60 Photos of Your Favorite Celebs Supporting LGBTQ+ Youth at GLSEN Respect Awards

Trudy Ring

May 31, 2023 at 6:05 AM·4 min read

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GLSEN Respect Awards

Getty Images for GLSEN

Luminaries from politics, show business, and more turned out for the GLSEN Respect Awards' New York ceremony this month at Cipriani 42nd Street. The ceremony saw presentation of awards to Tony-Award winning singer, actress, and songwriter Idina Menzel; nonbinary Broadway performer Justin David Sullivan; Freedom to Learn, a network of organizations, academics, artists, advocates and policy-makers addressing structural inequality; and student Daniel Hadi. Menzel received the organization’s Ally Award, Sullivan received the Game Changer Award, Hadi received the Student Advocate of the Year Award; and Freedom to Learn was honored with the Movement Builder Award.

Hosted by Kalen Allen, the event featured a performance by Jeremy Jordan, who sang “Let It Go,” “Defying Gravity” and “Over the Rainbow,” along with words of encouragement and support by presenters Chasten Buttigieg and Dominique Jackson. Other guests in attendance included Jelani Alladin, Marti Cummings, David Granados, Imara Jones, Travis Shumake, and Oklahoma Rep. Mauree Turner as well as the cast of Broadway’s & Juliet, including Philippe Arroyo, Michael Ivan Carrier, Bobby “Pocket” Horner, Joomin Hwang, Megan Kane, Brittany Nicholas, Veronica Otim, Jasmine Rafael, Matt Raffy, Tiernan Tunnicliffe, and Ben Jackson Walker, and GLSEN Executive Director Melanie Willingham-Jaggers, among others.

“At a time when LGBTQ+ youth are under attack from extremist legislators, GLSEN is proud to honor incredible activists, allies, and students who rise up for LGBTQ+ youth every day. We’re thankful for all of our honorees, presenters, attendees, and sponsors for making the Respect Awards such a huge success. We’re grateful to work alongside so many incredible leaders, and together, we’re going to continue to fight back against hateful rhetoric and attempts to dismantle our rights.” Willingham-Jaggers said in a press release.

The event was presented by T-Mobile. “T-Mobile has been a longtime supporter of GLSEN because of their important work to empower LGBTQ+ youth through connections to resources that enable them to advocate for themselves and others closely aligns with our belief that every person has the right to feel safe, seen, heard and prepared to achieve their ambitions,” said Holli Martinez, vice president, diversity, equity, and inclusion for T-Mobile. “We continue to be incredibly proud of our long-standing partnership with GLSEN and are thrilled to honor those who share that commitment.”

The GLSEN Respect Awards, introduced in 2004 and held annually in Los Angeles and New York, showcase the work of students, educators, community leaders, and corporations who serve as exemplary role models and have made a significant impact on the lives of LGBTQ+ youth. Chasten Buttigieg, Dominique Jackson, Billy Porter, and Lena Waithe served as honorary cochairs. Besides T-Mobile, sponsors for the evening included Hollister, Wells Fargo, Target, Ulta Beauty, the NBA and WNBA, BMW, and Nickelodeon. The event was produced by L.A.-based event company JJLA.

GLSEN works to create safe and inclusive schools for all through original research, program development, educator training, student organizing, and targeted state and federal advocacy. Its programs include Rise Up, Day of Silence, Solidarity Week, and Changing the Game.

Scroll on for more pictures from the event.

Pictured, from left: Chasten Buttigieg, Justin David Sullivan and Conor McKenzie, Dominique Jackson, Philippe Arroyo, Idina Menzel and Melanie Willingham-Jaggers