Lena Dunham Opens Up About Lesbian Sister While Accepting Point Foundation Award For LGBT Advocacy

Lena Dunham: Being Straight Was 'Actually A Huge Disappointment For Me'

Lena Dunham has long been a big supporter of lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) rights, but as it turns out, her passion for the community is rather personal.

When receiving the Point Foundation's Horizon Award for her LGBT advocacy work in New York, the 27-year-old "Girls" star opened up about her lesbian sister, Grace, in her acceptance speech, Vanity Fair is reporting.

"It was actually a huge disappointment for me, when I came of age and realized that I was sexually attracted to men," Dunham quipped. "So when my sister came out, I thought, 'Thank God, someone in this family can truly represent my passions and beliefs.'"

Describing Grace's coming out at age 17 as "a huge turning point" in her own understanding of LGBT rights, Dunham said, "We were raised in an environment—the art world of downtown Manhattan—where no one hid their sexual orientation, and a common question from 4-year-old me was ‘Mom, are those ladies gay together?’"

She noted, "My sister’s process of coming to terms with her sexuality was as angst-free as anything involving sex can really be. She was assured by the adults in her life that she was not only accepted, but adored for who she is."

She suggested that representation of the LGBT community was one of her aims on her hit TV series, adding, "Our goal on 'Girls' is to show you non-stereotypical examples of the range of people who inhabit this amazing city, and we are learning more about what that means every day."

Also honored at the Point Honors gala, held April 7 at the New York Public Library, was Dr. Neal Baer, the Executive Producer and Showrunner for "ER" and "Law & Order: Special Victims Unit," who received the Point Leadership Award.

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