Four LGBTQ+ entertainers, including Michael Urie and Raven-Symoné, are set to receive wayOUT’s 2026 Impact in Entertainment Awards at Avalon Hollywood on 14 November. The Los Angeles fundraiser will also support The Knights and Orchids Society, an Alabama-based organisation serving LGBTQ+ communities. It’s an evening where recognition on stage meets practical support off it.

Essential Takeaways

  • Four honourees: Michael Urie, Raven-Symoné, Dan Bucatinsky and Michael Feinstein will receive the 2026 Impact in Entertainment Awards.
  • A Los Angeles fundraiser: The Gayla is scheduled for 14 November at Avalon Hollywood, with Liza Minnelli as co-chair.
  • A youth-focused beneficiary: The 2026 Los Angeles grant is designated for The Knights and Orchids Society, a Black trans-led organisation based in Montgomery, Alabama.
  • A night of entertainment: Comedian and actor Drew Droege is set to host, with performances announced from Greyson Chance, Emeline, Kyra Jete and Meatball.

Four entertainers recognised for LGBTQ+ impact

Michael Urie and Raven-Symoné will share the wayOUT Gayla spotlight with Dan Bucatinsky and Michael Feinstein, each receiving a 2026 Impact in Entertainment Award. The honours recognise LGBTQ+ entertainers whose work is seen as helping create lasting change through greater visibility and support.

The event is scheduled for Saturday, 14 November, at Avalon Hollywood, with Liza Minnelli named as a co-chair. For an awards night, the purpose is refreshingly direct: celebrate artists while drawing attention to the communities their work can reach.

Why Urie says Shrinking connects with straight men

Urie has spoken about the response to his role as Brian, a gay character in Apple TV's Shrinking. In an interview with Awards Radar, he said many people who stop him to discuss the series are straight men, and that he finds it moving when they connect with Brian and feel comfortable talking about emotions.

He has described the show as demonstrating how men can care for themselves and one another. That reaction offers a useful reminder that representation doesn't have to speak to only one audience; a character's openness can give viewers a way into conversations they might not otherwise have.

The Los Angeles Gayla pairs entertainment with fundraising

wayOUT describes its Gaylas as annual events that bring entertainment and fundraising together for LGBTQ+ youth organisations. The foundation's events page lists the Los Angeles gathering at Avalon Hollywood on 14 November 2026, and says the event will celebrate the work of The Knights and Orchids Society.

The organisation's approach centres on backing one youth organisation through each local event. Its funding page says its grantees serve young people aged 11 to 25, with work spanning areas such as mental health, housing, healthcare and transgender support. That's a grounded counterpoint to the evening's stage lights: the fundraiser is designed to support work in communities where resources and acceptance can be limited.

Meet the Alabama organisation receiving the grant

The Knights and Orchids Society, known as TKO, is based in Montgomery, Alabama, and is described by wayOUT as Black trans-led and youth-focused. TKO says its work includes health and wellness services for Black trans, same-gender-loving and Black queer people across the South.

The organisation's motto, shared by wayOUT, is "We Keep Us Safe". It is a concise expression of the practical focus behind the partnership: helping LGBTQ+ communities access care, education and safety, while supporting people to build stronger futures.

A line-up with both celebration and purpose

Comedian and actor Drew Droege is set to host, while Greyson Chance, Emeline, Kyra Jete and Meatball are among the announced performers. The mix gives the evening a lively entertainment programme, while the grant keeps the focus on the people the fundraiser is intended to support.

For anyone following the event, wayOUT's listings offer a straightforward way to check the arrangements and learn more about its fundraising work. The Gayla's appeal lies in that combination: a celebration of LGBTQ+ talent, with a clear community purpose.

The 2026 wayOUT Gayla puts recognition and grassroots support on the same stage.

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