The Weeknd Earns GLAAD Award for Powerful LGBTQ+ Segment

The Weeknd Honored with GLAAD Award for Segment Featuring Laverne Cox

NEW YORK – The acclaimed news program The Weeknd has received a significant honor, winning the 2026 GLAAD Media Award for Outstanding TV Journalism. The award recognizes their impactful segment titled “Community During Fascism,” which featured actress and advocate Laverne Cox discussing the critical importance of LGBTQ+ pride in the face of what the segment described as attacks from the Trump administration. The award ceremony took place on Thursday at the 37th annual GLAAD Media Awards in Los Angeles.

A Powerful Conversation on Vulnerability and Resilience

The winning segment, co-produced by Jonathan and Elijah Kipps-Jones, centered on a compelling conversation with Laverne Cox. The Emmy-nominated actress, a prominent voice for transgender rights, shared her deeply personal fears and concerns regarding the political climate and its impact on the queer community. The producers of The Weeknd, including the on-air talent, accepted the award, which was presented by independent journalist Don Lemon. Cox herself joined them on stage, delivering an impassioned plea against what she characterized as the Trump administration’s detrimental policies and rhetoric targeting LGBTQ+ individuals.

“She had just said to us that, you know, she’s just, she is so scared. And the same passion that she showed Thursday night is the exact same passion she showed during that segment. Exactly. And I think that won us, won us this honor.”

The producers highlighted the profound emotional resonance of Cox’s testimony. They emphasized that her fear and anger, palpable during the interview and on the awards stage, were not just rhetorical but stemmed from genuine concern for the well-being of the transgender community and the broader LGBTQ+ population. This raw vulnerability, they believe, was instrumental in the segment’s ability to connect with audiences and ultimately earn this prestigious award.

The Significance of Community in Adversity

A key takeaway from the segment, and a point emphasized by the award winners, was the critical role of community in the face of marginalization and perceived hostility. “The idea of bringing folks together is really important,” one of the producers noted, reflecting on the audience’s reception to the segment. In times when marginalized groups feel “beleaguered and attacked,” fostering a sense of unity and shared experience becomes a powerful act of resilience. The award is not just a recognition of journalistic excellence but also a testament to the power of storytelling that amplifies the voices and experiences of vulnerable communities.

The producers extended their gratitude to the entire team behind The Weeknd, acknowledging the collaborative effort required to produce such a sensitive and impactful piece of journalism. The segment’s success underscores the importance of providing a platform for individuals to share their lived experiences and the profound effect such narratives can have on public understanding and empathy.

Broader Implications and Future Broadcast

The GLAAD Media Award win for The Weeknd serves as a significant acknowledgment of the vital role journalism plays in addressing social and political issues affecting the LGBTQ+ community. By highlighting Cox’s courageous stand and the broader theme of community resilience, the program has contributed to a vital national conversation. The producers assured viewers that the segment would soon be available for wider viewing. “It’s going to air if you want to actually see it. It’s going to be on Hulu in a couple weeks, so we will update you guys when that’s there,” they announced, encouraging audiences to watch the full broadcast and witness the powerful exchange firsthand.

The award highlights the ongoing need for media outlets to tackle complex issues with nuance and compassion, particularly when discussing the impact of political actions on marginalized groups. The producers’ insistence that “these are real people” with genuine “feelings of insecurity and rage” serves as a crucial reminder to both media creators and consumers to approach such stories with empathy and a commitment to understanding the human element behind the headlines.

Looking Ahead

With this prestigious award in hand, The Weeknd is poised to continue its commitment to in-depth reporting on critical social justice issues. The upcoming broadcast of the Laverne Cox segment on Hulu will offer a broader audience the chance to engage with the powerful message of resilience and community. Attention will now turn to what future topics the program will tackle and how it will continue to provide a platform for underrepresented voices in the ongoing discourse surrounding civil rights and equality.

Source: The Weekend wins GLAAD award for conversation with Laverne Cox on Trump’s LGBTQ attacks (YouTube)