SAME-SEX MARRIAGE ANTHEM WINS MTV AWARD

Macklemore and Ryan Lewis won an award for their Same Love video at the MTV Music Video Awards in Brooklyn, New York on Sunday, which also featured performances by Lady Gaga and Katy Perry.

The rappers first took home the Best Rap Video award for their clip for Can’t Hold Us before winning another for Best Video with a Social Message for their gay equality anthem.

The moving Same Love video depicts a gay man’s journey from being an alienated teen to his life-long same-sex relationship.

The duo performed the song at the award show, along with openly lesbian vocalist Mary Lambert and guest singer Jennifer Hudson.

While receiving the award for Same Love, Macklemore said the song was the most important one he’s ever written, telling the audience that “gay rights are human rights – there is no separation”.

The rappers were introduced on to the stage by America’s first openly gay professional basketball star Jason Collins. “…hating someone for their sexual orientation is the same thing as hating them for the colour of their skin,” the athlete said in his introduction.

Lady Gaga opened the award show with a stunning performance of her new single Applause while Katy Perry ended it with her new song Roar, performed under the Brooklyn Bridge.

Another highlight was Justin Timberlake – who won the Michael Jackson Video Vanguard Award – performing a medley of his hits topped by an appearance from his former NSYNC band mates on stage.

Other winners at the 2013 MTV Music Video Awards included:

• Video of the year: Justin Timberlake, Mirrors
• Best female video: Taylor Swift, I Knew You Were Trouble
• Best male video: Bruno Mars, Locked Out of Heaven
• Best pop video: Selena Gomez, Come & Get It
• Best rock video: Thirty Seconds to Mars, Up In the Air
• Best collaboration: Pink and Nate Ruess of fun., Just Give Me a Reason
• Best song of the summer: One Direction, Best Song Ever
• Best direction: Justin Timberlake’s Suit & Tie (director David Fincher)

Watch some of the performances at the award show below:

MACKLEMORE & RYAN LEWIS

LADY GAGA

KATY PERRY

JUSTIN TIMBERLAKE