54,0:05:34.01,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Around a quarter of all LGBT people Dialogue: 0,0:05:34.01,0:05:37.13,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,have accessed some kind\Nof mental health support service Dialogue: 0,0:05:37.13,0:05:38.86,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,over the course of the last year. Dialogue: 0,0:05:39.49,0:05:43.73,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Forty percent have experienced an incident Dialogue: 0,0:05:43.73,0:05:48.27,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,of something like either\Nverbal harassment or physical violence Dialogue: 0,0:05:48.27,0:05:50.12,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,in that same period. Dialogue: 0,0:05:50.55,0:05:52.35,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Over two-thirds have said Dialogue: 0,0:05:52.35,0:05:56.81,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,that they have avoided holding the hand\Nof their same-sex partner Dialogue: 0,0:05:56.81,0:06:00.26,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,for fear of the response\Nthat they will receive. Dialogue: 0,0:06:02.02,0:06:05.84,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,That is still our lived reality today. Dialogue: 0,0:06:08.68,0:06:10.26,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,But what can you do Dialogue: 0,0:06:10.90,0:06:15.44,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,other than continuing to be\Ndecent human beings? Dialogue: 0,0:06:16.100,0:06:19.06,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Well, I want to tell you another story, Dialogue: 0,0:06:19.06,0:06:22.52,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and it might seem a bit odd,\Nbut there’s a point to it, I promise. Dialogue: 0,0:06:22.52,0:06:26.38,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,I want to take you back\Nto November 3, 2008, Dialogue: 0,0:06:26.38,0:06:29.45,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,the night before\Nthe US presidential election. Dialogue: 0,0:06:30.58,0:06:32.46,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,The then soon-to-be president, Dialogue: 0,0:06:32.46,0:06:33.61,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Barack Obama, Dialogue: 0,0:06:33.61,0:06:35.20,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,was addressing his final rally Dialogue: 0,0:06:35.20,0:06:38.70,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,before votes would be cast\Nthe following morning. Dialogue: 0,0:06:38.70,0:06:41.50,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,And with the crowd gathered\Nin front of him in Virginia, Dialogue: 0,0:06:41.50,0:06:44.02,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,he recounted a story\Nof an experience he’d had Dialogue: 0,0:06:44.02,0:06:46.52,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,at a much earlier stage of his campaign. Dialogue: 0,0:06:47.25,0:06:51.94,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,He talked about getting in his car\Nwith his staff really early one morning, Dialogue: 0,0:06:51.94,0:06:53.42,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,in the pouring rain, Dialogue: 0,0:06:53.42,0:06:57.60,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,to make a trip to an isolated part\Nof South Carolina. Dialogue: 0,0:06:57.96,0:06:59.32,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,He was in a bad mood. Dialogue: 0,0:06:59.32,0:07:00.34,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,They arrived. Dialogue: 0,0:07:00.34,0:07:02.93,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,It was an hour and a half\Naway from anywhere else. Dialogue: 0,0:07:02.93,0:07:05.56,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,And when they arrived at the venue\Nand opened the doors, Dialogue: 0,0:07:05.56,0:07:06.69,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,lo and behold, Dialogue: 0,0:07:06.69,0:07:08.82,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,there was about 20 people\Nthere to greet him, Dialogue: 0,0:07:08.82,0:07:10.53,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,a small crowd. Dialogue: 0,0:07:10.53,0:07:12.51,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,But Obama is a professional. Dialogue: 0,0:07:12.51,0:07:16.54,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,He smiled, he shook hands,\Nhe made his way around the room, Dialogue: 0,0:07:16.97,0:07:20.43,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and as he was doing that,\Nhe heard a voice from behind him. Dialogue: 0,0:07:21.13,0:07:23.74,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,“Fired-up!” the voice said. Dialogue: 0,0:07:24.36,0:07:27.64,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,“Ready to go!” it continued. Dialogue: 0,0:07:27.64,0:07:30.97,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,And Obama turned around,\Nconfused, of course, Dialogue: 0,0:07:30.97,0:07:35.42,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and saw that the origin of this voice\Nwas a small, slightly older lady Dialogue: 0,0:07:35.42,0:07:39.26,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,wearing what he called a big church hat. Dialogue: 0,0:07:40.74,0:07:43.17,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,And Obama looked at her,\Nand she looked at him, Dialogue: 0,0:07:43.17,0:07:46.10,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and she smiled and continued. Dialogue: 0,0:07:46.10,0:07:48.50,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,“Fired-up!” she said to the room. Dialogue: 0,0:07:49.06,0:07:51.87,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,“Ready to go!” she continued. Dialogue: 0,0:07:52.52,0:07:55.45,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,And to his surprise,\Nthe room responded to her. Dialogue: 0,0:07:55.45,0:07:58.54,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,At this point, he looked at his staff\Nand the staff looked at him, Dialogue: 0,0:07:58.54,0:08:02.12,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and they all shrugged their shoulders\Nas they had no idea what was going on. Dialogue: 0,0:08:02.49,0:08:04.41,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,But as this continued - Dialogue: 0,0:08:04.41,0:08:06.36,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,“Fired-up!” the crowd responded, Dialogue: 0,0:08:06.36,0:08:09.03,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,“Ready to go!” they responded again - Dialogue: 