Jay Z Has Done So Much For The LGBT Community That He's Being Honored With The 2019 GLAAD Vanguard Award
Source - Beyonce and Jay-Z will soon add yet another award to their shelves. GLAAD announced today that it will honor the two performers with the Vanguard Award at the 30th Annual GLAAD Media Awards. The event will take place at the Beverly Hilton in Los Angeles on March 28, 2019.
The award celebrates the couple’s allyship to the LGBTQ community and their use of their global platforms as a way to promote positive change and inclusion.
“Beyoncé and Jay-Z are global icons and passionate defenders of human rights and acceptance for all people,” said 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.”
The couple have spoken out against discriminatory legislation in states such as North Carolina and actively supported the passage of marriage equality in the U.S. On top of vocal support, the singers have also made efforts to diversify the content they produce.
Beyonce I get. That’s why I left her out of the title. She’s the unofficial spokesperson and inner monologue for every gay man around the world. But Jigga? Mr. “We doin big pimpin, spendin that cheese?” Color me shocked. I was surprised to find out that this wasn’t the first time he’s received an award from GLAAD either.
In 2018 the rapper received the GLAAD Special Recognition Award for his song and music video “Smile,” in which his mother Gloria Carter came out as a lesbian. His mother accepted the GLAAD Media Award the same year for the powerful story she shared within the lyrics of her son’s song…Beyonce included LGBTQ people in her videos for “Formation” and “All Night,” and Jay-Z featured LGBTQ leader Janet Mock in his video for “Family Feud.”
Who knew? Good on him for sticking himself out there. It’s rare you get a celebrity of his magnitude sharing such a personal story, let alone one that’s still considered taboo in many parts of the world. As crazy as it sounds, him having one song about his lesbian mom and featuring Janet Mock in one music video can have a huge impact on someone’s life. He also went on the record in 2012 as being pro-marriage equality before it was cool so it’s not like this is his first foray in terms of speaking up for LGBT people.
The other cool part about him (them) receiving this award is that it’s going to bring a ton of publicity to GLAAD. People who have no idea what it is or what it does are going to become familiar with their work just because Jay Z and Beyonce are being honored. Obviously, he’s not going to show up (he doesn’t even go the Grammy’s), but if he did the impact would be even bigger. Then again, the awards are being held in New York so who knows?
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As far as Beyonce goes, her impact on LGBT people is much more visible. Walk into any gay bar or club and you’ll see what I’m talking about. She’s also gone on the record and on stage to vocally advocate for LGBT people.
Beyonce also dedicated her performance of “Halo” during “The Formation World Tour” to the victims of the Orlando Pulse nightclub shooting and showcased transgender actress Laverne Cox as one of the faces of her athleisure clothing line Ivy Park.
You don’t see that a lot. I know this blog isn’t funny, but I thought it was pretty cool so I wanted to share. Jay Z and Beyonce: friends of the tribe.
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