Beyoncé And Jay-Z Accepted The Vanguard Award At The GLAAD Awards
Deadline reports that the richest couple to be on the run from the law since 2014 Beyoncé and Jay-Z, were finally honored for being huge gay icons when they finally received their very own Vanguard Award at the 30th Annual GLAAD Media Awards last night at the Beverly Hilton. When it was first announced that Bey-Z were being honored for their contribution to LGBTQ rights, many wanted the receipts. But well, what gay hasn’t shaken their hand to Single Ladies on YouTube? And I’m sure their presence helped GLAAD to sell many tables at their fancy gala. So there’s that!
But before we get into the gay icons of our time finally getting honored for being the gay icons of our time, let’s get into Shangela. Shangela performed a medley of Beyoncé tracks in front of Beyoncé. I’m amazed the build-up of energy didn’t open up a black hole in the middle of the Beverly Hilton. Here’s some of Shangela putting in WERK, honey:
OMG. @itsSHANGELA IS PERFORMING A BEYONCÉ MEDLEY IN FRONT OF BEYONCÉ AT THE #GLAADAWARDS. pic.twitter.com/VNS0oGurxF
— Raymond Braun (@raymondbraun) March 29, 2019
You know who’s wig is not flying off tonight? Not Shangela’s. Girl has that weave glued in tight. Just like Beyoncé likes it! Bey and Jay loved the performance and even gave Shangela a standing ovation:
OMG! This is #Beyonce and #JayZ giving @itsshangela a standing ovation after Shangela did a lip sync (for your life) medley of Beyonce songs. OMG! @glaad pic.twitter.com/9mvva7TzoA
— Marc Malkin (@marcmalkin) March 29, 2019
Beyoncé even mentioned the performance in her acceptance speech:
“I put a run in my stocking from Shangela!”
Queen Beyoncé recognizing @itsSHANGELA at the #glaadawards! pic.twitter.com/GuDo98eQgy
— Raymond Braun (@raymondbraun) March 29, 2019
Speaking of acceptance speeches…
After the performance, a bunch of people got up on stage to talk about how awesome Beyoncé and Jay-Z are. Pose director & writer Janet Mock, Beyoncé’s stylist and friend Ty Hunter, HIV activist Morris Singletary, and Lena Waithe all said Beyoncé and Jay-Z were amazing. Lena even joked that Bey-Z would have to fight the Obamas for the title of “the most powerful black couple.” Ah The Obamas… the only Michelle more powerful than Beyoncé.
During their acceptance speech, Jay-Z mentioned his mother who came out as lesbian on a track on his 4:44 album, saying:
“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.”
Jay was also honored by GLAAD with a Special Recognition Award last year for the song and video for the track about his mother, Smile.
Beyoncé also had a bunch to say about dealing with homophobia around the world and in black families:
“Change starts with supporting people closest to you… We would like to request that we continue to shift the stigmas in this community… Especially the stigmas in black families towards accepting queer black and brown men and women around the world…”
She also mentioned the inspiration she received from her uncle Johnny who fought HIV calling him “the most fabulous gay man I ever knew”:
“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… I am hoping that his struggles serve to open pathways for other young people to live more freely… LGBTQI rights are human rights. To choose who you love is your human right. How you identify and see yourself is your human right… Who you make love to and take that ass to Red Lobster is your human right.”
You know they all loved that Red Lobster line. Beyoncé definitely knows what to say to get a room full of gays excited. And knowing what a room full of excited gays is like: a bunch of them definitely would be taking their asses to Red Lobster that same night.
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Here’s some of Bey-Z’s speech:
Pic: YouTube