I am so proud of you, and so happy and proud to have you in my life as my boyfriend! You did incredibly well!❤

So enlightening especially on British colonialism. Thank you for your courage. I loved the symbolism of moving out of the red circle.

Superbly presented.... Your courage is applauded. Bravo....

What a lovely, and brave, young man.

Thank you, Ross, for speaking up to society.

Thanks, Ross. Like any day on the freeway, I am grateful for those who use their mirrors. 😉 🪞 Keep the faith. 🏳️‍🌈👍🏼☮️

I fully understand being outside the circle! But why is there nobody in the audience??? It's like no body is listening.. Very sad! We all have the right to live and thrive!😢 Amen

This was so moving. Thank you! Made me emotional ;-;

Beautifully done!!! Well, done!!

This video was a great find, at the right time. Thank you for your vulnerability, it helps those of us that relate.

Thank you for shining light & clarity

Ross...brilliant! Thank you....

Thank you for your beautiful presentation…😊❤️🙏

A beautiful presentation of the truth.

Thank you for what you are doing here. How wonderfully explained 👏👏.

As a survivor of the bashings at Stonewall, they have never managed to silence this lifelong 75 year old activist. I fear we are having all our work undone now. Vote Blue.

Agreed. To all. Where is the audience?

First, he is stunning, just saying wow very handsome. And great Ted talk

Thank you Ross for this talk!

Beautiful talk. Thank you 🌈❤️🌈

Bravo ❤ thank you

@wernerrossouw8479 what a wonderful presentation. Eloquent, insightful and heart-felt. Congratulations and thank you.

thank you

Beautiful

Amen Brother!

I can only hope that the audience in these Ted Talks learn something from this. 😊🏳️‍🌈

I love your speech, but I’m also wondering why is the room empty? Anyways an amazing speech. Thank you

Baie dankie Ross❤

New Iran people are more where of homosexuality In big plac like Tehran its far mor accepting specially in yung generation its far more accepting but out tahran whete people are closed minded and religion such crimes will hapen i lucky i live in tehran but thos who are out of tehran are in danger with far more% and taht so 😭😭

Thank you for continuing to speak for all of us. You have the soul of a beautiful Human Being.

It’s depressing. Good talk, but we have two options: disappear, or be on everybody’s face all the time, which is exhausting

I grew up in country Western Australia 1969, life was tough.

Yes, I am a lost soul.

100% agree and empathize

I, too, knew from an early age. You beautiful human ❤

Same here. Hi my brother who fought the good fight in NY. 63 years fighting and watching our hard work become undone and if Republicans get their way they will kill us for real instead of slow psychological death

BRAVO!

Beautiful Presentation! Thank You.

What country is this?

Needed this video so badly. Thank you.

😇🙏💖💕🌈🏳️‍🌈🏳️‍⚧️🌟✨

Wow. Thank you. Very brave.

Thank you, Ross. I am 68 years old and, yes, I’m damaged to this day (“permanently”) despite all the changes in our world that have occurred over recent decades of my life. I am of the LGBTIAQ people. Today, for example, I so endorse the inclusiveness that has now arisen, at least within this division of people. However, it should never be forgotten that it wasn’t until 1984 that the illegality of homosexuality was removed from the statutes in NSW (I worked on that campaign), and a fuller law reform did not occur in that state until 2003. Both basic and fuller law reform emerged only on a piecemeal basis throughout the states and territories of Australia. And then, this is only pertaining to the law of course; the rest is even harder to achieve (as this video well captures some of the myriad of other aspects). When I see worthwhile presentations such as this, and portrayals of other LGBTIAQ matters (along with matters relating to humanitarianism, or considerations of ‘the other’), I often want to ‘show and tell’ to people significant to me. My sister, for example, remains as one of those people (she is the only example of a family member still available to me today). I guess, via this kind of process, I am forever seeking recognition, understanding and ‘validation’ for my ‘outsider’ status. But, doing this is difficult because one just feels as though one is climbing onto a soapbox each time (& that’s not really acceptable, somehow)! There seem to be no solutions.

Danke schön für diesen Beitrag!!! You are great ❤

Its amazing how much hate there is towards lgbtq and still alive. People have done so much to shape the opinions of people towards discrimination of others for anything to differentiate one another, although we are all gods creation. How many messed up straight people do you know? Why is someone so obsessed over someones elses bedroom....thats sick

This is one of the BEST TTS EVER. Well thought through with impeccable logic and meaning. A+++

Some time people show hate by not saying nuthing and treating it like its not a problem, silence can be louder then word's

the malignant mythology of religion and the repression of anyone who is 'different' can be deadly when shame and blame are used to manipulate. Find and be your true 'self'. Orientation is not a lifestyle choice, religion is.

thank you for this interesting and very well delivered speech. I really appreciated the perspective and the message.

🥱🥱🥱🥱

He is a natural speaker ! Very well done .

Islam permissive!??

I feel validated!

Well spoken! Thank you!!!

Ditto & BRAVO To You! :) Great job. I could listen to you all day long.

Outstanding--much needed--vital--common sense, for heaven's sake! Thank you, Ted Talks and Ross R-- :)

Wow - great, brave talk - thank you so much! Perfectly said, and the message needs to continue to be carried forth.

