At the 28th Annual GLAAD Media Awards in Los Angeles on Saturday, singer-songwriter Troye Sivan became the youngest ever recipient of GLAAD’s Stephen F. Kolzak Award. Presenting the award to Troye were surprise guest Carly Rae Jepsen with legendary songwriter and GLAAD Board Member Justin Tranter. Patricia Arquette was also honored at the event which will air exclusively on Logo on Thursday, April 6 at 10/9c.

Mary J. Blige presented the Outstanding Film – Wide Release award to Moonlight; Paris Jackson and Tatiana Maslany presented the Outstanding Comedy Series award to Amazon’s Transparent; and Josh Hutcherson presented the Outstranding Drama Series award to Freeform’s Shadowhunters. 

In his acceptance speech, Troye paid tribute to historic LGBTQ figures  — including Bayard Rustin, Peter Staley, Marsha P. Johnson, and Sylvia Rivera — saying:

It was their activism and sacrifice that paved the way for all of us to be here tonight. And so, while I am so thankful and fortunate to have this moment, I’d like to share it with the warriors who made it possible, but maybe didn’t get one for themselves.

Watch his speech here:

The Stephen F. Kolzak Award is presented to an LGBTQ media professional who has made a significant difference in promoting equality and acceptance. The award is named after a legendary casting director, who devoted the last part of his life to raising awareness in the entertainment industry about the discrimination faced by LGBTQ people as well as people living with HIV. Previous Stephen F. Kolzak honorees include Laverne Cox, Ellen DeGeneres, Ruby Rose, Chaz Bono, Melissa Etheridge, Bill Condon, Wanda Sykes, Alan Ball, Pedro Zamora, Martina Navratilova, Rufus Wainwright, Paris Barclay, Robert Greenblatt, and Sir Ian McKellen.

Upon its release Troye Sivan’s debut album, Blue Neighbourhood (Capitol Records) topped over 50 iTunes charts around the world. Billboard praised Troye as “the voice of a new more tolerant generation”, while The New York Times dubbed him the “prototype for tomorrow’s global pop star”. Blue Neighbourhood is RIAA Certified Gold in the U.S. and contains hits “Youth,” which is certified Platinum, and “Wild,” which is certified Gold.  Troye has 20 million combined online followers and over one billion streams to date.

Troye relentlessly supports LGBTQ causes and the fight against discrimination through education, awareness and advocacy. The recently released video for “Heaven” has over 8 million views and was wildly commended for celebrating LGBTQ history. In addition, he has worked with organizations including the Ali Forney Center for LGBTQ homeless youth in New York City and the Nevada Partnership for Homeless Youth. A portion of every ticket sold on Troye’s 2016 Suburbia Tour was donated to the Ally Coalition and bathrooms at every venue where possible along the tour were gender neutral. At each stop of the Surburbia Tour, volunteers collected donated goods for a local LGBTQ organization and assisted with distributing LGBTQ materials at an Ally Coalition activation booth. Troye has also participated in GLAAD’s anti-bullying Spirit Day and was among over 20 artists – including Mary J. Blige, Britney Spears, Jennifer Lopez, and Jason Derulo – to appear on GLAAD’s song “Hands,” which was released with Interscope Records to remember the lives lost in the Pulse nightclub shooting.

Additionally, Troye joined GLAAD for the inaugural Rising Stars Grants Luncheon on March 31 to award grants to three college students for LGBTQ advocacy work. The luncheon was hosted by Hannah Hart with Troye, Victoria Justice, Gigi Gorgeous, and Alexandra Grey presenting to the grant recipients. The GLAAD Rising Stars program empowers and invests in the next generation of LGBTQ change makers, whose advocacy is changing their local cities and the culture at large. Grants are awarded annually to LGBTQ youth who champion intersectional issues with their advocacy efforts. GLAAD’s Rising Stars Grants are presented by Barilla, Coca-Cola, and Delta.

Troye presented the Delta Airlines Accelerating Acceptance Grant to Lizeth Urdiales, a queer, undocumented Latinx, differently-abled senior at the University of Texas at Austin.

“Troye Sivan embodies a generation of LGBTQ youth who are unapologetic, outspoken, and proud to be who they are,” said Sarah Kate Ellis, GLAAD President & CEO. “He has quickly become a leading voice of his generation and sends a message of hope and empowerment with every song, music video, and social post.”

The 28th Annual GLAAD Media Awards are presented by Delta Air Lines, Hilton, Ketel One Vodka, Liberty Mutual Insurance, and Wells Fargo. The GLAAD Media Awards recognize and honor media for fair, accurate, and inclusive representations of the LGBTQ community and the issues that affect their lives. The GLAAD Media Awards also fund GLAAD’s work to amplify stories from the LGBTQ community and issues that build support for equality and acceptance.