Logo's "Trailblazer Honors" is an annual televised LGBT civil rights event, which, this year was dedicated to the people of Orlando after the tragedy at Pulse Nightclub.
The objective of the Trailblazer Honors is to celebrate trailblazing LGBT individuals and honor those who have laid the groundwork for LGBT rights.
From the Stonewall Riots to the passage of marriage equality nationwide, the "Trailblazers Honors" spotlights the pioneers who bravely fought for equality. This year's special featured messages of support for Orlando from celebrities and dignitaries, performances dedicated to the innocent lives lost, as well as moving footage from Orlando, where Logo spent a great deal of time on the ground recording stories and helping support victims.
The show gave the community time to mourn but also spotlighted the brilliant resilient spirit and also offered a way for celebrities and notables to stand in solidarity with Orlando.
At this year's "Trailblazer Honors," the largest televised LGBT pride event:
- Emma Stone, who will portray Billie Jean King in the upcoming film "Battle of the Sexes," honored King for her heroic work for LGBT visibility and equality. King is not only one of the first prominent professional athletes to be openly lesbian, but is renowned in the tennis world for being one of the greatest to ever play the game.
-Grammy Award-winning artist Macklemore introduced Mayor Jennifer Roberts of Charlotte, NC and members of Out Leadership, the world's first global LGBT business organization, which partners with senior LGBT and ally executives to leverage the business case for equality.
-Laverne Cox, Laura Jane Grace, Trace Lysette, Geena Rocero, and Miss Major Griffin-Gracy, among others, appeared in a tribute video to transgender pioneers Marsha P. Johnson and Sylvia Rivera. Janet Mock, Candis Cayne and Tiq Milan bestowed posthumous honors to the two women.
-Actor Wilson Cruz of ABC's "Mistresses" and Jade Sotomayor presented several special tributes to family members lost in Orlando. CNN's Don Lemon and Alex Newell also presented tributes to Orlando's LGBT community.
-Grammy Award-nominee Mary Lambert and multi-platinum selling pop star Rachel Platten remembered the innocent lives lost in the tragic shooting at the Pulse LGBT nightclub.
-Chloe Grace Moretz honored gay Syrian refugee Subhi Nahas, who made history by becoming the first person ever to present eyewitness testimony to the United Nations regarding ISIS persecution of LGBT people. After being marked for an honor killing, Nahas fled Syria and now helps LGBT people in the Middle East earn refugee status. He also served as Grand Marshal of this year's NYC Pride March.
-Lance Bass and Thomas Roberts presented a tribute to seminal LGBT news outlet The Advocate, which is preparing to celebrate its 50th year. Well before every LGBT equality victory was fought in the mainstream, it was featured – in depth - within the trailblazing pages of The Advocate.
-Joel Grey and reigning "RuPaul's Drag Race" winner Bob the Drag Queen honored stage and screen legend Harvey Fierstein, who changed the game for LGBT storylines and actors in Hollywood and on Broadway with his iconic works including "Torch Song Trilogy" and "La Cage aux Folles." Fierstein is also a ubiquitous LGBT advocate whose leadership in calling for an end to HIV and AIDS has spanned decades.
During the event, Laverne Cox, Judith Light, Matthew Broderick, Bernadette Peters, Wrabel, Troye Sivan, Billy Porter, Cheyenne Jackson, Edie Falco, Joel Grey, Matthew Morrison, Laura Jane Grace, and Jason Collins, among others, appeared in video tributes to this year's honorees.
The Trailblazer Honors kicked off with a bang, trending on Twitter before the broadcast even started. Some highlights include:
Over 14.5M impressions across Logo social accounts (a 300% increase from last year)
2.5M total views across Logo's O&O, YouTube and Facebook (+91% increase last year)\
Coverage in The New York Times, NPR, The Atlantic, "The Daily Show With Trevor Noah," "Entertainment Tonight," Vanity Fair and more
+33MM out of home impressions from our iconic creative prominently displayed during LA and NY Pride
First-ever media partnership with Pandora that included Pride Playlists takeovers and placements in Entertainment Weekly and The New York Times
A strategic, thematically aligned day of programming entitled "We Are Orlando: A Day of Remembrance & Pride" leading up to the show
