Nathan Lee Graham, Megan Stalter Honored at CCA's 2nd Celebration of LGBTQ+ Cinema & Television

Yahoo

07-06-2025

Nathan Lee Graham, Megan Stalter Honored at CCA's 2nd Celebration of LGBTQ+ Cinema & Television originally appeared on L.A. Mag.
Performers, creators, producers and writers from film, television and streaming platforms walked the rainbow carpet upon arrival at the festive Fairmont Century Plaza for the Critics Choice Association's 2nd Annual Celebration of LGBTQ+ Cinema & Television on Friday, June 6.The event, hosted by Sherry Cola, brought together actors, writers, trailblazers and allies from across the entertainment industry — both in front of and behind the camera — to honor the diverse voices shaping our world today.Los Angeles magazine's June cover star Nathan Lee Graham of Mid-Century Modern received the first award of the night, the Vanguard Award. "I think this is quite appropriate that I should be first," he began. "First of all, as one of the senior members of this tribe ... one doesn't want to fall asleep. Secondly, I can start drinking!"
He then turned more serious in discussing the meaning of the term Vanguard: "[People] leading the way on the forefront of new ideas, the foremost part of an advancing army: We are soldiers of love, and we use our weapons of joy: whit, glamour and tenacity, to overcome any and all obstacles put before us." Graham finished: "All of the content that is represented here tonight is valid and worthy and needed," he said to applause. "Let's keep it up, let's keep it CUTE, let's keep it relevant and let's keep it moving!"
Next, Megan Stalter — also honored in Los Angeles magazine's June issue, and the star of Hacks as well as the upcoming Lena Dunham show, Too Much — recited a handwritten speech from a piece of paper upon winning the Breakthrough Performance Award."God, I look so beautiful tonight!" began Stalter, who received a bouquet of flowers and donned a tiara and sash. "I just can't believe it! This award is such a surprise to me. I'm in shock that a country bumpkin brunette made her way all the way to Hollywood and now I'm accepting the award for best gay actor of all time!" "This will be the first of many of course, because I'm so talented and wonderful to work with," she continued. "I wish I could have prepared a speech, but I'm so surprised, laid-back and chill about this! The truth is, I will always see myself as this genius, incredible, perfect, once-in-a-lifetime ingenue that you all see me as!"
She went on: "I'm just a girl who walked into HBO Max, sat down, and said, 'I want to make history.' And that's what we did." She also thanked God — "The Christian god, I'm not kidding, it's okay to be Christian and gay, by the way" — and noted how great it is "to not have to hide parts of ourselves." "It's exciting, beautiful and okay to be different," Stalter finished, "and also, I'm playing Kayla as gay!"
Other honorees included Michael Urie, who won Trailblazer Award for Shrinking ("I was actively encouraged to stay in the closet even after playing Mark St. James on Ugly Betty," he noted); Niecy Nash-Betts, who won the Groundbreaker Award for Grotesquerie; Bowen Yang, who received the Comedy Award for Saturday Night Live; Tramell Tillman, who received the Supporting Performance Award – Drama Series for Severance; and Liv Hewson, who received the Rising Star Award for Yellowjackets.
To close the night, Wanda Sykes received the Career Achievement Award. 'I believe that's what our community does, we take care of each other," she said. "I know that love is stronger than hate … We gotta be prouder, we gotta be louder, we have to protect our trans brothers and sisters … that's our next movement.'
Sponsors for the event included Here Media, IMDbPro and Milagro Tequila, and event partners included FIJI Water and NEP Sweetwater. The show will stream on HereTV — the first and largest LGBTQ+ television and streaming service in the U.S. — during Pride Month in June.
This story was originally reported by L.A. Mag on Jun 7, 2025, where it first appeared.