The National LGBTQ Task Force President Kierra Johnson will be honored at BET’s Black + Iconic Soirée on Saturday, May 24.
“Words cannot express the honor and appreciation I feel accepting the Active Advocate award – this a recognition I share with my colleagues at the National LGBTQ Task Force, where we work together every day to move us all closer to liberation. In these times of challenge, celebrating queer Black excellence is vital – not just to encourage us but to feed our souls and energize our spirits,” said Ms. Johnson.
The events take place during the city’s Black Pride weekend in Washington, DC, where the first Black gay pride celebration was established in 1991 as an HIV/AIDS awareness fundraising event at Banneker Park. With BET Networks founded in the nation’s capital in 1980, they return to Chocolate City to honor Black trailblazers in the fight for queer rights and freedom.
BET’s showcase of Black LGBTQ+ honorees comes at a critical time, as crimes against Black trans people continue to occur at a horrifying rate, including the torture and death of Sam Nordquist in February 2025.
This event underscores the importance of the intersectional fight for LGBTQ rights and the diverse Black leaders at the helm of the battle – activists, cultural warriors, and creatives who are blazing trails and making a difference.
Along with speeches by each honoree, special performances by surprise guests will also take place during the ceremony, promising a star-studded experience that energizes viewers a week ahead of Pride month.
“BET’s Black + Iconic Soirée honors the importance of community both on-the-ground and in our day to day lives – and recognizes how our multiple identities intersect and drive my work as an advocate and our work at Task Force. I hope this celebration encourages changemakers and motivates everyone in these challenging times,” said Ms. Johnson.
“As we continue to champion Black culture and celebrate those at the forefront of change, the BET Black + Iconic Soirée serves as a powerful platform to recognize the remarkable contributions of Black LGBTQ+ leaders and allies,” said Tiyale Hayes, co-lead of the BET Media Group’s social impact and executive vice president of insights and multiplatform analytics.
During the BET Black + Iconic Soirée celebrating Ms. Johnson, journalist Scott Johnson will host the event as Black superstars from all sectors of entertainment gather to celebrate excellence at the intersection of Black and queerness.
Along with Ms. Johnson, other honorees include Bob the Drag Queen as this year’s Cultural Trailblazer awardee, Ashlee Marie Preston as Creative Visionary, Hope Giselle will be receiving the Emerging Leader accolade, and Ashlee Davis will be presented with the Executive Realness Honoree. Giselle has her personal ties with the Task Force, having attended this year’s Creators’ Stage and participated in panels about trans visibility and authenticity in Las Vegas.
“This gathering is a testament to the strength, creativity, and influence of this community, and we are honored to provide a space to amplify their voices and achievements,” Hayes said.
Celebrating a Trailblazer
Since 2017, Kierra Johnson has been a leader at the Task Force, entering the organization as deputy executive director before taking on the role of president in 2021. Previously, she served as a Task Force board member from 2010 to 2015.
Ms. Johnson has testified in front of the U.S. House Financial Services Committee, celebrated the 50th anniversary of the Stonewall uprising, and continues to fight against the unprecedented, ongoing attacks on LGBTQ rights today.
During this year’s State of the Union address, her statements also included an op-ed piece in The Advocate criticizing President Trump’s brazen federal anti-trans legislation during his first 50 days in office.
“We knew Trump and his administration were coming for us, but the speed and ferocity are jarring,” Ms. Johnson wrote. “Even with some of his actions being blocked in the courts, the damage is extensive and impacts countless lives.”
Her advocacy work has shined through the Task Force’s flagship events: the Creating Change Conference, which welcomed a gathering of nearly 3,000 attendees in Las Vegas, mere days after the inauguration of the current President, and the organization’s annual fundraiser Winter Party Festival in Miami Beach.
“I know we are afraid, and I know it’s hard to know what to do, but the worst thing is to numb out and not pay attention to what’s happening in the news. We cannot ask a question of what’s required of us and be ignorant,” Ms. Johnson said at the Festival.
We owe it to ourselves, to our communities, to our movements, to our country, to our ancestors, to every freedom fighter in the world. It’s been hard already and it’s going to get harder. The question is, what are you willing to do for freedom?”
The BET Black + Iconic Soiree will air on BET and be live streamed on its streaming platform, BET+.