The Critics Choice Association hosted its inaugural Celebration of LGBTQ+ Cinema & Television on June 7th in Los Angeles!
The star-studded Show was packed with honorees from the hottest shows including Carl Clemons-Hopkins from Hacks, Chris Perfetti from Abbott Elementary, the producers of Fellow Travelers, Top Chef host Kristen Kish, and our Rising Star, Fernando Carsa from Acapulco.
Our top awards went to 87-year-old (and still going strong!) actor and activist George Takei, Henry R. Muñoz III, owner and chairman of Funny Or Die, trans actress Michaela Jaé Rodriguez from Loot, and the incomparable Nathan Lane!
And what’s a Celebration of LGBTQ+ without the best and sparkliest drag queens from RuPaul’s Drag Race and We’re Here?
Check out the entire show on Here TV starting on July 5th with all the honorees and our great presenters including Charlize Theron, Sean Hayes, Ricky Martin, and Sheryl Lee Ralph.
Here are some acceptance speech highlights from the special evening.
Carl Clemons-Hopkins (Hacks)
“Our opposition thinks it has the power. Yes, we may be delayed, but we can never be destroyed. I’m very grateful to have this night of celebration and visibility as a reminder of just how incredible we are and how much power we have as a community. Peace and love, but don’t be afraid to fuck some shit up!”
Kristen Kish (Top Chef)
“At times being queer means being judged by others. It means feeling invisible. But to be critiqued in a thoughtful way means being really seen. In my restaurant if I offer a critique to my team, it’s because I’m paying attention. I’m trying to encourage someone to reach what I know to be their full potential and to help them see in themselves what I see in them.”
Shakina (Quantum Leap)
“This is what we mean when we say representation matters. And we stand on the shoulders of every social movement that has used storytelling to change culture before us, but we cannot do it alone. Ask yourselves, what am I doing to actively carve out space for the telling of trans stories, to hold doors open for the advancement of trans creators, to uplift trans voices and to center trans lives and trans liberation.”
Luke Gilford (National Anthem)
“We all know this is a very scary time. Queer and trans bodies are preyed upon and inflicted brutal dehumanizing violence every day. And our film does not take away from that fact. But it represents a beacon of hope that survival does not always have to be through violence. And it’s a reminder for all of us to create more safety and acceptance and freedom in this world.”
Fernando Carsa (Acapulco)
“My hope is that anyone who is watching who is still not ready to live their truth realizes that there is an ocean of us ready to love you and celebrate you.”
