So Beyoncé and JAY-Z are being honored for their support of the LGBTQ community.
GLAAD just announced that the power couple will be presented with the Vanguard Award, which acknowledges individuals for making a “significant difference in promoting acceptance of LGBTQ people”.
“Beyoncé and JAY-Z are global icons and passionate defenders of human rights and acceptance for all people,” GLAAD President and CEO Sarah Kate Ellis said in a statement. “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.”
Previous recipients of the coveted award include Jennifer Lopez, Cher, Janet Jackson, Whoopi Goldberg, and Britney Spears.
But a lot of people on Twitter seem rather confused by the whole thing, especially given JAY-Z’s very long history of using antigay slurs in his songs.
Please inform me how that man has made a “significant difference in promoting acceptance of lgbt people” lmao I’m clearly missing something. I wouldn’t even say Beyonce has done all that.
— beth pearson stan account (@Chrissssssw) March 11, 2019
im sorry but why is beyoncé receiving a lgbt ally award
— ? (@chaserojo) March 11, 2019
what has beyoncé and jay z done for the lgbt+ community i just want to know
— C ? R E Y (@floralfaggot) March 12, 2019
Beyoncé Ignored the LGBT Community in Houstonhttps://t.co/HFieh59nLj
— Joeslley Rocha (@joeslley_rocha) March 11, 2019
Beyonce and jay z getting lgbt award but not frank ocean…….lol anyways pic.twitter.com/Lz8y4XDBAB
— carol corps it is an honour to serve with you (@dayIewis) March 11, 2019
Beyoncé is pro LGBT, but she’s not a public Ally or advocate. I can count on one hand the mainstream artist who go up for ALL of us.
They just gave her this award so people will watch. The bar is low… And Jay??? The bar is in hell. ?
— Ides of Boots ?? (@thicc_loopin) March 11, 2019
Giving Beyonce and Jay z lgbt awards is one of the dumbest things I’ve not seen today.
Gay people get murdered daily, but two hetero millionaires who did the minimum by supporting gay rights like twice get awards. Yeah bye. Why can’t you honour Ellen Page or someone deserving?— James (@J3Lyon) March 11, 2019
Lgbt artists try to make a change for our community, not heteros. Stop this shit. pic.twitter.com/ansudn8j4r
— ariana (@floweroadzayn) March 11, 2019
WTF has Jay Z ever done for the LGBT community exactly?! That’s just fucked up.
Beyoncé I can understand but Jay Z?
— H5rre6 #TeamValentina ?? (@H5rre61) March 11, 2019
Straight people being honored for treating LGBT like humans? The standards are low and keep getting lower…
— Meowmeow (@Meowmeo66362300) March 11, 2019
Beyoncé is a LGBT ally. JAY-Z is not.
— ?ã?? (@Iemonade) March 11, 2019
We’ll be honest and say we can understand why some people might be uncomfortable with a guy with lyrics like “Too many f*ggot n*ggas clocking my spending” (from the song “22 Two’s”), or “f*ggots wanna talk to Po-Po’s” (from the song “N*gga What, Nigga Who”), or “this little f*ggot in the corner calling 911” (from the song “Gangsta Shit”) getting an LGBTQ ally award from GLAAD, but we don’t make these decisions.
Some of Jay-Z’s other homophobic lyrics include:
- “What you gay? N*gga Jay straight like Indian hair” – From “2 Many Hoes”
- “And since you infatuated with sayin’ tha gay shit” – From “Super Ugly”
- “Had n*ggas mad for real like ‘I wish he was gay’”- From “Hey Papi”
- “Hate a n*gga like that f*ggot, get your own”- From “Lucky Me”
- “That’s gay, I ain’t into liking dudes no way”- From “La La La (Excuse Me Again)”
In his defense, many of those songs came out a long time ago, and people can change.
How about we take this to the next level?
Our newsletter is like a refreshing cocktail (or mocktail) of LGBTQ+ entertainment and pop culture, served up with a side of eye-candy.
