Charna Flam The Icons for the 2023 WeHo Pride Parade are Melissa McCarthy, “RuPaul’s Drag Race,” Laith Ashley, Niecy Nash-Betts and Jessica Betts, announced the city of West Hollywood and WeHo Pride producer JJLA, Jeff Consoletti.
The recipients have been honored with the Drag Icon Award, the Breakthrough Icon Award, the Trailblazer Icon award and the Ally Icon award.
Laith Ashley, a model, actor and activist has been named this year’s Breakthrough Icon Award. In 2017, Laith was the first transgender man to be featured in an ad campaign.
Following his historic campaign, Laith starred in Taylor Swift’s “Lavender Haze” music video and volunteers for the FLUX nonprofit and the AIDS Healthcare Foundation’s transgender division. “RuPaul’s Drag Race” has been honored with this year’s Drag Icon Award, with host and judge Michelle Visage receiving the award on behalf of the franchise.