Celebs Sizzle BET ‘Black + Iconic’ Celebrating Achievements In The LGBTQ+ Community, Extravagance Encapsulates MLK Day Weekend

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Martin
Luther
King
Jr.
weekend
was
overflowing
with
Black
excellence
amid
a
celebration
of
the Black
AND
LGBTQ+
community.

Source:
Nykieria
Chaney
/
Getty

BET
recently
extended
its
commitment
to
uplifting
the
intersectionality
of
the
Black
and
LGBTQ+
community
via
its

Black
+
Iconic
weekend
centered
around
celebrating
individual
impacts
and
collective
positive
influence.

A
slew
of
events
highlighted
four
honorees
for
their
unique
talents,
bravery,
aptitude,
and
culture-shifting
eminence.

This
year’s
honorees
varied
from
a
storied
author
and
activist
to
the
creator
of
a
hit
series
who
draws
inspiration
from
a
choreographer’s
legacy.

BET
Black
+
Iconic
Honored
Miss
Major,
Rashad
Burgess,
Dr.
David
Johns
&
Jordan
E.
Cooper

Miss
Major,
a
legendary
author
and
transgender
rights
activist, was
given
her
flowers
with
the
Pioneer
of
the
Year
Award,
recognizing
her
tireless
efforts
to
champion
the
cause
of
LGBTQ+
rights
from
the
tumultuous
days
of
the
past
to
the
present.

Source:
Two
Fifty
Media
/
Two
Fifty
Media

Rashad
Burgess,
an
Executive
Director
for
Gilead
Sciences,
Inc.
was
rightfully
bestowed
the
Executive
Realness
Award,
acknowledging
his
relentless
support
of
the
LGBTQ+
community
by
advancing
equality
for
LGBTQ+
people
in
workplaces.

Source:
Two
Fifty
Media
/
Two
Fifty
Media

Dr.
David
Johns
was
honored
for
his
continued
crusade
to
free

all
Black
people
via
the
National
Black
Justice
coalition.
He
received
the
Active
Advocate
Award,
highlighting
his
remarkable
contributions
as
a
community
leader
to
promote
equality
and
quality
of
life
for
LGBTQ+
people.

Source:
Two
Fifty
Media
/
Two
Fifty
Media

Jordan
E.
Cooper,
who
created
and
executive
produces
BET+’s

The
Ms.
Pat
Show
accepted
the
Prime
Creator
Award
during
BET’s
Black
and
Iconic
weekend.
The
dynamo
who’s
still
in
his
20s,
was
celebrated
for
his
variety
of
talents
that
he
says
are
inspired
by
the
legacy
of
dancer/choreographer
Willi
Ninja
of

Paris
Is
Burning
fame.

Source:
Two
Fifty
Media
/
Two
Fifty
Media

BET
Black
+
Iconic
Kicked
Off
With
A
Welcome
Mixer

On
Friday,
BET
things
kicked
off
with
the
BET
Black
+
Iconic
Soiree
Welcome
Mixer
presented
by
Gilead
Sciences.
Taking
place
at
NOBU
Hotel
Atlanta,
the
extravagant
affair
featured
a
rousing
speech
from
Tiyale
Hayes.

Source:
Nykieria
Chaney
/
Getty

BET’s
Executive
Vice
President
of
Insights
and
Multiplatform
Analytics
told
a
crowd
that
enjoyed
a
champagne
toast,
hors
d’oeuvres,
and
open
bar,
that
BET
remains
dedicated
to
its
continued
commitment
to
creating
a
platform
and
“home”
for
the
Black
LGBTQ+
community.

According
to
Hayes,
he
and
EVP,
Chief
Marketing
Officer,
BET
Networks,
Kim
Paige
worked
tirelessly
to
“future-proof
BET”
after
its
40th
anniversary.

Source:
Nykieria
Chaney
/
Getty

“We
created
a
brand
purpose
and
that
brand
purpose
was
centered
around
four
pillars;
to
celebrate
Black
love,
Black
joy,
Black
power
and
Black
pride.
We
wrote
those
words
down
and
cemented
that
as
why
BET
exists,”
said
Hayes.
“This
weekend
is
a
wonderful
example
of
us
wanting
to
celebrate
those
pieces
for
part
of
the
community
who
many
times
aren’t
seen.”

Attendees
at
the
mixer
included
Serayah,
Kayla
Walker,
Dr.
David
Johns,
Rashad
Burgess,
and
Shannon
Balenciaga.

Source:
Nykieria
Chaney
/
Getty

The
event
was
followed
up
Saturday
at
the
opulent
BET
Black
+
Iconic
Soireé
at
Flourish,
celebs
including
Miss
Lawrence,
Towanad
Braxton,
Brittany
Packyetti
and
Dominque
Morgan
flocked
to
the
red
carpet
and
told
BOSSIP
what
being
Black
and
Iconic
means
to
them.

Source:
Nykieria
Chaney
/
Getty

The
evening
was
hosted
by
award-winning
actor,
dancer,
and
choreographer
Nicco
Annan
who
along
with
BET
lifted
up
the
four
influential
honorees
who
excel
across
various
sectors
who
identify
as
LGBTQ+.