BET has officially announced the third annual BET Black plus Iconic Soirée which will take place on Saturday 25 May 2025 in Washington D.C. The event is organized during the same weekend as DC Black Pride making it a major moment for celebrating Black LGBTQ plus excellence. This special evening will be hosted by Scott Evans who is a well known television host and journalist admired for his vibrant personality and commitment to representing diverse communities. The event will honor Black LGBTQ plus figures who have made strong and lasting impacts through their work in entertainment activism media and business.
This year the honorees include Bob the Drag Queen who will be celebrated as a Culture Trailblazer. Bob the Drag Queen is famous for winning the eighth season of RuPaul’s Drag Race and has continued to rise as an actor author and comedian. He has used his voice and platform to advocate for equality and inspire countless people across the world. Ashlee Marie Preston will be honored as a Creative Visionary. She is a media personality activist and co founder of KaleidoCollective. Ashlee Marie Preston is recognized as one of the first openly transgender women to become editor in chief of a major publication and she has spent her career fighting for the rights of marginalized people especially Black transgender individuals.
Hope Giselle will be recognized as an Emerging Leader. She is a senior scholar at the National Black Justice Coalition and a fierce advocate for racial justice and transgender rights. Her leadership and activism have opened doors for more inclusion and understanding within both the Black and LGBTQ plus communities. Ashlee Davis will be honored for Executive Realness. She serves as the Global Head of Talent Development and Diversity Equity and Inclusion at Ancestry and has worked tirelessly to make workplaces more welcoming and supportive for people from all backgrounds. Kierra Johnson will be recognized as an Active Advocate. She is the President of the National LGBTQ Task Force and has spent many years leading efforts to promote equality and justice for LGBTQ people especially focusing on the needs of Black communities.
The BET Black plus Iconic Soirée is more than an award ceremony. It is a night where Black LGBTQ plus excellence is celebrated and elevated. The event brings together leaders artists celebrities and activists who continue to shape culture and society. Among the special invitees this year are Angelica Ross an actress and advocate known for her roles in Pose and American Horror Story and for her tireless work supporting transgender rights. Billy Porter the award winning actor and singer will also be present. He has broken barriers in Hollywood and fashion becoming an international symbol of individuality and pride. Lena Waithe a groundbreaking writer producer and actress who has worked to bring more Black LGBTQ plus stories to screens will attend as well. Ts Madison a beloved television personality actress and LGBTQ plus activist known for her vibrant energy and strong voice will also be among the invitees. Drag stars like Shangela and Peppermint have been invited too. Both have used their talents and platforms to fight for visibility and acceptance for LGBTQ plus people. Activists like Raquel Willis a powerful transgender rights leader and Darnell Moore an influential author and activist are also on the guest list adding to the night’s strong message of empowerment and unity.
The third edition of the BET Black plus Iconic Soirée follows the success of the first two editions which set the tone for this important celebration. The first BET Black plus Iconic event was held in two thousand twenty three and it honored pioneers like Marsha P Johnson posthumously along with living legends like Billy Porter who received recognition for his work in theater and activism. That year the soirée focused on honoring the trailblazers who opened doors for the Black LGBTQ plus community long before wider society recognized their contributions. The second edition held in two thousand twenty four built on that foundation by celebrating contemporary figures who are currently leading change across different sectors. Honorees included artists activists and executives who have transformed conversations around race gender and sexuality. That edition was remembered for its emotional speeches powerful performances and a strong call for continued action and solidarity.
Each year the BET Black plus Iconic Soirée grows bigger and more impactful bringing more attention to the brilliant contributions of Black LGBTQ plus individuals. The event serves not only as a moment of recognition but also as a place where new partnerships ideas and movements are born. By hosting the event during DC Black Pride BET connects the celebration to a wider tradition of Black LGBTQ plus pride resilience and unity. The location in Washington D.C. further adds to the meaning of the soirée given the city’s historic importance in civil rights and LGBTQ plus advocacy.
As anticipation builds for the third edition attendees can expect a night filled with emotion joy and pride. The evening will feature heartfelt speeches from honorees stirring musical and artistic performances and moments of reflection on how far the community has come and the journey still ahead. Through this celebration BET continues to amplify the stories of Black LGBTQ plus individuals who have often been overlooked yet have always been essential to the richness and dynamism of culture history and society.
The BET Black plus Iconic Soirée stands as a bold statement that Black LGBTQ plus lives creativity and leadership deserve to be honored on the grandest stages. With the inspiring lineup of honorees and invitees for two thousand twenty five the event promises to once again shine a bright and beautiful light on excellence that refuses to be ignored.
