Camika Shelby, the mother of 15-year-old Nigel Shelby who died of suicide this past April after being bullied for being gay, delivered a powerful speech about accepting LGBTQ youth.

“Don’t let people tear you down for who you are,” she said. “God knew who you are before you knew who you are, and he makes no mistakes.”

Related: Oprah explores a mother’s love and struggle to accept her gay son

Shelby was the main speaker at an event for black LGBTQ youth in Birmingham, Alabama.

In her speech, she talked about her relationship with her son. Even though other boys his age were interested in sports, she reminisced, Nigel cared more about Beyonce.

“Growing up was hard for him. People didn’t really accept him, but I always knew who my baby was.”

She said she first talked to him about sexuality when he was around eight or nine-years-old. “I already knew,” she said, and she wanted to help him accept himself.

That worked – at age 13, he was ready to come out to her and told her that he was attracted to boys.

“I said, ‘Alright, which one?'” she said. “I wanted him to be whoever he wanted to be.”

She then addressed her audience’s experiences.

“I know there are a lot of parents in this world who have a problem with accepting who their kids are,” she said. “And if you come from that type of family, I want you to know that it’s OK. Sometimes your family can be your own worst enemy.”