Last year, JAY-Z received a GLAAD Special Recognition Award for his song, “Smile” about his mother, Gloria Carter, who identifies as lesbian.
The Carters will be presented with the Vanguard Award at the GLAAD Media Awards in Los Angeles on March 28.
Related: Jay-Z reveals gay family secrets on new, pro-LGBT anthem
QueerTruth
Please tell me what either has done for the LGBT community. Seriously. Please include that in this article. Personally, I know of nothing.
MikeM
From what I could surmise, it is most likely from his outspokenness in support of his mother who came out as a lesbian. Seems marginal, but his unequivocal support of her could genuinely influence a lot of people to acceptance.
@HarryB at q-meet.us
Personally i know of nothing too.
Wicked Dickie
I was waiting for this article since it was announced.
RoughRugger
Same.
iamru2
If they were white I’d say white privilege!
QueerTruth
Celebrity Privilege works. 😉
RoughRugger
“..many of those songs came out a long time ago, and people can change.”
Um, yeah, but just like we’ve been saying loudly & frequently re: Kevin Hart, the whole “change” from open, vocal homophobia requires that the ‘phobe 1) acknowledge the wrong/harm that his/her phobia involved, 2) sincerely apologize for it, and 3) most likely, do something to make amends and/or demonstrate that they’ve turned away from whatever-it-was.
All of that is obviously situational, but has Jay-Z ever disavowed his “long time ago” homophobic lyrics? What has he ever actually done to promote LGBTQ causes? (…and please don’t quote his song about his mom. That was about HIS MOM, not about the LGBTQ community.)
…and I love me some Bey, and yeah, she’s a gay icon for sure, but an ally? Again, what has she actually DONE in service of our community that warrants this level of recognition? Gaga is an ally. Cher is an ally. Madonna, Cyndi, Bette, all are active, vocal allies. What has Bey done for the community other than put some thirst-trap ‘mos in tight pants behind her on stage?
QueerTruth
I agree. It’s seems to be a publicity stunt.
It’s backfiring because B & JZ have never been a public allies in any fashion. It’s not their fault of course, but the phony award is incredibly insulting to the LGBT community.
I’ve already emailed GLADD respectfully and directly. I suggest everyone do the same. Be kind though. It’s a charity. They are just getting too Hollywood at the award season (as usual).
iantombower
Every word spot-on.
PinkoOfTheGange
Here is what they have done:
They will sell out the tables for GLAAD’S big awards dinner.
Polaro
We have a winner. Hit it on the head.
Brian
Plus, the queens in charge of this really want to meet Beyonce.
Kangol
I bet they’re fighting over who gets to sit at the table with Queen Bey. They’ll also find a way to quash all the backlash to ensure these two are there, get their award, and pose for some IG- and Snapchat-friendly pictures.
queerty02
Because LGBT “awards” are handed out to practically anyone who’s rich.
GentlemanCaller
It’s simple: GLAAD is a giant self-perpetuating institution, and like all giant self-perpetuating institutions it’s interested in its continued existence. Having a party where Beyonce and Jay-Z are in attendance will attract boatloads of people who want to be fame-adjacent, and they’ll empty their pockets for the opportunity. That means GLAAD gets to have money to host more parties, thereby making money for additional parties. In between parties, they will fire off some angry press releases and possibly call a legislator or two, plus file an amicus brief here and there. Then it will be time for another fundraiser, so they’ll hand out a prize to some other famo who may or may not have ever given a thought to LGBT issues. Rest assured, GLAAD will continue to exist even if all vestiges of discrimination and defamation against LGBT folks magically disappeared overnight.
MonkeyMan
Someone at GLAAD desperately wants to meet Beyoncé.
I kinda hope neither of them shows up at the awards ceremony, that would teach GLAAD and the people who think of the Carters as allies a lesson.
