Iggy Azalea Stops Concert to Talk Transgender Discrimination: ‘They’re Murdering Trans People!’
Iggy Azalea performed at Chicago's Pride in the Park on Saturday (June 29) where she took a moment to speak out about transgender discrimination.
"I really want to say something important before we start the show because we’re all here for a reason, right?" Azalea began her speech. "I don’t want us to forget the meaning of Pride or why we came here. To a lot of people, you guys are still invisible and you have to fight every day just to be who you are. That’s why we’ve gotta be here tonight because we gotta be loud as f---. This shows you exist and you are valid."
Azalea then spoke about a fan from Chicago named Michelle who "inspires" her. Azalea revealed that Michelle is a trans woman of color: "I see the struggle she goes through every day just to be herself just to walk out the door, the s--- that I have the privilege to do every day."
The rapper also shared some harrowing statistics: "Fifty percent of trans people have been raped or sexually assaulted. Forty-one percent of trans people have attempted suicide. Eight percent of trans students feel unsafe at school," Azalea read to the crowd, sharing that her friend Michelle has a life expectancy, as a trans woman of color, of only 35 years.
She also informed the audience that so far this year 11 trans women of color have died, before dedicating a song to Michelle and bringing her on stage for a hug to the delight of the crowd.
Watch Azalea's speech in full, below: