Kenworthy, Silva join Black Tie Dinner lineup
Rafael Silva, left and Gus Kenworthy Olympic medalist will receive Birch Award; Lone Star 9-1-1 actor will receive Vanguard Award FROM STAFF REPORTS Olympic skier Gus Kenworthy and actor Rafael Silva are the two newest additions to the lineup for the 2022 Black Tie Dinner, Black Tie officials announced this week.
Kenworth, who won a silver medal in slopestyle skiing in the 2014 Olympics, will receive the 2022 Elizabeth Birch Equality Award at the dinner, presented by PNC Bank Sept.
24 at the Sheraton Dallas hotel. Silva, best known for his role as Carlos Reyas on 9-1-1: Lone Star, will receive this year’s Vanguard Award. “We are excited to welcome and honor Gus Kenworthy and Rafael Silva at our 41st Black Tie Dinner,” said Black Tie Senior Co-Chair Terry Loftis. “Both of these LGBTQ advocates and trailblazers are committed to the advancement of access, inclusion and diversity of our community here in North Texas and across the country.” Kenworthy came out on the cover of ESPN Magazine in 2015, making him the first openly gay professional athlete in any action sport.
He went on to make history at the 2018 Olympics as one of the first two openly gay men — alongside Adam Rippon — to compete for the U.S.