0,0:08:09.03,0:08:11.80,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Obama admitted he was starting\Nto feel fired-up. Dialogue: 0,0:08:12.40,0:08:15.37,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,By the end, as this went on\Nfor a few minutes, Dialogue: 0,0:08:15.37,0:08:18.58,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,his mood had gone and he felt ready to go. Dialogue: 0,0:08:21.45,0:08:25.41,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,And the point of that story,\Nfor anyone who follows US politics, Dialogue: 0,0:08:25.41,0:08:30.56,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,you’ll know that that had an influence\Nin how Obama engaged with his crowds, Dialogue: 0,0:08:30.56,0:08:32.11,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,with his rallies, Dialogue: 0,0:08:32.11,0:08:35.74,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and he learned lessons to keep\Nin his toolbox for further campaigns. Dialogue: 0,0:08:36.54,0:08:38.69,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,But there’s another point to that story, Dialogue: 0,0:08:39.12,0:08:42.47,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,because at that rally,\Nthe night before the election, Dialogue: 0,0:08:42.47,0:08:46.88,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,he told the crowd in Virginia\Nthat that woman taught him something. Dialogue: 0,0:08:46.88,0:08:49.26,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,That little woman with the big church hat Dialogue: 0,0:08:49.26,0:08:51.99,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,taught him that there’s\Npower in one voice, Dialogue: 0,0:08:52.39,0:08:56.64,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,that if one voice can change a room,\Nthen one voice can also change a city. Dialogue: 0,0:08:56.64,0:08:58.94,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,And he said if one voice\Ncould change a city, Dialogue: 0,0:08:58.94,0:09:00.64,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,it could also change a state; Dialogue: 0,0:09:00.64,0:09:03.85,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and if one voice can change a state, Dialogue: 0,0:09:03.85,0:09:05.51,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,it can also change a nation. Dialogue: 0,0:09:05.89,0:09:09.16,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,And Obama believed that if one voice\Ncould change a nation, Dialogue: 0,0:09:09.16,0:09:11.83,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,then one voice could\Nalso change the world. Dialogue: 0,0:09:14.33,0:09:18.66,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,And so, I want you to think\Nabout authenticity, Dialogue: 0,0:09:19.16,0:09:22.98,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and I want you to think about the scale\Nof the challenges that we face today, Dialogue: 0,0:09:22.98,0:09:26.38,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,both locally but also\Nas a global community. Dialogue: 0,0:09:27.98,0:09:29.96,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,And I want you to imagine: Dialogue: 0,0:09:29.96,0:09:33.82,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,imagine a world where\Npeople aren’t conditioned Dialogue: 0,0:09:34.39,0:09:36.41,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,to expect the worst. Dialogue: 0,0:09:36.41,0:09:42.60,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Imagine a world where people don’t need\Nto be given permission to be themselves. Dialogue: 0,0:09:43.49,0:09:44.96,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,We’re not there yet. Dialogue: 0,0:09:45.26,0:09:48.63,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Arguably, we’re quite far\Nfrom being there. Dialogue: 0,0:09:50.55,0:09:54.75,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,But what if the voices\Nthat we’re not currently hearing Dialogue: 0,0:09:54.75,0:09:58.63,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,are the ones that could help us to deal\Nwith the challenges that we face today? Dialogue: 0,0:09:59.64,0:10:02.17,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,What if the voices\Nthat we’re not currently hearing Dialogue: 0,0:10:02.17,0:10:07.80,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,are of the people who are most impacted\Nby the challenges that we face today? Dialogue: 0,0:10:09.19,0:10:11.77,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Because then we all have a responsibility. Dialogue: 0,0:10:12.37,0:10:16.71,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,We all have a responsibility\Nto elevate those voices. Dialogue: 0,0:10:18.58,0:10:22.13,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,And it’s fitting that we’re here today, Dialogue: 0,0:10:22.52,0:10:25.35,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,in this building, in Stormont, Dialogue: 0,0:10:25.76,0:10:27.78,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,in the home of power-sharing, Dialogue: 0,0:10:28.84,0:10:33.82,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,because that is exactly\Nwhat I want to ask of you today. Dialogue: 0,0:10:34.30,0:10:37.09,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,When you leave,\Nwhen you return to your life, Dialogue: 0,0:10:37.48,0:10:41.66,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,I want you to take stock\Nof the power that you hold. Dialogue: 0,0:10:42.13,0:10:45.85,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,I want you to reflect\Nupon the spaces that you occupy, Dialogue: 0,0:10:45.85,0:10:49.98,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,where you have power\Nand authority and influence. Dialogue: 0,0:10:49.98,0:10:53.33,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,And in those spaces,\NI want you to make space. Dialogue: 0,0:10:53.33,0:10:57.100,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,I want you to elevate the voices\Nof the people that we hear from the least. Dialogue: 0,0:10:58.90,0:11:00.67,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Because here’s my hope: Dialogue: 0,0:11:01.46,0:11:05.76,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,that if we believe that one voice\Ncan change a room, Dialogue: 0,0:11:06.40,0:11:11.94,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,imagine the possibility of that one voice\Nthat can also change the world. Dialogue: 0,0:11:12.82,0:11:14.08,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Thank you. Dialogue: 0,0:11:14.08,0:11:16.20,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,(Applause)