{"id":82731,"date":"2019-03-29T14:25:32","date_gmt":"2019-03-29T18:25:32","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.gayfriendschat.com\/socialblog\/meet-the-black-lgbtq-trailblazers-who-presented-beyonce-jay-zs-vanguard-award\/"},"modified":"2019-03-29T14:25:32","modified_gmt":"2019-03-29T18:25:32","slug":"meet-the-black-lgbtq-trailblazers-who-presented-beyonce-jay-zs-vanguard-award","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.gayfriendschat.com\/socialblog\/meet-the-black-lgbtq-trailblazers-who-presented-beyonce-jay-zs-vanguard-award\/","title":{"rendered":"Meet the Black LGBTQ trailblazers who presented Beyonc\u00e9 & JAY-Z’s Vanguard Award"},"content":{"rendered":"

Meet the Black LGBTQ trailblazers who presented Beyonc\u00e9 & JAY-Z’s Vanguard Award<\/b><\/p>\n

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At last evening\u2019s 30th Annual GLAAD Media Awards in Los Angeles,\u00a0Beyonce and JAY-Z were honored with the prestigious Vanguard Award,\u00a0which is presented to allies who have made a significant difference in promoting acceptance of LGBTQ people. The power couple<\/a> brought the crowd to their feet with incredibly powerful, emotional and\u00a0personal speech\u00a0about love and acceptance for the LGBTQ communuty<\/a>.\u00a0Before accepting, the power couple<\/a> was introduced by four incredible black LGBTQ trailblazers, who each shared how Beyonce & JAY-Z have accelerated acceptance for\u00a0the LGBTQ community, while also sharing their own inspiring stories. Meet the four presenters below:<\/p>\n

The first presenter, Morris Singletary<\/strong>, is an HIV\/AIDS advocate from Atlanta, who works with GLAAD and Gilead\u2019s COMPASS Initiative. Morris spoke about being diagnosed with HIV and how Beyonc\u00e9 and JAY-Z inspired him to become and activist: \u201cAnd when I realized I wanted to dedicate my life to ensuring people with HIV get proper treatment so they\u00a0can\u2019t\u00a0pass it on but\u00a0can\u00a0lead long, healthy lives, I looked to Beyonc\u00e9\u2019s unending work ethic and her unending love for her fans and her kids to gain inspiration.”<\/p>\n

Talking about the power couple<\/a>, Morris stated “Beyonc\u00e9 and JAY-Z concerts are like world peace is happening \u2013 it\u2019s gay<\/a>, straight, black, white, and everyone is dancing and singing together. Those concerts are a place where everyone is safe and accepted. Could you imagine if the world was one big Beyonc\u00e9 and JAY-Z concert? What a wonderful world that would be.\u201d<\/p>\n

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Trans writer, producer, and director Janet Mock\u00a0<\/strong>took the stage second and\u00a0delievered one of the\u00a0most powerful moments of the night when she discussed how Beyonc\u00e9 inspired her:\u00a0\u201cBeyonce, watching you evolve as an artist and an icon, a mother and a feminist, and a public black woman<\/a> on the world stage who wields her voice like a weapon against racism, sexism and injustice, offered me a blueprint to do the same.\u201d<\/p>\n

Janet continued with a discussion of her role in JAY-Z\u2019s \u2018Family Feud\u2019 video<\/a>, directed by Ava DuVernay:\u00a0\u201cAs a black trans<\/a> woman<\/a> who acknowledges that the life expectancy of my sisters is a young 35\u2026.who\u2019s own womanhood and humanity is often questioned\u2026who resists an administration aiming to erase us, to be included in the future, as a Founding Mother, was a vital intervention to a worldwide audience that LGBTQ people are deserving of being seen, heard and affirmed.\u201d<\/p>\n

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Next, Beyonc\u00e9’s long-time stylist Ty Hunter<\/strong> came and surpirsed the couple<\/a>. He said, “\u201cI learned so much from Beyonc\u00e9 Knowles Carter. She has shown me that you can be successful and still be humble. She carries herself with confidence, and taught me that I should also be proud of myself and my talent. The way I look, you hear things behind your back. But Bey said \u201cOwn it.\u201d I do. I believe our entire community takes that lesson to heart.”\u00a0<\/p>\n

Ty continued his praised of Beyonc\u00e9\u00a0& JAY-Z: “I know y\u2019all are excited to see her and Jay tonight, but they\u2019re not doing this for attention. They\u2019re here because they believe in acceptance. Not only was Jay totally accepting of me and all the other LGBTQ people on our team, he is creating a space for other straight men<\/a>, especially black men<\/a>, to feel the same way.\u201d<\/p>\n

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LGBTQ trailblazer and GLAAD Media Award-winner Lena Waithe<\/strong> closed the presentation with inspiring words about what Beyonc\u00e9 & JAY-Z\u00a0mean to the LGBTQ community:\u00a0\u201cJust your presence in this room tonight is revolutionary. Because right now you\u2019re telling the world that the two most powerful Black people on the planet (you can duke it out with Michelle and Barack over that one, okay?) \u2013 but two magnificent Black people want the world to know they love, respect and accept the LGBTQ community \u2013 and that it\u2019s the right thing to do.<\/p>\n

Lena continued, “Tonight Black LGBTQ youth in the U.S. South, in Africa, and all over should hold their heads up a little higher and know they are loved just as they are. I thank both of you for shining that light.\u201d<\/p>\n

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The 30th Annual GLAAD Media Awards continue in New York City on Saturday, May 4th. GLAAD previously announced that Madonna will receive the Advocate for Change Award and Andy Cohen will receive the Vito Russo Award from Sarah Jessica Parker at the New York ceremony.\u00a0Other special guests include Don Lemon, cast members of\u00a0Pose<\/em>\u00a0and Samantha Bee.<\/p>\n

The 30th Annual GLAAD Media Awards are supported by Presenting Partners Delta Air Lines, Gilead, Hyundai, Ketel One Family-Made Vodka, and Wells Fargo. GLAAD is also grateful to: Official Partners Bud Light and Google; Titanium Partner AT&T and WEN; Platinum Partners Comcast NBCUniversal-Telemundo, Creative Artists Agency, Disney ABC Television Group, Facebook\/Instagram, HBO, Hulu, Kaiser Permanente, MetLife, NBA & WNBA, Netflix, Omnicom Group, PRG, Sheppard Mullin, Turner; Gold Partners CBS\/Showtime, Nielsen, PWC, UM, Univision, and VER; and Silver Partners Allstate, Coca-Cola, Morgan Stanley, and Warner Bros.<\/p>\n

To receive the latest updates on the GLAAD Media Awards, follow @glaad on Twitter and use the hashtag #glaadawards.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

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March 29, 2019<\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
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