Outright International’s  28th Celebration of Courage gala

The 28th Annual Celebration of Courage awards and gala was hosted by Outright International. The event, which took place on June 3, 2024, at Pier Sixty, Chelsea Piers, New York City, was a commemoration of the courage, resilience, and remarkable achievements of individuals and organizations advancing human rights for LGBTQ people worldwide.

Program

Outright’s Celebration of Courage audience attracts LGBTIQ individuals and allies who care about rights and equality. Celebration of Courage welcomes some of the best and the brightest from the civil society, media, politics, business, and finance sectors. These stakeholders are Outright’s top-level supporters and who are among the world’s and New York City’s most influential philanthropists, industry, and civic leaders. Many guests have international connections and are deeply attuned to world affairs.

Guests of Outright’s Celebration of Courage will join a Welcome Reception at Pier Sixty, Chelsea Piers, New York City, on a glass-enclosed terrace with an outdoor veranda access overlooking the Hudson River and enjoy a panoramic view of the Garden State, enjoying a picturesque summer sunset. During the Welcome Reception, guests will be able to network and bid online via mobile device on items featured in the event’s Silent Auction.

Transitioning into the Dinner & Program sections of the evening, guests exit the outdoor veranda and enter the dining room. Outright Board Directors and staff will welcome guests to dinner. Following dinner, Outright will present the recipients of Felipa de Souza Award, Outstanding Award and Outspoken Award. In the spirit of giving, during this time, guests will also be invited to participate in a Live Auction and Paddle Raise to raise critical support for Outright’s lifesaving work. Following dinner and the awards, guests will be invited to attend a Closing Reception.

Event Schedule (PM, ET)

• 6:00 to 7:00: Welcome Reception, Silent Auction (indoor and outdoor, weather permitting)
• 7:00 to 9:00: Seated Dinner, Program, Live Auction and Live Ask (indoor)
• 9:00 to 10:30: Closing Reception, Silent Auction (indoor and outdoor, weather permitting)

 

Host Committee

Maria Sjödin NY, USA · Roxanna Carrillo NY, USA · Gigi Chao Hong Kong · Lysanne Charles St. Maarten, VI · Louise Chernin WA, USA · Darrel Cummings CA, USA · Julie Dorf CA, USA · Martin Dunn NY, USA ·Lenny Emson Ottawa, CA  · Cynthia Alison Fortlage London, UK · John Heilman CA, USA · Jeff HollandLondon, UK · Fabrice Houdart NY, USA · Hosh Ibrahim London, UK · Micheal Ighodaro DC, USA · Lanaya Irvin NY, USA · Selam Kebrom DC, USA · Camille Massey NY, USA · Jeff Natter WA, USA · Pedro PinaLondon, UK · Jennifer C. Pizer CA, USA · Suzanne Rotondo PA, USA · Russell Roybal CA, USA · Suki Sandhu OBE London, UK · Aalap Shah NY, USA · Kathy Teo Singapore · Elliot Vaughn London, UK

 

Awards

• Felipa de Souza Award recognizes the courage and activism of grassroots groups and individuals to survive and thrive in the face of incredible odds and tremendous challenges.
• Outspoken Award recognizes LGBTIQ groups or individuals, and allies, that contribute to advanced awareness and equality for LGBTIQ people.
• Outstanding Award pays tribute to special individuals, companies, and/or organizations that have contributed to the advancement of human rights for LGBTIQ people.

2024 Honorees 

Felipa de Souza Award: Mitini Nepal 

Mitini Nepal (MN) was established in 2006 with a vision to build a peaceful, prosperous society where sexual and gender minorities’ communities can live with self-esteem and dignity while enjoying human rights without any discrimination, violence, assault, and fear. It was established by the Nepalese lesbian couple, Laxmi Ghalan & Meera Bajracharya, in 2002 when homosexuality was not decriminalized. The core function of Mitini Nepal is to bring awareness to the general public through rights-based advocacy within a traditional society to the general public by positively changing attitudes toward gender and sexual minorities.

Outspoken Award: Billy Porter 

Outright is proud to honor Billy Porter, an Emmy, Grammy, and Tony award-winning actor, singer, director, producer, composer, playwright, and activist, for his commitment to using his voice for positive change and advocating for a more just and equitable world. His influence and activism have inspired many and helped pave the way for greater acceptance and representation in the entertainment industry and beyond. Billy Porter has made significant contributions to the entertainment industry, earning accolades and acclaim for his remarkable talent and dedication to social causes. Porter’s impact extends beyond the stage and screen as he continues to use his platform to champion LGBTQ+ rights and promote inclusivity and acceptance. His work in projects like FX’s Emmy and Golden Globe-nominated drama Pose and the Broadway musical Kinky Boots has not only showcased his immense talent but also highlighted important social issues.

Photo credit: Meredith Truax

Outstanding Award: Adobe Foundation 

The Adobe Foundation creates positive change through support for creative and digital literacy, social equity and opportunity, and active engagement in the communities where they live and work. The Adobe Foundation is a private foundation created and funded by Adobe Inc. Outright’s award recognizes the Adobe Foundation’s dedication to fostering positive change through the promotion of creative and digital literacy, social equity and opportunity, and active community engagement – including its Equity and Advancement Initiative (EAI) to address systemic barriers to opportunity and advance social equity within Adobe’s businesses and communities.

Event Host 

Outright is thrilled to announce the enthusiastic return of our 2023 Celebration of Courage Host: the incredible BeBe Zahara Benet!

BeBe Zahara Benet is equal parts bold, beautiful, and business-minded. Simply stated: The international recording artist, TV personality, activist and pop culture provocateur breaks the entertainment mold. BeBe is best known as the inaugural winner of RuPaul’s Drag Race, the star of TLC’s Dragnificent and the subject of the award-winning documentary Being BeBe. With BeBe returning to the stage, our evening is guaranteed to be inspirational, joining our communities in support of human rights for LGBTIQ people everywhere.

Photo credit: Alvan Washington