Attending the 11th Annual Truth Awards was nothing short of a magical night filled with celebration, pride, and unity that I’ll never forget. Hosted by Better Brothers Los Angeles and Sheryl Lee Ralph's DIVA Foundation, the event honored the incredible contributions of the Black LGBTQ+ community and its allies. The atmosphere was lit as soon as I stepped into the Beverly Hilton Hotel.
The red carpet was filled with laughs and smiles as the celebrities graced the carpet with their presence. Tamar Braxton enjoyed it so much she graced it twice.
I had the opportunity to interview Cynthia Bailey who spoke about how she is staying sane with the current Administration "doing the most" in office. She shared she is focused more than ever on her career and goals. She also said, in the words of Kendrick Lamar, “turn the TV off.”
Nicco Annan and TS Madison, our charismatic hosts for the evening, kept the energy high, seamlessly blending humor and heartfelt moments. Nicco left us all wondering what was going on with P Valley... we NEED IT NOW!
Lee Daniels took the stage to accept his Lifetime Achievement Award and we were moved. I had the opportunity to interview him briefly and he took the opportunity to encourage people watching who feel like they don’t matter. He said, “keep going, you have to keep going against the rejection.”
Another moving moment was Wendy Raquel Robinson receiving the Ally Award.. her passion for LGBTQ+ advocacy made her radiantly glow.
The "Passing the Torch" segment was particularly touching as it spotlighted up-and-coming stars like James Bland, Preston Mitchum, Amber Whittington, and Terell Grice. It is a wonderful feeling of butterflies to see Black people passing on excellence and stellar performance in their fields to the next generation of leaders. Dr. Kimberly Smith explained how important it was to continue the work, specifically for the marginalized community; she said simply, “it matters.” I couldn’t agree with her more.
I left feeling deeply inspired, carrying with me a sense of belonging and pride that’s hard to put into words. The Truth Awards weren’t just an event, they were a testament to the power of love, acceptance, and unwavering authenticity.
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