The biggest LGBTQ+ night of the year, set to take place at Magazine London on Friday 17th of November, returns for a seventh year to celebrate the very best of community and culture under the theme of ‘Queertopia’ and recognise people who have made a profound impact over the past 12 months.
Hosted by Nick Grimshaw, the evening will play host to a line-up of incredible performers, inspirational honourees, community leaders and VIP guests including Billy Porter, Dua Saleh, Slayyyter, Classical Pride, Fred Roberts, Lady Blackbird, Haai, TSHA and a whole host of community collectives and performers.
GAY TIMES Honours is an immersive celebration of queer culture with installations and photo moments throughout the venue. This year’s theme will transport guests to Queertopia, a safe space where Queer Joy can flourish. Guests will get to explore a queer destination of celebration, unity, and playful wonder. The night is all about creating a wonderland for self-expression and celebration of everything that makes people queer and how this impacts culture and the community.
Grammy, Emmy, 2x Tony award and now GAY TIMES Honouree, Billy Porter, will be performing iconic hits along with his trailblazing new record “Children” feat. Lady Blackbird. Porter will also be receiving the Outstanding Impact Award at GAY TIMES Honours 2023 following an amazing career spanning decades of activism and creativity, most notably with his new single and as the iconic father community figure and ballroom emcee in Ryan Murphy’s glittering drama Pose, Pray Tell. The 53-year-old is ready to emerge as a vocalist on his own terms, with a new album that acts as an ode to the disco music he came of age with, titled The Black Mona Lisa and due for a release in November.
American Singer Songwriter Slayyyter will be performing hits from her third studio album ahead of her European tour early 2024. Slayyyter has gained popularity amongst the community this year from her 80s post-punk, hyperpop, old-Hollywood mix album and style.
GAY TIMES Honours 2023 is proudly sponsored by Skittles, a long-standing partner of the GAY TIMES. Throughout 2023, Skittles and GAY TIMES have partnered on a campaign centred around documenting and capturing queer joy, to better improve LGBTQ+ representation through photography to help millions of people to “See The Rainbow”. As part of the campaign, over 1000 images have been captured, some of which will be exhibited on the night. 10 bursary winners have also been selected to capture content at various events throughout the year, including GAY TIMES Honours.
As in previous years, GAY TIMES Honours 2023 will be open to the community to experience via tickets with a donation to Amplifund.
The initiative has supported LGBTQ+ causes in Jamaica, Iraq and Armenia in recent years, helping empower local communities to continue the vital work they do.
Tag Warner, GAY TIMES’ CEO, said: “GAY TIMES Honours continues to grow and it is a powerful celebration of unity within the LGBTQ+ community. It’s an incredible evening, spotlighting the best LGBTQ+ talent and culture, and we are honoured to celebrate all of those who inspire change around the globe.
“Being able to come together at a time that’s so challenging for many is more important than ever, and we’re proud to be able to do so. We also wanted to thank our partners and sponsors, as without them this spectacular evening wouldn’t be possible.
“The influence and power of GAY TIMES Honours grows stronger each year, and we can’t wait for you to see what we’ve imagined for 2023.”
Ryan Pardo-Roques, Senior Brand Manager, SKITTLES® said: “Skittles is delighted to be the headline sponsor of GAY TIMES Honours, an event that recognises and celebrates the achievements and contributions of the LGBTQ+ community. This year, we have been proud to partner with GAY TIMES, Getty Images and Queer Britain to help more people “See The Rainbow” and share the stories of Queer Joy. Our campaign aims to increase the visibility and representation of LGBTQ+ people in media and culture, and to celebrate the diversity and vibrancy of the LGBTQ+ community.”
GAY TIMES Honourees will be announced live across our social channels on the night, with speeches, performances, red carpet interviews and highlights available to watch via our social feeds. Follow @gaytimes to be a part of the celebration.
