INSPIRING EVENT

Edited by Eclair Magazine

Celebrating Diversity and Talent at the Critics Choice Associations Celebration of LGBTQ+ Cinema & Television

The Critics Choice Awards and LGBTQ+ Celebration of Cinema and Television took place at the Fairmont Century Plaza in Los Angeles on June 7th. Hosted by comedian Sherry Cola, the evening was filled with laughter and sincerity, offering a night of glamour and moving moments.

Numerous celebrities attended the event, all dressed to the nines. Charlize Theron was the first to present an award, bestowing the "Reality TV Award" to the cast of "We're Here." In her speech, Theron emphasized kindness and acceptance, particularly towards drag queens, stating that they are not a threat to children but rather symbols of love and glamour. With a touch of humor, she declared that "there's nothing louder than a drag queen on a mission" and that "they are here, and they have always been here!"

The evening concluded with Nathan Lane, presented by Sean Hayes, sharing his story of coming out late in the industry. Lane humorously noted that he had never been in a gathering "this gay," while his speech, filled with empathy and humor, highlighted the intense pressure actors face regarding their private lives and sexual orientation. He reminded everyone that before being actors, they are human beings, free to live their lives as they choose without needing to justify themselves.

This year's Critics Choice Awards were particularly special, coinciding with Pride Month and reinforcing the message that while progress has been made, it is still "not enough," as poignantly noted by Shakina, a talented trans woman, during her acceptance speech for the "Writer Award" for "Quantum Leap."

Eclair Magazine was delighted to attend this event, which champions the values of love and acceptance. Look for full coverage of the Critics Choice Awards in our next issue of Eclair Magazine.

Following Theron's impactful speech, actress Sheryl Lee Ralph took the stage to present the "Breakthrough Performance Award (Series)" to Chris Perfetti for his role in "Abbott Elementary." Later, Ricky Martin introduced Abe Sylvia, who received the Showrunner Award for "Palm Royale."

Within the first few minutes, it was clear that the Critics Choice Awards, as always, had enchanted the audience. Many celebrities delivered moving and humorous speeches, creating a rollercoaster of emotions. Among the many memorable moments of the evening, such as Kristen Kish's (Top Chef) loving speech to her wife, George Takei's (Star Trek) speech, and Henry R Munoz's speech to his husband, one standout was a video message from RuPaul of "RuPaul's Drag Race," who couldn't attend in person but ensured his supportive words were heard. RuPaul received the "Trailblazer Award."

Event: Critics Choice Awards & LGBTQ+ Celebration CInema & Television

Videographer & Editor:
Guillaume Jean Lefebvre -
@Guy_james_Jl & @Picby_gjl
Location: Fairmont Century Plaza (Los Angeles)

Nathan Lane's Speech

Ricky Martin's Speech

Charlize Theron's Speech

Sheryl Lee Ralph's Speech

Quality, not quantity

We have made quality our habit. It’s not something that we just strive for – we live by this principle every day.