Toronto is preparing for a night of queer art, activism and achievement with the 2024 Pink Awards on November 7. Hosted by Canada’s Drag Race season 1 winner Queen Priyanka, the Pink Awards will feature prominent 2SLGBTQIA+ icons nominating trailblazing Canadian charities effecting change in their communities.

This year’s selection committee includes Elliot Page, Rufus Wainwright, Jeremy Dutcher, Latoya Nugent and Marie-Philip Poulin, nominating Skipping Stone, pflag Canada, 2-Spirited People of the 1st Nations, Among Friends, The 519, and the You Can Play Project respectively.

“Our champions, all incredibly accomplished, are paying it forward – sharing their time, talent and profile to make sure we all know more about these charities and their powerful commitment to our communities,” says David Walberg, Executive Director and CEO of Pink Triangle Press.

Pink Triangle Press, an organization with over 50 years of advocacy in the LGBTQ2S+ community, are the minds behind this national gala event, which will include a silent auction, raising additional donations for the honoured charities. They’ve also used their resources to build the Pink Paper, a report detailing 2SLGBTQIA+ Representation in Canada’s Screen Industries. Their research found that although 93% of industry professionals agree that 2SLGBTQIA+ representation on Canadian screens is extremely important to them, only 10% of 2SLGBTQIA+ characters in top-rated shows have speaking roles.

“Pure queer joy is something that a lot of us queer people talk about but never get to experience. I am so excited for the Pink Awards Gala for my amazing 2SLGBTQIA+ community to take their heels off and finally be celebrated the way they deserve to be celebrated!” says Queen Priyanka. “We’re fighting every single day for space — but now it’s time to know that our presence is enough and we’re going to celebrate everyone!”

Several emerging filmmakers, motion designers, and post-production house Coma Edits—a collective of artists and activists—are working together to create exclusive visual content to enhance the evening’s celebrations, while visual artist, Kainat Ahmad, a recent OCAD graduate, has been selected to design a unique award to present Pink Award honourees. The night will also include musical performances from selection committee members Rufus Wainwright and Jeremy Dutcher, as well as Katie Tupper.