Kieran
Some of Jay-Z’s other homophobic lyrics include:
•“What you gay? N*gga Jay straight like Indian hair” – From “2 Many Hoes”
•“And since you infatuated with sayin’ tha gay shit” – From “Super Ugly”
•“Had n*ggas mad for real like ‘I wish he was gay’”- From “Hey Papi”
•“Hate a n*gga like that f*ggot, get your own”- From “Lucky Me”
•“That’s gay, I ain’t into liking dudes no way”- From “La La La (Excuse Me Again)”
But wait.
Didn’t these two perform at the Hillary get out the vote rally in Philadelphia a day before the election? There’s your answer. This clearly has nothing to do with “promoting acceptance” of gays.
justgeo
Yeh give ’em the Nobel Peace prize too with good old Trump shit.
Asphyxia 8
GLAAD has to justify those $500 “Obstructed View” tickets ($1,000 for regular tix!) somehow!
jjose712
People are confused about him? I’m confused about her. I know people love Beyonce and she has a lot of gay fans but she is not Lady Gaga or Madonna or any other diva that really embraced her gay fans.
This is basically a bootlicking award and people just wonder why GLAAD is getting more and more irrelevant
dean089
Because he’s rich and GLAAD likes to cozy up to large donors whether they have anything to do with LGBT causes or not. GLAAD’s community is the moneyed community. If there happens to be some LGBTs in the mix, that’s nice, too.
surreal33
It’s an America, thing once you become truly wealthy any past transgressions are instantly forgiven. (ie. Kim Kardashian, going from video whore to the White House) Then you ascend to respectability at that point all is yours for the taking.
We forget that Jay-Z is an admitted former drug dealer with homophobic tendencies. This situation would be laughable however GLAAD just sold out the gay community.
mr guy
GLAAD like StonewallUK etc at this point are just self-perpetuating money machines designed to keep their high salaried top brass in a job, selling “diversity courses” (with highly paid lgbt diversity speakers = personal friends of the ceo etc) that allow multinationals to pink wash their reputations and receive backslapping awards from those same orgs for doing so. All corporate pigs snout-deep in the same trough. Total unethical con.
jcoberkrom
GLAAD has a history of courting celebrities.
Be nice if they did more in supporting gay causes.
Jussie_Racist_Clown
It’s like giving Mr. Obama (not my president) the Nobel Peace prize. FOR WHAT?
DCguy
GLAAD and HRC seem to mainly be interested in who they can get to show up to their events these days.
WindsorOntario
Calling Jay-Z a gay ally is like calling Jeffrey Dahmer a chef.
bishonen91
Not saying they’ve done anything, but Jay-Z has spoken out that when his mom came out to him it did change his views and has spoken out in support of the LGBT community.
swamp bubble
Well, Jay-Z did have that song about his mom coming out on his last record, so I can understand if that was the inspiration. Which is more than I can say for Beyonce
.
Bryguyf69
Yeah, this is as bad as ESPN giving Caitlyn Jenner the Arthur Ashe Courage Award. Sports journalist Bob Costas justifiably blasted the decision. Jenner was never an ally nor advocate for the LGBT community, and certainly never displayed any courage. Indeed, many in the trans community accused her (with the help of exploitative ABC) of treating the issue like a product unveiling, to maximize profits and publicity for her “reality” show.
It didn’t take courage for her to come out. She had no choice. Being a publicity whore by choice, Bruce Jenner’s sudden disappearance from the Khardashians had to be explained. True courage would’ve been coming out decades ago, when he first of his feelings. Or months before. Instead, she timed it to sync with her new show. So the motive was profit, not courage.
In this case, neither of the Carters are allies or advocates, deserving of any special recognition. Sure the publicity GLAAD will receive is helpful. And yes, hip hop fans who otherwise wouldn’t think of LGBT issues will take note. But if that’s the goal, ask the Carters to make a PSA. If they agree, then MAYBE consider them for some kind of award next year. But right now, the award is a joke.