A night of entertainment and community fundraising is coming to Hollywood as wayOUT prepares to honour Michael Feinstein, Michael Urie, Raven-Symoné and Dan Bucatinsky. The four are due to receive the organisation’s 2026 Impact in Entertainment Awards at its tenth-anniversary Gayla, where the spotlight will also fall on an Alabama group supporting LGBTQ+ communities.
Four entertainers will be recognised at wayOUT’s Gayla
Michael Feinstein, Michael Urie, Raven-Symoné and Dan Bucatinsky are the announced recipients of wayOUT’s 2026 Impact in Entertainment Awards. Deadline reports that the awards are due to be presented on 14 November at Avalon in Hollywood, as part of the organisation’s tenth-anniversary Gayla.
The annual honours recognise people whose work helps create lasting change for LGBTQ+ communities, including by raising voices, widening visibility and advancing equality through entertainment and music. It’s a reminder that recognition on stage can point towards work happening well beyond it.
A celebratory programme, with a community purpose
Drew Droege is set to host the evening, with live performances by Greyson Chance, Emeline and Meatball. Michael Ferman is due to return as auctioneer, while Hannah Einbinder and Mark Indelicato are among the announced presenters. The event is co-chaired by Leland and Liza Minnelli.
The Los Angeles chapter’s event listing describes the Gayla as a tenth-year celebration featuring drag and a live auction. It also identifies The Knights & Orchids Society as the community organisation whose work the event will celebrate.
The Alabama grant recipient is focused on care and safety
This year’s wayOUT Los Angeles grant recipient is The Knights & Orchids Society, known as TKO. The organisation describes itself as a Black trans-led non-profit based in Alabama, working to build the power of LGBTQ+ Black people across the South through health and wellness services.
Its work reaches beyond one kind of support. TKO’s own account centres on access to care and helping people live full, healthy lives, while a public-health directory lists services including testing, prevention education, counselling and support for young people and LGBTQ+ communities.
A local fundraising effort with a wider reach
wayOUT’s Los Angeles chapter says it is volunteer-run and raises money for one youth organisation each season. Its event page records eight youth organisations funded between 2019 and 2026, with more than $800,000 raised since 2019.
That context gives the Gayla a dual role: it celebrates people whose work has helped expand LGBTQ+ visibility, while bringing attention to a grassroots organisation serving communities in Alabama. The combination of a lively entertainment programme and practical support makes the evening’s purpose easy to grasp.
What to know before the Hollywood event
The event is listed for Saturday, 14 November 2026, at 5.30 pm at Avalon Hollywood. The award recipients and programme details are reported as planned arrangements, so any further guests or changes may be announced closer to the date.
For readers following the beneficiary, TKO’s website outlines its care-focused mission, while the US National Prevention Information Network provides a directory of its listed services. Together, they offer a fuller picture of the organisation beyond the award announcement.
A night of honours can also draw attention to the community work that carries on after the applause.
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