Wicked star Cynthia Erivo was honored with the Schrader Award at the Los Angeles LGBT Center’s annual Center Gala on Saturday night. The Tony- and Grammy-winning actress and singer was recognized for her achievements in film, TV, and entertainment, and for her advocacy on behalf of the LGBTQ+ community as a queer, Black woman.
“Claiming my queerness in public—and particularly, in the public eye—has meant taking a risk in order to claim my freedom,” she said in her acceptance speech. “It seems that, all over, we are keen on seeing the world in black-and-white, rather than embracing the difficult (but beautiful) complexities of our humanity.”
Presenter Jada Pinkett Smith introduced Erivo by highlighting her achievements in the entertainment industry and celebrating her ability to create magic in any role she inhabits. The Schrader Award, Pinkett Smith explained, is named for the trailblazing LA gay rights activist Rand Schrader and “celebrates those of us whose star burns brightly enough so that others may dare to shine.”
Erivo first made her name on Broadway, starring as Celie in a production of Alice Walker’s The Color Purple. She has since gone on to star as Harriet Tubman in the Oscar-nominated Harriet, and as Aretha Franklin in the National Geographic series Genius. She is next set to star as Elphaba in Universal’s hotly anticipated film adaptation of the Broadway hit Wicked.
This is why I keep singing, keep acting, keep creating. I know there are young people who need to see me speak out, so they can get one step closer to doing the same thing for themselves.
Cynthia Erivo, Schrader Award honoree
Erivo credited her experience portraying powerful women with helping her find freedom and “redefin[ing] liberation and resistance.”
“Whether it was the tenacity of Harriet, the audacity of Aretha, or the divinity of Celie, each of these roles has left me with a gift I am still fortunate enough to carry,” she said. “I was able to recognize the energy it required to hide myself—and how much it was holding me back.”
Art “helps us to build bridges towards each other’s hearts,” Erivo continued. “This is why I keep singing, keep acting, keep creating. I know there are young people who need to see me speak out, so they can get one step closer to doing the same thing for themselves.”
Erivo was honored at the Center Gala alongside the award-winning visual artist Mickalene Thomas and power pop trio MUNA. Comedian and Fire Island writer-star Joel Kim Booster served as the host of the evening, which raised more than $1.6 million in support of the Center’s live-saving programs and services.
“I know that, by proudly displaying the beauty of our gifts, it will encourage our young people to be brave enough to step into the full potential of theirs,” Erivo said.
