( CNN ) '' Scandal '' star Kerry Washington stood up for same-sex rights in a fiery speech Saturday night that brought a cheering crowd to its feet . Washington made the remarks in her acceptance speech at the 26th Annual GLAAD Media Awards , where she received the Vanguard Award for promoting equality . In addition to calling for more representation of the LGBT community in Hollywood , she also called out marginalized communities for turning against each other , encouraging them to come together . `` Women , poor people , people of color , people with disabilities , immigrants , gay men , lesbians , bisexuals , trans people , intersex people : we have been pitted against each other and made to feel like there are limited seats at the table for those of us who fall into the category of 'other , ' '' she said . `` As others , we are taught that to be successful , we must reject those other others , or we will never belong . '' She also challenged black people who do n't support gay marriage to resist `` messages of hate . '' `` We ca n't say that we believe in each other 's fundamental humanity and then turn a blind eye to the reality of each others ' existence and the truth of each other 's hearts . We must be allies . And we must be allies in this business because to be represented is to be humanized . And as long as anyone , anywhere is being made to feel less human , our very definition of humanity is at stake and we are all vulnerable . '' Watch Washington 's full speech below .
Kerry Washington calls out marginalized communities for turning against each other . `` We have been pitted against each other , '' she says .