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Black America Web
3 days ago
- Entertainment
- Black America Web
BET's Black + Iconic Soirée Celebrates Black LGBTQ+ Excellence [Photos]
Source:/ BET BET's Black + Iconic Soirée made a powerful Washington, D.C. debut during its third annual celebration, honoring the rich legacy and bright future of Black LGBTQ+ excellence. Read more about the event and check out a gallery of photos inside. Held under the 2025 theme 'Excellence Ascending,' the event spotlighted changemakers across activism, entertainment, and community who are leading with authenticity, purpose, and pride. Hosted by Access Hollywood anchor Scott Evans, the Soirée was a star-studded evening of storytelling, soulful performances, and impactful recognition. Ashlee Davis, J.D., who received the Executive Realness Award for her groundbreaking civil rights leadership across government and corporate spaces. Hope Giselle, awarded Emerging Leader for her tireless work uplifting Black trans visibility and inclusion. Kierra Johnson, Executive Director of the National LGBTQ Task Force, honored as Active Advocate for decades of reproductive justice and LGBTQ+ advocacy. Ashlee Marie Preston, acclaimed activist and strategist, who took home the Creative Visionary Award for using media to drive intergenerational change. Bob the Drag Queen, Emmy-winning performer and cultural force, accepted the Culture Trailblazer Award, delivering a stirring speech on identity and legacy. The evening also spotlighted grassroots impact. The Center for Black Equity and TAKE Resource Center each received $5,000 BET Thrive Fund grants for their continued work in advancing Black LGBTQ+ wellness and equity. Us Helping Us, a local D.C.-based health equity nonprofit, was granted a $5,000 donation from new partner Truth Initiative, marking a commitment to culturally relevant tobacco cessation programs. Broadway star Avery Wilson, fresh from The Wiz revival, delivered a show-stopping medley performance, while BET+ stars including Eva Marcille, Carter The Body, Bryan Terrell Clark, and Arrington Foster offered heartfelt tributes to the evening's honorees. 'This couldn't be just another event,' said Tiyale Hayes, BET's EVP of Insights and Multiplatform Analytics. 'It had to be an intentional space to uplift stories too often silenced.' With support from longtime partner Gilead Sciences and new ally Truth Initiative, the Soirée marked a cornerstone of BET's 45th anniversary, reinforcing its mission to celebrate Black culture and elevate LGBTQ+ voices. Stay tuned for the televised premiere date (to be announced at a later date) and relive the night via #BlackAndIconic across BET's official social platforms. BET's Black + Iconic Soirée Celebrates Black LGBTQ+ Excellence [Photos] was originally published on Source:BET Source:BET Source:BET Source:BET Source:BET Source:BET Source:BET Source:BET Source:BET Source:BET Source:BET Source:BET Source:BET Source:BET Source:BET Source:BET Source:BET Source:BET Source:BET Source:BET Source:BET Source:BET Black America Web Featured Video CLOSE
Yahoo
25-04-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Black, queer, and built to last, Black Prides defies deletion
Courtesy Philadelphia Black Pride Celebrating Black love and pride. At a time when DEI investments are rapidly vanishing across industries and LGBTQ+ rights face mounting attacks, spaces created for and by marginalized communities are not only necessary; they're essential. That's precisely why Black Prides were created: to carve out space where our joy is prioritized, our identities are affirmed, and our communities can gather in resistance, resilience, and love. Courtesy Philadelphia Black Pride Celebrating Philadelphia Black Pride. Born out of exclusion and non-inclusion in late 20th-century mainstream Pride movements, Black Prides emerged as vital spaces where LGBTQ+ people of color could show up fully, loudly, and joyfully. These celebrations weren't just parties but spaces for radical community building and vital resource-sharing hubs, where powerful conversations shaped and strengthened our community. Philadelphia's Black Pride, one of the first in the nation, stands as a pillar in the legacy of Black LGBTQIA+ resistance and celebration. Held every April, our gathering coincides with the historic Penn Relays, creating a vibrant convergence drawing upon generations of Black queer folks from across the country. This tradition traces back to the 1960s when community trailblazer Tyrone Smith hosted gatherings offering refuge and connection for Black LGBTQ+ people during a time of widespread repression. The seeds of Black Pride emerged in an era when police regularly raided gay bars, entrapped queer men, and brutalized drag performers and transgender women, especially those of color. There were no safe spaces, no legal protections, and little to no public sympathy. Smith's gatherings were revolutionary acts of radical care in a social climate