Wanda Sykes brought her signature humor and energy to the Critics Choice Association’s Celebration of LGBTQ+ Cinema & Television in Los Angeles on Friday night. Awarded the evening’s final honor for career achievement, Sykes delivered an impromptu speech that swept through topics ranging from community activism to light-hearted confessions about her viewing habits, notably admitting she hadn’t watched the Amazon Prime show “Etoile.”
Sykes’ acceptance speech was a noteworthy highlight of an event that recognized various LGBTQ-identifying stars for their contributions over the past year, including Nathan Lee Graham from “Mid-Century Modern” and the cast of “Somebody Somewhere.” During her address, Sykes humorously shared how she was not prepared for the occasion—“I didn’t know it was going to be this big of a deal,” she quipped—noting that she was still recovering from earlier refreshments when she witnessed Liv Hewson receiving a rising star statuette for their performance in “Yellowjackets.”
Among the winners she celebrated was her “Other Two” co-star Gideon Glick, who received acknowledgment for his supporting role in “Etoile.” Sykes joined the audience in singing “Happy Birthday” to Glick, although the mood shifted as it surfaced that “Etoile” had been canceled shortly before the award night.
Sykes continued to uplift fellow honorees like Megan Stalter from “Hacks” and Bowen Yang of “Saturday Night Live,” expressing gratitude for their authenticity and humor. She fondly recalled her knowledge of Sasheer Zamata’s queer identity even before Zamata herself recognized it. Also, Sykes made a poignant statement acknowledging the contributions of the Season 17 drag queens of “RuPaul’s Drag Race,” highlighting their role as longstanding leaders and advocates within the community.
The comedian concluded her speech with a strong message of love and solidarity, particularly emphasizing the need to protect the transgender community amidst current challenges they face. “We just got to love hard,” she asserted, urging pride and activism in standing up for trans rights as “our next movement.”
This event not only celebrated artistic achievements but also reinforced the ongoing journey toward acceptance and advocacy within the community. Sykes highlighted the importance of unity and resilience within the LGBTQ+ movement, encouraging an uplifting message of love and protection. The celebration marks a vibrant moment of hope as advocates continue pushing for the rights and recognition deserved by all members of the LGBTQ+ community.
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