The Tony Awards has announced Billy Porter will receive the 2024 Isabelle Stevenson Tony Award. The special award acknowledges an individual in the theater community who has demonstrated significant volunteer efforts on behalf of a humanitarian, social service or charitable organization.
Porter is being recognized for work as an activist and spokesperson for the LGBTQ+ community, specifically for his work with the Elizabeth Taylor AIDS Foundation (ETAF) and the Entertainment Community Fund.
“Billy Porter has made extraordinary contributions as an activist for the LGBTQ+ community and we are truly honored to present him with this year’s Isabelle Stevenson Award,” said Jason Laks, interim president of the Broadway League, and Heather Hitchens, president and CEO of the American Theatre Wing, in a statement. “He has lent tremendous time, effort and support to a variety of organizations including the Elizabeth Taylor AIDS Foundation, the Entertainment Community Fund and Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS, all while becoming an unstoppable force on stage, screen and beyond.”
Porter currently serves as an ambassador for ETAF and as a member of the Entertainment Community Fund’s board of trustees. His support of LGBTQ+ and BIPOC communities and HIV awareness has been honored with numerous accolades, including the Elizabeth Taylor Commitment to End AIDS Award in 2021.
As a performer, Porter won a 2013 Tony Award for originating the role of Lola in “Kinky Boots.” For his contributions as co-producer on 2022’s “A Strange Loop,” Porter won a second Tony. For his role in the FX series “Pose,” Porter won a 2019 Emmy Award.
As previously announced, the 77th annual Tony Awards will be held on June 16 at Lincoln Center’s David H. Koch Theater. Hosted by Ariana DeBose, the ceremony will be broadcast on CBS and Paramount+ beginning at 8 p.m. ET. “Tony Awards: Act One,” a special pre-show including the presentation of several awards, will stream live on Pluto TV via the “ET” channel beginning with the presentation of the first award, a time has not yet been announced.
The Tony Awards are presented by the Broadway League and the American Theatre Wing.