Dankie dat jy jou storie so professioneel met die wêreld deel.

Well said, much needed...but how many will listen? More than previously I hope. Most societies need to change their outlook on LGBTQ+ people, because they are people that should have the same behaviors exhibited to them as non LGBTQ+ people.

Beautiful speech 👏🏽

Because of our heteronormative society, I grew up in the 80s & 90s thinking I was a broken straight woman. It wasn't until my late 30s that I first heard the word Asexual. It took me until I was 40 to realize I was actually Ace & bi-romantic. More conversations like this need to happen.

He must have had to work hard to get up the courage to speak in such a huge space

Story of my life...

Anyone has his IG or social media? He’s brilliant.

Thank you Ross. 🏳‍🌈🏳‍⚧

The hatred of us has existed for centuries, not years.

Difficult and complex topic to address in a TED nutshell format. Major kudos for his courage and willingness to be who he is and state his Truth. We all need to watch out for our brothers, sisters and others, no mattah what. ❤ Love always wins.

So trots op jou Werner, wel gedaan! ❤️🏳️‍🌈❤️

Nice talk. Too bad there wasn’t a live audience there to appreciate it.

Very moving, compassionate and painfully real speech. I hope we can continue to support our younger generation to develop a healthier sense of self without the stink of homophobia.

nice!

Another Ross! We're rare.

This has been the honest and caring thing I have ever seen on KZfaq it is so true and hit me to my very soul

“We won’t die secret deaths anymore. The world only spins forward. We will be citizens. The time has come. Bye now. You are fabulous creatures, each and every one. And I bless you: More Life. The Great Work Begins.” Tony Kushner

…well said and will still sadly resonate in the decades to come. One thing I am grateful for is my entire extended family who always has been there for me. My exceptional folks has been the key to my well being. My Filipino Father, an immigrant conservative engineer who had a worldwide Industrial Engineering Corporation who with my modern American born Mother who is understandingly kind who instilled my sense of awareness and self worth which gave me the confidence to be who I am. Then my 2 sets of Grandparents who has showed me the value of respect with a good dose of humor will lead to an amazing journey. Now at 54, comfortably aging and happy to be where I am in life.

'nuff already!!! come to 🇲🇾 and u will understand.

I find this talk unconvincing. I'm 60 years old and even though underrepresentation was the norm. But zero representation certainly wasn't the case. Also, colonialism isn't the only reason why homosexuality is problematic in the non-Christian parts of the world. To represent it as such is more an expression of the imperial mindset than the speaker realizes. Other cultures can come up with ghastly outcomes just as easily. Don't deny their agency just because you ruled them for a short while.

this need for validation he is talking about in a society which claims to favour individualism and diversity comes down to our mores and morals ludicrously out of date with modern standards. why? because most mores and morals go way back and were formed long before our modern laws were introduced, let alone modern concepts like being free of discrimination etc. sure, mores and morals change but it takes time - we are talking many decades here. our modern laws get changed all the time but most we adhere today are much younger than 100yrs old while the law itself often is influenced by the mores and morals of the day it was introduced. discriminating against homosexuals and practically outlawing it climaxed in Victorian times with criminal codes all over the world made in the 1860s. that was a time when modern concepts of basic human rights and liberties had a different ring to it. just remember what was accepted back then (slavery in the US, death penalties all over the globe, no female suffrage etc pp.) - heteronormativity was accepted back then and the christian churches were preaching it for several centuries before. unfortunately, many things the churches preach do not pass modern standards but are very difficult to get rid off. people needlessly suffer for it. we need to accept the fact that heteronormativity only serves roughly 90% of any population, the rest is left out and discriminating against 10% of any population who can't escape it is neither democratic nor just, sustainable or fair, especially when their needs to live a normal life do not harm anyone. heteronormativity therefore needs to get discarded in all walks of life asap

Great talk... is Ross single? asking for a friend...😉

danke...cheers... spasibo... merci..

If your intention is to educate and teach the world to be and act in a certain way - what a sisyfos job and impossible. Change your inner world instead because there is nothing on the outside that is not on the inside. Much easier - not easy but possible. But I do not exclude that what you are doing might be your mission - who knows.

I highly disagree with him and wish he’d just speak on his experience. It’s really not that difficult.

So depressing speaking to an empty auditorium, what the point? I guess if it's posted here that helps get the message out. I think most straight people are not interested. They have their traditional families and don't have the need to questions. They are probaby often horrified about what gays in bed. On the other hand, bravo for him standing up and doing the talk anyway!!!

What a strange coincidence that all these queer struggle tedx videos are of classically handsome white men.

He is talking about individualism, but I bet he’s a socialist

A brave speech. But it’s a little easier to pontificate when you’re as fit, young, and handsome as Ross. Ask yourselves honestly if you would’ve even bothered to watch if the speaker had been a senior, overweight, and very plain. Yeah, didn’t think so.

Wrong is wrong no matter who says it’s right!

This is what indoctrination looks like.

The love that dare not speak its name won't shut the f up.

Boooooooo

Lost me at the acceptance in the schools.

thank you