This year, the 3rd Annual BET Black + Iconic Soirée made its powerful debut in Washington, D.C., and GLAAD’s Communities of Color team was proud to be in the building to help spotlight and celebrate Black LGBTQ brilliance. Held on May 25, 2025, under the theme “Excellence Ascending,” the evening brought together cultural trailblazers and advocates for a night of joy, community, and unapologetic truth-telling.
Hosted by Scott Evans, entertainment journalist and Access Hollywood anchor, the event honored five visionary leaders whose work continues to shape the future of Black LGBTQ liberation:
Ashlee Davis, J.D. (Executive Realness Award) was honored for her groundbreaking work in both government and corporate leadership. She spoke directly to every person in the room, but especially to every little black queer girl from the South and in our HBCUs.
Ashlee Marie Preston (Creative Visionary Award) was celebrated for her fearless voice in media and advocacy and the work her organization KaleidoCollective is doing for Black queer and trans creatives and the level of impact she has been able to see be achieved in real time, Showcasing that this kind of work is not only possible but is necessary.
Hope Giselle (Emerging Leader Award) inspired the crowd with her dedication to trans visibility and equity. She spoke on her love and belief in not only the LGBTQ community but the Black community as a whole. And what a future could look like if we “let go of the anti-blackness disguised as respectability,” said Giselle during her acceptance speech.
Kierra Johnson (Active Advocate Award), President of the National LGBTQ Task Force, was recognized for decades of movement-building in reproductive justice and LGBTQ rights.
Bob the Drag Queen (Culture Trailblazer Award) closed the night with a heartfelt reflection on identity, artistry, and legacy. And when reflecting on how far she came from her mother uplifting his as a child to seeing how her legacy can be transferred to the rest of her family, she left the audience with the words “we all deserve nice things” regardless of where we come from. That we deserve nice things just because we choose to be our authentic selves and spread love and joy wherever we are.
As part of GLAAD’s commitment to representation with impact, we were on the red carpet capturing powerful moments with honorees, presenters, and performers. Our conversations dug deeper into exploring what joy, legacy, and community mean in a world that too often sidelines Black queer voices.
The evening also featured a breathtaking performance and medley by Avery Wilson, after performing in The Wiz revival and gave the audience a show they’ll never forget. Presenters included Eva Marcille (All The Queen’s Men, BET+), Carter The Body (All The Queen’s Men, BET+), Bryan Terrell Clark (Diarra From Detroit, BET+), and Arrington Foster (The Family Business, BET+), each bringing star power and heartfelt tributes to the evening’s honorees. Advocates like Raeshanda Lias and Mariah Moore were also in attendance.
“This idea that we are able to create this love letter, this bright light that we can shine on the accomplishments of who lives on the intersections of being Black and queer is amazing for us. We are excited as a brand, to be able to offer this out to our community,” said Tiyale Hayes, EVP of Insights and Multiplatform Analytics at BET and Co-Lead of BET’s Social Impact team, to GLAAD
In addition to honoring individual leaders, BET presented $5,000 Thrive Fund grants to grassroots organizations uplifting Black LGBTQ communities: The Center for Black Equity, TAKE Resource Center, and Us Helping Us. Partners like Gilead Sciences and Truth Initiative helped ground the night in urgent calls for health equity, visibility, and culturally relevant care.
GLAAD and GLAAD’s Communities of Color and Media Team is proud to continue standing alongside platforms like BET to ensure that Black LGBTQ stories are seen, heard, and honored. And not just as moments, but as movements. The 2025 BET Black + Iconic Soirée served as a vibrant reminder that our stories are not on the margins; they are the blueprint.
We’ll be sharing select red carpet interviews across our digital platforms in the coming days. Until then, follow along at glaad.org/communities-of-color and on socials using #BlackAndIconic. And be sure to be on the lookout on BET’s social channels for the official televised program later this June!
