Arts & Entertainment
Ryan Murphy creates fund to vote out ‘anti-LGBTQ’ candidates
TrevorLIVE LA Gala raises over $1.5 million
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BEVERLY HILLS, CA – DECEMBER 02: (L-R) Steven Canals, Dominique Jackson, Billy Porter, Hailie Sahar, Ryan Jamaal Swain, Indya Moore, Janet Mock, Mj Rodriguez, Dyllon Burnside, Charlayne Woodard, James Van Der Beek, Our Lady J, and Ryan Murphy of POSE are honored onstage during the Trevor Project’s TrevorLIVE LA 2018 at The Beverly Hilton Hotel on December 3, 2018 in Beverly Hills, California. (Photo by Jerod Harris/Getty Images for The Trevor Project)
The Trevor Project hosted its 2018 TrevorLIVE Los Angeles gala Sunday night, Dec. 2, at the Beverly Hilton Hotel in a star-studded event that raised over $1.5 million.
The event was hosted by popular YouTuber Eugene Lee Yang, a writer, director, actor and video producer.
āIt is an absolute privilege to support The Trevor Project, the worldās largest suicide prevention and crisis intervention organization for LGBTQ young people,ā Yang said in his opening remarks. āTonight, we are honoring some truly awe-inspiring trailblazers for the LGBTQ community.ā
The focal point for the evening, the Hero Award, was presented to Emmy, Golden Globe and Peabody award-winning screenwriter, producer and director Ryan Murphy and the cast of POSE. Writer and transgender rights activist Janet Mock presented the award.
āWhen I was 19, in Indiana, I myself called a suicide hotline. Overwhelmed by the AIDS crisis, by the fact that I was the only āoutā person in my friend group, the only āoutā person I knew at the time, and alienated from my family, I felt profound despair. I made a call one late night in November. I made a connection, got some hope, and carried on. Itās powerful life saving work this organization does. In my roundabout way, I know this first hand,ā Murphy said in his powerful acceptance speech.
Murphy wondered why more wasnāt being done to target those who caused the problem. āThe homophobes, the trans naysayers, and the small restricted and dangerous minds who are causing so many young people to needlessly hate and doubt themselves in our country when what they should be receiving from this country is love and support and understanding. Weren’t we as a nation established on the idea of equality, not appalling and illegal discrimination?ā Murphy said.
He continued: “In 2020, Iām going to create and fund, with corporate sponsorship, a multi million dollar organization that targets anti LGBTQ candidates running for office. Senate and congressional candidates who think they can get votes hurting and discriminating against us ā well, we can get votes too. We are going to send a message which says you cannot make discrimination against us a political virtue anymore. You canāt keep killing our vulnerable young people by promoting and nationalizing your rural, close-minded anti-constitutional viewpoints.ā
āItās a simple and very strong idea, I think. Letās help the kids by showing the small-minded the door. There is actually a way to do this. And I want to do it,ā he continued. āIt was the midterms this year that gave me home. One after one, anti-LGBTQ candidates who made hate speech and ideology part of their legacy fell, disgraced and eliminated by candidates (who were largely boosted by victory by young and female voters, by the way.) The number was astounding to me ā over 20 anti-LGBTQ right wing politicians and their horrifying views were gone in a day.
āDana Rohrabacher, Mia Love, Jason Lewis, Pete Sessionsābigots, all of them,ā he continued. āAnd all replaced by allies, new politicians who wonāt spread harmful and wrong rhetoric that can lead a young LGBTQ person to actually believe they are not good enough or worthy enough to stay on this earth anymore.ā
The Trevor Projectās CEO & Executive Director Amit Paley noted how many LGBT had been helped.
āThere are people in this room whoāve told me that they wouldnāt be here today if it werenāt for this organization, and I know there are others who wish they had known about Trevor in their darkest moments,ā Paley said. āThat is why we are here today. To make sure that every young person, regardless of their sexual orientation, gender identity, race, religion, or immigration status, knows that The Trevor Project is here for them whenever they need us.ā
Other honorees included actress and singer Amandla Stenberg who accepted the Youth Innovator Award. āOften times who we are is postulated in the context of pain, shame, and tragedy and although that may be a facet of our experiences I do not feel that it is by any means the totality of them or how I experience being gay,ā they said. āI find that understanding so limiting and inaccurate when I know that if anything we are the opposite; we are joy and light. We are the sacred unraveling of damaging fabrications who reveal the power of truth through love. We are unapologetic expressions of divinity and exuberance.ā
Presenting sponsor AT&T was honored with the 20/20 Visionary Award, presented by actor, singer, director and photographer Jussie Smollett and accepted by AT&T Mobility & Entertainment President David Christopher.
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The 2024 New York City Pride Parade wound through the streets of Manhattan and past the historic Stonewall Inn on Sunday, June 30.
(Washington Blade photos by Daniel Truitt)
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The fourth annual Fredericksburg Pride march and festival was held at Riverfront Park in Fredericksburg, Va. on Saturday, June 29. The event began with a march around downtown Fredericksburg beginning and ending in the park.
(Washington Blade photos by Michael Key)
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Covering Fredericksburg Pride for @WashBlade . City Council member @WillMackintosh speaking: pic.twitter.com/tDdVD2IVsM
— Michael Patrick Key (@MichaelKeyWB) June 29, 2024
Photos
PHOTOS: Goodwin Living Pride
Senior living and healthcare organization holds fourth annual march at Falls Church campus
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The senior living and healthcare organization Goodwin Living held its fourth annual community Pride march around its Bailey’s Crossroads campus in Falls Church, Va. with residents, friends and supporters on Tuesday, June 25. Following the march, a drag brunch was held with performances by drag artists of SADBrunch: Crimsyn, Sapphire Dupree and Evon Dior Michelle.
(Photos courtesy of Goodwin Living)
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