August 30th 2023.
Beyoncé has been an ally to the LGBTQ+ community for a long time, and her commitment to the community is clearer than ever. Her latest album, Renaissance, is widely regarded as a tribute to Black Ballroom and queer culture, and she has also made sure to back up her support financially.
During her hugely successful Renaissance World Tour in Las Vegas, her charity BeyGood partnered with the Human Rights Campaign to bring the first-ever Equality Ball to the desert. The event, held at KAOS Nightclub in Palms Casino Resort, was an opportunity to celebrate Black queer ballroom culture and to provide much-needed community services such as HIV testing and voter registration.
Lena Giroux Zakalik, Carlos Irizarry, and Stephanie Whitfield executive-produced the event. Giroux Zakalik said that usually, a ball of this magnitude would take a year to plan, but it was an opportunity they couldn't miss. It was Beyoncé's charity that provided the funds necessary to make the event happen.
Queen Bey has personally honoured the queer mentors in her life. At the GLAAD Vanguard Awards in 2019, she dedicated the award to her Uncle Johnny, whom she said helped to raise her and her sister. She said that witnessing his battle with HIV was one of the most painful experiences she had ever lived, but she hoped that his struggles would open pathways for others to live more freely. She concluded by saying that LGBTQI rights are human rights.
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