|
Hi John,
As you know, Outright International's 28th annual Celebration of Courage awards and gala is shaping up to be quite an event! Today, Outright is thrilled to announce the return of our 2023 Host: the incredible BeBe Zahara Benet!
|
|
|
BeBe is equal parts bold, beautiful, and business-minded. Simply stated: the international recording artist, TV personality, activist and pop culture provocateur breaks the entertainment mold. With BeBe returning to the stage to guide our program, our evening is guaranteed to be memorable!
|
|
|
|
Singer-songwriter, visual artist, TV personality and presenter, activist and fashion icon BeBe Zahara Benet has broken the entertainment mold in a career that’s spanned more than two decades. The seasoned performer shattered barriers as the winner of season one of “RuPaul’s Drag Race,” going on to produce off-Broadway spectacles that celebrate culture like QUEENDOM. CREATURE, VANITY, and NUBIA, among others. Born Marshall Kudi Ngwa in the West African country Cameroon, BeBe began his career as a model more than a decade ago before arriving in Minneapolis, Minnesota in 2002. The Minneapolis-based performance artist creates a flawless feminine illusion, delighting audiences all over the world with a bold, beautiful, and entertaining character that honors and respects the feminine persona. From releasing viral singles, like 2018’s “Jungle Kitty” and 2020’s “Banjo,” and unforgettable on-screen appearances, such as in Being BeBe and Dragnificent, to launching a bespoke design and decor firm, BeBe has made an indelible mark on the entertainment world and in the lives of countless LGBTQIA people around the world.
|
|
Program
Guests of Outright’s Celebration of Courage will join a Welcome Reception on a glass-enclosed terrace with an outdoor veranda access overlooking the Hudson River and enjoy a panoramic view of the Garden State, enjoying a picturesque summer sunset. During the Welcome Reception, guests will network and bid online via mobile device on items featured in the event’s Silent Auction.
Transitioning into the Dinner & Program sections of the evening, guests exit the outdoor veranda and enter the dining room. Outright Board directors and staff will welcome guests to the dining hall. During the Program, awards will be presented. In the spirit of giving, during this time, guests will also be invited to participate in a Live Auction and Live Ask to raise critical support for Outright’s lifesaving work. The evening will end with a Closing Reception.
|
|
Host Committee
Maria Sjödin NY, USA · Roxanna Carrillo NY, USA · Gigi Chao Hong Kong · Lysanne Charles St. Maarten, VI · Louise Chernin WA, USA · Martin Dunn NY, USA · Lenny Emson Ottawa, CA · Cynthia Alison Fortlage London, UK · John Heilman CA, USA · Jeff Holland London, UK · Fabrice Houdart NY, USA · Hosh Ibrahim London, UK · Micheal Ighodaro DC, USA · Lanaya Irvin NY, USA · Selam Kebrom DC, USA · Camille Massey NY, USA · Jeff Natter WA, USA · Pedro Pina London, UK · Jennifer C. Pizer CA, USA · Suzanne Rotondo PA, USA · Russell Roybal CA, USA · Suki Sandhu OBE London, UK · Aalap Shah NY, USA · Kathy Teo Singapore · Elliot Vaughn London, UK
|
|
Constellation Brands
Procter & Gamble
|
|
Dr. Martens Foundation
The Walt Disney Company
|
|
- Michelle Blankenship
- Jennifer Craighead Carey
- Martin Dunn
- John Heilman
- Lanaya Irvin & Janessa Cox-Irvin
- Kevin Jennings & Thomas Fitzgerald
- Suzanne Rotondo
- Russell Roybal
- Suki Sandhu
- Josue Santiago
|
|
Auction Supporters
Alaska Airlines · Balenciaga · Care With Pride · Cedar Lakes Estate · Critical Role Foundation · Eargasm · Electronic Arts · Freiman Stoltzfus Gallery · Hurtigruten · Kohen Educational Services · MillerKnoll · Ooni
|
|
|
John, I am so excited for Celebration of Courage and I hope you will join us!
Sincerely,
Maria Sjödin
Executive Director
Outright International
|
|
|
|
|
