Manny King John
Grindr, the world’s largest queer mobile social network, will host their very first award ceremony, the Zero Filter Awards, tonight, May 2 at 8 PM (PST) at the iconic Majestic Downtown in Los Angeles. Presented by BMW and the first-ever BMW X2, the award ceremony will honour several visionary LGBTQ creators, makers, activists and influencers who have had a positive impact in their communities and throughout the fashion, design, music and other industries.
Those interested in watching the award ceremony can tune in to the live stream starting at 8 PM Pacific Time through this link.
“The Zero Filter Awards honour those in our LGBTQ community who are unapologetically themselves and whose voices influence and impact everyone they encounter,” said Grindr’s Associate Creative Director Erin Burrell. “From trailblazers in the music industry to activists who aren’t afraid to speak their truths, we’re honouring these members of the community for all they have accomplished while staying unfiltered in who they are.”
“We are thrilled to be able to work with such a prestigious brand as BMW and recognize this as a tremendous step forward for luxury brands who are eager to more authentically engage with LGBTQ consumers,” said Grindr’s Director of Marketing Kristin Moya,
Grindr’s 2018 Zero Filter Award recipients include:
Danez Smith – Forget everything you thought you knew about poetry because Danez is on a whole other tip. Smith’s raw, unfiltered take on the black, queer, HIV-positive experience has made them a vital force in contemporary poetry, but their impact goes far beyond slam and literary circles—a viral video of Smith performing the scathing “Dear White America” has racked up more than 300k views on YouTube, underscoring the power of having zero filter and cementing Smith as an urgent and necessary cultural voice.
Justin Tranter – Justin runs pop music and he’s got the 2017 BMI Pop Songwriter of the Year award to prove it. As a go-to songwriter for stars like Justin Bieber, Britney Spears and Selena Gomez, Tranter has infiltrated airwaves around the world with a blitz of smart, stylish pop hits that have been unmistakably shaped by his queer identity. An activist and GLAAD board member committed to LGBTQ visibility in media, Tranter’s advocacy on behalf of the community makes him the total pop package, having zero filter.
Gavin Rayna Russom – Gavin has been a powerful force in electronic music ever since joining LCD Soundsystem in 2010. Gavin flexed new strength in 2017 when she came out to the world as a trans woman. Since then, Russom has been an outspoken voice in the fight for trans rights, speaking openly about her transition, condemning Trump’s trans military ban and bringing new visibility to gender fluidity within the music industry as a sought-after DJ and producer, having zero filter.
Monique Heart – When it comes to spilling tea and keeping it real, RuPaul’s Drag Race Season 10 queen Monique Heart always gives you the ooh-ah sensation, honey. A fierce competitor and skilled shade artist, Monique never holds her tongue, and her priceless one-liners and perfectly timed reads have made her a drag force to be reckoned with. As comfortable killing comedy challenges as she is slaying the runway, Monique Heart will be snatching wigs and taking names as this year’s outspoken ZFA host, having zero filter.
Bamby Salcedo – Trans Latina activist Bamby Salcedo has dedicated her life to making the world a better, safer place for transgender women of colour. A veteran organizer who received a “Longevity in the Movement” award from the National LGBTQ Task Force, Bamby’s years on the front lines include founding the advocacy group TransLatin@ Coalition and bringing #TransLivesMatter all the way to the White House. Bamby is an open book when it comes to sharing her journey, and her commitment to speaking out in the face of violence and inequality makes her an enduring LGBTQ icon, having zero filter.
