Idina Menzel: Love Letter to the LGBTQ Community

For Gay Pride Month, Billboard asked numerous pop culture luminaries to write ‘love letters’ to the LGBTQ community. Below, singer and actress Idina Menzel — who originated the Broadway roles of Maureen in Rent and Elphaba in Wicked — shares hers.

Happy Pride Month! To my LGBTQ friends and family, my mentors and collaborators, and all those whom I have yet to meet: You are the real Elphabas and Elsas and Maureens of this world. You are the courageous heroes who have showed the rest of us what it means to be true and honest and stand up for each other — and to love that very thing about ourselves that might set us apart from others.

Day after day, I aspire to be as brilliant and brave as you are. Thank you for guiding me through my life, for supporting me and teaching me the right time to scream and dance — to love, sing, fight, forgive, and laugh. So much laughter. I will always be here standing with you.

No Day But Today.