John Cameron Mitchell accepts the Queerty Pride50 Catalyst Award
World Pride in New York City is still officially a week away, but the rainbow momentum is palpable.
Queerty kicked things off on Wednesday with a dazzling evening at Town Stages in SoHo to celebrate this year’s Pride50 honorees and to recognize 50 years of remarkable advancements in LGBTQ culture since Stonewall.
The looks were on point, naturally, but the real spirit of the room was focused on 50 trailblazing individuals who actively ensure society remains moving towards equality, acceptance and dignity for all queer people.
With an appearance from this year’s Catalyst Award recipient John Cameron Mitchell, an arresting performance by Pride50 honoree Jeremiah Lloyd Harmon, and many celebrated activists and entertainers in attendance, the night was one to remember and hold on to.
Queerty managing editor Dan Tracer played host in collaborative couture designed by Project Runway season 16 winner Kentaro Kameyama and Simay Bleur that was certainly somewhere over the rainbow; we’re still not exactly sure where.
The event partnered with SAGE, a vital organization providing assisted living for LGBTQ seniors. Several SAGE participants were in attendance to enjoy the festivities, and all were grateful for their presence. And you’d better believe they worked that red carpet.
Special thanks to Pride50 sponsors Target, Amtrak, Visit Seattle, Svedka, and Nulo.
Here are some highlights from the engagement (for even more photos, head here):
Pride50 honoree Nakhane, Pride50 Catalyst Award recipient John Cameron Mitchell
Pride50 honoree/performer Jeremiah Lloyd Harmon and SAGE participant Guy Aiossa
Pride50 honoree Darnell L. Moore and SAGE volunteer Lujira Cooper
Queerty’s Dan Tracer
Pride50 honoree Monica Helms, SAGE participant Renee Imperato
Pride50 honoree Adam Eli, SAGE Bronx participants and partners Donna Sue Johnson & Marie Spivey
Pride50 honoree Morris Singletary, SAGE participant and outspoken activist Ellen Ensig-Brodsky
Pride50 honoree Vlada Knowlton
Pride50 honoree Andrew Gurza
John Cameron Mitchell, SAGE participant and NYC drag staple Ruby Rims
Q.Digital CEO Scott Gatz, Paige Turner, actor Matt W. Cody
Five-time Emmy nominee Van Hansis, ‘Eastsiders’ stars Kit Williamson & John Halbach
‘Drag Race’ season 9 star Peppermint
Frankie Grande
Zeke Thomas
Brita Filter
Photos by: Justin Barbin.
Welcome to Queerty’s Pride50. This year marks half a century since the Stonewall uprising in New York City, and this season we’re celebrating the amazing people who are continuing the progress of a half-century of Pride. See all the honorees
