Beyoncé and JAY-Z to Be Honored at 2019 GLAAD Media Awards

Beyoncé and JAY-Z (known to many as “Mr. Beyoncé) will be honored at the 2019 GLAAD Media Awards for their work accelerating LGBTQ+ acceptance on March 28, 2019. You thought the A in LQBTQIA+ stood for ally? Well, sure, but it also stands for APESHIT.

The Carters will be presented with the Vanguard Award, which celebrates allies who have done important work toward moving queer equality forward. Past recipients have included Jennifer Lopez, Kerry Washington, Cher, Janet Jackson, Elizabeth Taylor, Antonio Banderas, Demi Lovato, Whoopi Goldberg, Eric McCormack, and Britney Spears.

“Beyoncé and JAY-Z are longtime allies and supporters of the LGBTQ community who use their global platforms to share messages that inspire and change the world for the better,” reads GLAAD’s press release.

At last year’s GLAAD Media Awards in New York City, JAY-Z was honored for his music video “Smile,” in which his mother Gloria Carter came out. Carter was on-hand at the ceremony to accept the award from Robin Roberts.

And Beyoncé … do we even need to discuss what Beyoncé has done for gay rights? Beyoncé is gay rights, but between championing marriage equality ("Everyone has the right to love who they love.”) and queer youth (“LGBTQ students need to know we support them.”), dedicating a performance of “Halo” to the victims of the Pulse nightclub shooting, featured Laverne Cox in an Ivy Park campaign and girl, she’s Beyoncé.

“Beyoncé and JAY-Z are global icons and passionate defenders of human rights and acceptance for all people,” says GLAAD President and CEO Sarah Kate Ellis. “When Beyoncé and JAY-Z speak, the world becomes inspired and when it comes to LGBTQ people, their voices of acceptance have been heard loud and clear. We could not be prouder to stand with them to send a message of love during the biggest LGBTQ event in the world and to honor their work to bend the arc of justice forward for LGBTQ people, people of color, and marginalized communities everywhere.”

The 30th Annual GLAAD Media Awards are presented by Delta Air Lines, Gilead, Hyundai, Ketel One Family-Made Vodka, and Wells Fargo. They will take place on March 28 in Los Angeles.

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