On June 6, 2025, GLAAD hosted its Pride and Progress event in San Francisco, bringing together LGBTQ leaders, allies, and advocates for an evening that honored four decades of media advocacy and community empowerment.
The event was graciously hosted by former GLAAD Board Co-Chair Scott E. Miller and his husband, Douglas Piper, and brought together a dynamic community of changemakers, supporters, and GLAAD Board Members. Notable attendees included Chair of the Board of Directors Liz Jenkins, Andrea Calise, Justin Blake, Richard Clark, Antonious Porch, Kevin Burke, Lianna Guzman, Maeve Duvally, and Jenni Olson.
A highlight of the evening was the special presentation of a GLAAD Media Award to legendary author and activist Jewelle Gomez. GLAAD President and CEO Sarah Kate Ellis presented the award with a moving tribute:
“GLAAD’s founders believed that if the world got to know us, and if we held media and power accountable , acceptance would follow. We’re here 40 years later because they were right. Tonight, I’m deeply honored to present this GLAAD Media Award to one of those founders from right here, the iconic Jewelle Gomes. A celebrated author, poet, playwright, and activist, Jewelle helped reshape both literature and LGBTQ advocacy. Her groundbreaking novel The Gilda Stories became a landmark in Black, queer, and sci-fi fiction. And in 1985, she helped launch GLAAD as our founding treasurer, demanding truth and dignity during the height of the AIDS crisis. Her voice has uplifted Black and queer identities for decades, and her lifetime of work, most recently honored with the Bram Stoker Award, continues to inspire. Jewelle, thank you for your fierce commitment to truth, art, and justice. We celebrate you tonight.”
The Pride and Progress celebration was not only a reflection on GLAAD’s powerful history but also a recommitment to its future, amplifying voices, advancing equality, and honoring the trailblazers who paved the way.
Photography by Steven Underhill