riddled with fear and repression. Courtesy Philadelphia Black Pride Celebrating Philadelphia Black Pride. Small grassroots gatherings in living rooms and basements blossomed into Philadelphia Black Pride weekend, a powerful and transformative celebration of identity, culture, and healing. What was once a safe refuge in the face of adversity has grown into a cultural movement where Black LGBTQIA+ folks are truly centered, affirmed, and celebrated in the fullness of who they are. More than a party, it's a legacy that continues to thrive due to the unwavering dedication of our committed members and the invaluable support of our community partners. Today, standing on the shoulders of giants who came before us, Philadelphia Black Pride continues to be a trailblazer regarding what impact looks like in the community. Despite operating on a fraction of the budget enjoyed by Pride Month organizers in June, our commitment to our community has never wavered. Last year, in honor of our 25th Anniversary, we launched the Michael Hinson Scholarship Fund, named after a trailblazing advocate for the Black LGBTQ+ community in Philadelphia and a founding member behind the formal establishment of Philly Black Gay Pride in 1999. The fund invests in the next generation of LGBTQ+ leaders, ensuring they have the necessary resources to unlock their fullest potential. Through year-round programming and strategic partnerships, we're committed to building our infrastructure to drive systemic change, advance equity, and create lasting opportunities within the community. Courtesy Philadelphia Black Pride Celebrating Philadelphia Black Pride. However, this work cannot be done in isolation. Under today's polarizing political climate, Black queer and trans communities often face compounded marginalization, and are among some of the most vulnerable. The threats to our safety, rights, and freedoms continue to mount, and the need for community support has never been greater. As our communities continue to navigate the intersection of race, gender, and sexuality, we must build a coalition of allies and advocates who will stand with us and actively contribute to our safety, joy, and empowerment. Our community needs more than visibility, we need infrastructure. Philly Black Pride is working toward becoming a fully self-sustaining organization that operates year-round, advocates for critical policy change, and creates affirming spaces where Black LGBTQ+ people can truly thrive. This vision demands meaningful support during Philly Black Pride weekend and every day of the year. Whether through financial contributions, in-kind donations, or the gift of time and talent, every act of generosity fuels our mission. We are building something bigger than an event—a movement grounded in care, equity, and possibility. The fight against systemic inequities, racism, transphobia, anti-Blackness, and homophobia requires a collective response. It calls for allies, advocates, and institutions willing to stand with us and be ready to invest in a future where those most marginalized are finally at the center. Courtesy Philadelphia Black Pride Celebrating Philadelphia Black Pride. The need for Black and Brown spaces is particularly urgent in Philadelphia. Recently, we witnessed the closure of the city'scity's only two Black- and Brown-owned bars in the Gayborhood– LevelUp and Cockatoo. Their absence represents more than a lost nightlife experience. It's the erasure of spaces that acted as refuges for LGBTQ+ people of color, where we could enjoy our culture, rally around the community, and patronize our own. Their absence is more than a loss. The shuttering of Black queer nightlife spaces isn'tisn't isolated to Philadelphia; it's part of a troubling national pattern. From Washington D.C. to New York to Los Angeles, beloved Black- and Brown LGBTQ-owned bars, clubs, and lounges are disappearing, erasing vital spaces where our communities have gathered to celebrate, organize, and simply be. Their closures reflect deeper systemic issues, gentrification, underinvestment, and the continued marginalization of Black LGBTQ+ life within both mainstream gay and Black spaces. As these spaces vanish, so do the stories, connections, and legacies they held. We must see this moment as a call to action to reimagine what safe spaces look like for Black LGBTQ+ communities across the nation. It's imperative that our larger communities, allies, and partners join us in changing this narrative. In these turbulent times, it isn't just about survival; it's about shaping a future where Black LGBTQ+ people are empowered year-round. For generations, Black queer and trans communities have been asked to do more with less, stretching limited resources to create vibrant, life-affirming spaces in the face of systemic neglect. But if history has taught us anything, it's that when we are counted out, we rise up. We build our own tables, carve out our own space, and create brilliance despite every barrier. Imagine the