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Jinkx Monsoon Will Host The 12^th Annual Queerties Awards

“I wanted to host The Queerties because I’ve won enough awards,” says two-time RuPaul’s Drag Race winner Jinkx Monsoon on the news that she will host the 12th anniversary Queerties awards, taking place in Los Angeles on March 12. “No, seriously, I can’t think of a better evening than celebrating the queerest of the queer. These awards are so important. Just because the world isn’t ready to recognize our greatness all at once doesn’t mean we aren’t great, so let’s celebrate it.”

“With me hosting The Queerties, you can expect lots of humor with a reverence to the great female hosts before me,” she continues. “Joan Rivers, Whoopi, Rosie… they taught me all I need to know: look good, be funny, throw things at the audience.”

The Queerties is a celebration of entertainment and pop culture mo-ments that defined the past year in the LGBTQ+ community. It is designed to up-lift and spotlight LGBTQ+ creators, tastemakers, and storytellers who are not of-ten recognized at other award shows.

David Archuleta, whose song “Afraid To Love” is nominated in the Music Video category, will perform live at The Queerties. He rose to fame as the first runner-up in Season 7 of American Idol. In 2020, David Archuleta released his eighth album, Therapy Sessions, which offered a peak into his internal struggle with himself: a battle he has experienced for most of his life. In 2021, he came out as part of the LGBTQ+ community.

Paula Abdul will be honored with the Straight Up Ally Award. “I am so honored to receive the Straight Up Ally Award from the Queerties and the Queerty team,” the pop icon and American Idol judge said from her Los Angeles home. “The LGBTQ+ community has always held such an enormously large place in my heart, soul and being. They themselves have truly been such magnificent allies to me, which I’m eternally grateful for. I’m so looking forward to celebrating with the other honorees, the gay community and my peers on this very special evening.”

Nominees for The Queerties were selected by the editors at Queerty. Voting in each category is taking place now through February 22nd at www.queerty.com/Queerties. Categories range from the “Badass” award, honoring the year’s top LGBTQ+ newsmakers, to “Coming Out for Good”, an award recognizing brave notables who shook up mainstream America with their coming out stories, and awards for excellence in music, TV, cinema and more.

Nominees for this year’s “Badass” include gender fluid actor Bella Ramsey (Game of Thrones and The Last of Us) and Ncuti Gatwa (Doctor Who and Sex Education). Hunter Schafer (Euphoria) and Filipino-American beauty influencer and social media personality Bretman Rock are among those vying for the coveted “Style Icon” award. Joe Locke (Heartstopper), Karan Brar, and Wayne Brady are some of the stars being heralded for officially and unapologetically coming out this year as LGBTQ+.

In the performance categories, Colman Domingo (Rustin), Andrew Scott (All of Us Strangers) and Lily Gladstone (Killers of the Flower Moon) are among those competing in “Film Performance” while Kit Connor (Heartstopper), Matt Bomer (Fellow Travelers) and Miss Benny (Glamorous) battle it out in the TV category. Ice Spice, Victoria Monét, and Reneé Rapp are among the divas squaring off to be named the year’s “Breakout Musical Artist”.

And what is a queer award show without at least a little drama? The 12th anniversary Queerties will award the “Best Feud” prize to the most legendary rivalry of all time. Nominees include Joan Crawford vs. Bette Davis, Mariah Carey vs. Jennifer Lopez, and Kim Cattrall vs. Sarah Jessica Parker.

For more information on the 12th Annual Queerties Award Show and to vote for your favorite nominees, visit www.queerty.com/Queerties.