Fresh off the Grammys in February, where they added another award to their oversize collection of trophies, Beyonce and Jay-Z are about to be honored by the Gay and Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation with the Vanguard Award for their work as allies to the LGBTQ community. The honor will be presented during the GLAAD Media Awards on Thursday, March 28, in Los Angeles.
GLAAD President Sarah Kate Ellis said in a statement, “Beyonce and Jay-Z are global icons and passionate defenders of human rights and acceptance for all people. When Beyonce 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.”
Beyonce was a public supporter of marriage equality and spoke out against North Carolina’s 2016 anti-trans bathroom bill. Then in 2017 Beyonce defended transgender youth after Donald Trump‘s administration withdrew protections for trans students. Jay-Z also supported marriage equality, and last year he received a GLAAD Special Recognition Award for his music video “Smile,” in which his mother Gloria Carter came out as gay.
Previous LGBTQ allies who have received the Vanguard Award include Jennifer Lopez, Kerry Washington, Cher, Janet Jackson, Elizabeth Taylor, Antonio Banderas, Demi Lovato, Whoopi Goldberg, Eric McCormack and Britney Spears. The GLAAD Media Awards will be hosted by Ross Matthews, and they will be followed on May 4 by another GLAAD event where Madonna will receive the Advocate for Change Award.
