Rainbow Key Awards

Honoring outstanding contributions to the LGBTQ+ community

​On Saturday, January 18th, 2025, join the City of West Hollywood and its LGBTQ+ Commission at the Rainbow Key Awards, where we will honor those who have made outstanding contributions to the LGBTQ+ Community.

​The City of West Hollywood has, since 1993, presented Rainbow Key Awards to people and organizations that have made outstanding contributions to the LGBTQ+ community. Previous honorees have included activists, artists, civic leaders, educators, community organizations, and many others. Contributions, whether by an individual or a group, come in many forms, including the arts, community action, humanitarian action, sports, medicine, armed services, leadership potential, benefit to the global gay and lesbian community, or in other ways. More than 155 Rainbow Key Awards have been presented since the award’s inception.

This year, we will honor the following recipients:

​Dapper Dyke Vivian (Escalante), a driving force in lesbian activism, is renowned for establishing Dykes on Bikes in both West Hollywood and Long Beach. Her contributions to the visibility and empowerment of the lesbian community during a time of limited representation are truly remarkable.

​Dr. Rebecca Gitlin, served as the first LGBTQ+ Services Specialist within the Los Angeles County Department of Mental Health (LACDMH)’s Anti-Racism, Inclusion, Solidary, and Empowerment (ARISE) Division, and she now serves as a clinical supervisor at the LACDMH Hollywood Mental Health Cooperative. She has led efforts to ensure that both identity and gender-affirming services are included across all services provided within LACDMH.

​LZ Love, a legendary African American transwoman singer, who for decades has been entertaining audiences across the world with her gutbucket soul-stirring blues and her blues-saturated gospel and dance music. She began singing when she was very young, and, at the age of sixteen, was even a background vocalist for the late Great Disco Diva Sylvester. LZ has in the past performed at the City of West Hollywood’s annual Transgender Day of Remembrance Ceremony and has also performed at countless LGBTQ+ Pride events across the nation.

​Brian Sonia-Wallace, the founder of Pride Poets, the band of LGBTQ+ typewriter poets who have collectively written thousands of free custom poems at West Hollywood Pride events and beyond since 2019, giving the community a chance to have their stories of love, loss, and celebration honored through poetry. Brian served as West Hollywood's 4th Poet Laureate from 2020-2023, creating space for hundreds of LGBTQ+ writers to express themselves and build community through the APLA Writers' Workshop, The Mic @ Micky's, and the West Hollywood Slam Team.

​Jackie Beat, a drag superstar who has been entertaining audiences across the U.S. and Europe for over thirty-five years. Jackie is known for her razor-sharp comedy and hysterical song parodies. Apart from her live tours, Jackie has also worked in the film and television industry and has often used her talents to raise money for HIV and AIDS charities and other organizations supporting the LGBTQ+ community.

​Seating is limited, so we ask that you please RSVP and cancel your tickets if you find that you are not able to attend. Seating will be first come, first serve, and in the event of full seated capacity, very limited standing room will be available.

Join us after the ceremony for an after-party on the ARC Reception Deck, featuring live music and complimentary food and beverages.

Host or Publisher City of West Hollywood