societal ills we could remedy if we were fully resourced. Black Prides are more than parties. They're movements with roots that sustain our history, challenge the status quo, and ignite a path toward a more inclusive future. Now, more than ever, support matters. Leaders in our community are ready to build coalitions that show up in unity to ensure that Black LGBTQ+ voices continue to shine bright despite the dark times. Courtesy Pictured Olu Solanke Olu Solanke (he/him) is a dynamic public relations and marketing professional with over eight years of experience driving impactful campaigns for top entertainment, lifestyle, and technology brands. With expertise in integrated marketing strategies, media relations, social media engagement, influencer partnerships, event planning, and account management, Olu has consistently delivered results that resonate. Deeply passionate about the intersection of strategic communications and Black culture, Olu is committed to amplifying diverse voices and creating space for underrepresented stories. When not crafting innovative strategies, you'll find him experimenting with new recipes in the kitchen or embarking on outdoor adventures across the globe. Arranged for by Nikki Aye, Digital Photo Editor Voices is dedicated to featuring a wide range of inspiring personal stories and impactful opinions from the LGBTQ+ and Allied community. Visit to learn more about submission guidelines. We welcome your thoughts and feedback on any of our stories. Email us at voices@ Views expressed in Voices stories are those of the guest writers, columnists and editors, and do not directly represent the views of or our parent company, equalpride.
Yahoo
06-02-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
David J. Johns Won't Stop Fighting for Queer Black Youth
David J. Johns speaks onstage during the NBJC Equity March in Washington, D.C., on June 15, 2024. Credit - Brian Stukes—Getty Images Last November David J. Johns, CEO and executive director of the National Black Justice Collective (NBJC), an organization that works to empower Black LGBTQ+ people, wondered if he should stop getting eye-catching manicures. 'There was a part of me that processed [how] not painting my nails could, in some ways, minimize the target that exists on my body,' he says. 'Then I thought about why I started painting them in the first place, which was having a student who wanted to do it and did not want to be bullied.' Johns, who is sporting funky-colored puzzles and polka dots the day we speak, spends the majority of his day advocating for equity. While equality means treating everyone the same, equity accounts for an individual's personal needs, he explains. He compares it to a box that might be given to folks trying to watch a game over a fence—a shorter person might need a taller item to be able to have the same view. To champion these values, NBJC annually releases its federal policy agenda, which it advocates for through initiatives such as 'Equity Week,' a series of events in D.C. leading up to Juneteenth. The organization also partners with local educators to offer cultural-competency development about Black LGBTQ+ communities and nonprofits such as the Boris L. Henson Foundation to provide free mental-health services for Black queer youth. Cognizant of the challenges coming under President Trump, who on day one signed an executive order declaring that the federal government recognizes just two "immutable" sexes, Johns, 42, looks to the actions of those who came before him. His home office is filled with books and art depicting U.S. civil rights leaders and authors—feminist and social critic bell hooks, former President Barack Obama, whom he worked under as the executive director of the White House Initiative on Educational Excellence for African Americans, to name a few—and he highlights their work throughout our conversation. Of Bayard Rustin, the Black, gay activist behind the 1963 March on Washington, he says, 'When I think about the challenges that we face institutionally, organizationally, or as a country, I'm reminded that this man did things in spite of obstacles erected by people who purported to be his friend. If he could do that with the resources he had, then I can create magnificent and awesome things.' Johns' work as a former elementary-school teacher also keeps him going. He recalls being at his doctorate-degree graduation when he heard a voice calling out for Mr. Johns. 'I recognized the voice, but I did not recognize the person standing in front of me. And I'm introduced to Ernie, who reminds me that when I had the pleasure of teaching them in kindergarten, they were Ernestine. My baby was trans,' says Johns, who saw the interaction as yet another reminder of how harmful it can be when politicians try to restrict discussion of gender and sexuality in the classroom. 'If I had capitulated to ignoring, possibly shaming transness or queerness in some way, Ernie might not be here.' Contact us at letters@
