Yannick Nézet-Séguin Awarded Laurent-McCutcheon Award
By Francisco SalazarYannick Nézet-Séguin has been awarded the Laurent-McCutcheon Award from Fondation Émergence.
The conductor and Metropolitan Opera Music Director took to social media and said, “What an honor to receive the Laurent-McCutcheon Award from Fondation Émergence! This award is given each year to a person who has contributed to the advancement of LGBTQ+ rights or to the fight against phobias related to these communities, and unfortunately this fight is not over yet. I consider myself lucky: I was born into a loving family where my orientation was never an obstacle, I grew up in environments and worked with orchestras where I could be who I am, entirely. I was able to marry the man I love, Pierre Tourville, largely thanks to the activist work of Laurent McCutcheon himself. I owe a great deal to the activists and allies who came before me, and I hope to continue paving the way for those who will follow me. I’m convinced that the best way to fight prejudice and hatred is to be ourselves, to assert ourselves, to love. In the face of darkness, let’s shine our light!”
Previous winners of the award include Pete Buttigieg, Élise Gravel, Debbie Lynch-White, Pierre Lapointe, and Christiane Taubira.
McCutcheon was the founding president of Fondation Émergence and the creator of the National Day Against Homophobia, which became the International Day Against Homophobia and Transphobia. He has been a key player in the recognition of sexual diversity and gender identity.
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