Watch the Moment: Jennifer Lawrence Denounces Conversion Therapy at the Glaad Awards
By Maya Lin-Takahashi
The energy inside the New York Hilton Midtown ballroom on May 11, 2024, was already electric. Drag performers, queer activists, and industry executives had packed the venue for the East Coast leg of GLAAD’s dual-city galas. When Lawrence stepped to the lectern, she wasted little time setting up her punchline. Admiring Peck’s signature fringed mask, physical build, and musical talent, she framed her attraction as a comic dilemma before pivoting sharply to national politics.
Lawrence quipped that she was tempted to try converting Peck, only to immediately shut the door on the premise. Her voice cut clearly through the laughter: conversion therapy does not work, and politicians who champion it deserve public ridicule. Singling out Mike Pence, whose historical support for federal funds directed toward programs that "provide assistance to those seeking to change their sexual behavior" has drawn decades of outrage, she addressed him directly through the camera. The ballroom erupted.
The humor served an intentional purpose. By mocking the mechanics of anti-gay pseudotherapy, Lawrence dismantled the legitimacy of religious-right rhetoric in front of national media cameras. It was a calculated risk that placed her squarely in the sights of conservative commentators, yet she delivered the lines without hesitation.
Maya is a hardware enthusiast who tests and reviews smart home devices, smartphones, wearables, and audio gear. She focuses on practical consumer value and build quality.
