Jussie Smollett talks about marriage equality during BET Awards performance

Portia Arthur

June 29, 2015 4:11 PM

Jussie Smollett used that spotlight to celebrate the Supreme Court ruling in favor of marriage equality

Jussie Smollett

Empire stars, Jussie Smollet, Yaz and Serayah performed three hit songs namely No Apologies, Drip Drop and You're So Beautiful from the Empire TV series at the 2015 BET Awards.

Jussie Smollett is called Jamal Lyon, a gay man in the Empire TV series. Empire TV series, co-creator and Executive Producer, Lee Louis Daniels announced himself and Jussie Smollett have received death threats for creating a gay black man in the hip-pop drama.

The actor gave a moving speech in the middle of the last song. In light of the Supreme Court ruling in favor of gay marriage and the recent shootings in Charleston, South Carolina, Smollett spoke about progress and freedom in America.

Read Jussie speech below;

“We live in a nation where freedom is what we represent, yet we are still fighting every day for the basic freedoms of all of our people,” he said. “Let the Supreme Court ruling be proof of how far we have come. Let the deaths of sisters and brothers be proof of how far we have to go. No one is free until we are all free.” He ended the performance with three simple words: “Stand for love".

Watch the video below;

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Portia Arthur