Logo established the annual Trailblazers Honors three years ago, honoring today’s most prolific LGBTQ advocates of equality. The show quickly established itself as a leading awards gala, and the 2016 version will be bigger and better than ever. As an official event of New York City Pride, VH1 and Logo will simulcast the pride event on Saturday, June 25 at 8pm ET/PT, from the Cathedral of St. John the Divine.
The evening is dedicated to the lives lost to the Orlando massacre.
This year’s honorees are longtime contributors to the cause: playwright Harvey Fierstein, tennis champion Billy Jean King, and The Advocate magazine, which next year celebrates its half century mark. That’s right, the big 5-0.
A star-studded cast will pay homage to this year’s winners, including Emma Stone, who will present an award to Billy Jean King, Lance Bass, presenting to The Advocate.
Video tributes by Laverne Cox, Judith Light, Matthew Broderick, Bernadette Peters, Billy Porter, Edie Falco, Joel Grey, Tegan & Sara, and Matthew Morrison.
Here are some highlights:
Vice President Joe Biden says, “We need you, we need all of you, because as we celebrate a year of equality in marriage, draconian state laws deny transgender Americans basic civil rights. And in nearly 70 countries, it’s a crime to be who you are.”
Christina Aguilera, Glenn Close, Sia, Whoopi Goldberg, Boy George, Kathy Griffin, and others passionately decry gun violence and offer heartfelt video tributes to Orlando.
An unusually understated RuPaul holds a moment of silence for the victims of the Orlando massacre.
The cast of RuPaul’s All Stars Drag Race pay tribute to Harvey Fierstein with a surprise performance of “I Am What I Am”.
Brian
Logo has lost the plot. I don’t watch it anymore.
RuPaul is a trailblazer for what? Putting on make-up? Puh-lease….
Bob LaBlah
This time around there are going to be a lot of jittery nerves at every Pride celebration. Thank you Ru. I knew you wouldn’t forget those poor souls whose only mistake was going out and having a nice time that particular night.