The Carters Are GLAAD Award Vanguards

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The Carters & LGBTQ-Inclusivity

Beyoncé and Jay-Z were honored at the GLAAD Media Awards last night.

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The musical couple was met with a standing ovation while being awarded a Vanguard Award at the 30th Annual GLAAD Media Awards, according to Deadline.

To start the moment honoring the Carters, Shangela gave a 7-minute medley of Beyonce’s hits. Then, HIV activist Morris Singletary, Pose writer and director Janet Mock, celebrated actress and writer Lena Waithe, and Beyonce’s long-time friend and stylist Ty Hunter sang about the couple. During this moment, Waithe called the two, “the most powerful black couple” before joking about a fight between them and the Obamas.

The two have continually supported LGBTQ people and lives throughout their career. Beyoncé has included same-sex couples in her music videos and Laverne Cox as one of the models in her athleisure line Ivy Park. Jay-Z also created the song “Smile” to talk about his mother’s struggle of being in the closet while raising children. He then had his mother sing in the song.

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The Carters also supported singer Frank Ocean when he came out as bisexual in 2012. Beyoncé posted a picture of Ocean on her website with the caption, “Be fearless. Be honest. Be generous. Be brave. Be poetic. Be open. Be free. Be yourself. Be in love. Be happy. Be inspiration.” As for Jay Z, he posted an article titled “Thank You, Frank Ocean” on his Life + Time site.

Lastly, Jay Z spoke to CNN back in 2012 when then President Obama shared his support for marriage equality.

“It’s no different than discriminating against blacks,” the rapper said, “It’s discrimination plain and simple. I think it’s the right thing to do, so whether it costs him votes or not – again, it’s not about votes, it’s about people. So whether it costs him votes or not, I think it’s the right thing to do as a human being.”

The Acceptance Speeches

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When accepting the Vanguard award, Jay-Z mentioned his “Smile” track and his mother.

“I get to follow in her footsteps for spreading love and acceptance and her beautiful speech at the end of the song — and for allowing me to tell her story,” he said.

Beyonce then spoke next by noting how “change starts with supporting people closest to you.”

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“We would like to request that we continue to shift the stigmas in this community,” she said. “Especially the stigmas in black families towards accepting queer black and brown men and women around the world.”

Beyonce then became emotional as she dedicated the award to her Uncle Johnny, whom she called, “The most fabulous gay man I ever knew.” She also noted how her uncle helped raise her and her sister Solange.

“He lived his truth; he was brave and unapologetic during a time when this country wasn’t as accepting — witnessing his battle with HIV was one of the most painful experiences I’ve ever lived,” she shared.

“I am hoping that his struggles serve to open pathways for other young people to live more freely,” she continued. “LGBTQI rights are human rights. To choose who you love is your human right. How you identify and see yourself is your human right.”

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She added, “Who you make love to and take that ass to Red Lobster is your human right.”

Beyoncé then ended her speech by thanking her husband for making strides in the hip-hop community by being so inclusive.

“It is a privilege to watch you take those steps and to stand right next to you,” she said.

h/t: Deadline, CNN

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