Real talk: this one hit deep. Here’s a tiny paraphrased version of my acceptance speech which was most definitely not under three minutes... I was a nineteen year old, broke, college student- absolutely desperate for an acting job- when I was asked to change my last name because Villafañe wasn’t palatable. I (still) have absolutely no interest in being palatable. There’s a specific comfort in having a sense of belonging. It allows for real freedom. And at the end of the day, isn’t that what the ‘American Dream’ is based on? The freedom to be. The freedom to express. The freedom to walk down the street regardless of the color of your skin or the languages you speak or the thickness of your accent or who you love or how you identify etc — and to make it home safely. Sometimes it’s really hard not to be discouraged. Every day is image after image, headline after headline. I overthink, I over—feel, I over—care, and sometimes I feel completely helpless. But to be recognized in the capital, accepting this award and celebrating latin excellence in the arts gives me hope. That is what happens when you give people the license to be exactly themselves. Gracias @teatrogala Gown by @gustavocadile