Emmy Winners and ‘Heated Rivalry’ Headline CCA’s 3rd LGBTQ+ Celebration

Mo. Basuony

Published: April 8, 2026 9:47 AM ET

Emmy Winners and ‘Heated Rivalry’ Headline CCA’s 3rd LGBTQ+ Celebration

The Critics Choice Association will stage its third annual Celebration of LGBTQ+ Cinema & Television in Los Angeles on May 29. The gala honors achievements across film and television from the LGBTQ+ community.

Organizers say the ceremony will spotlight actors, creators, writers, and producers. The event aims to celebrate both emerging and established talent.

Lineup of honorees

The roster includes several high-profile names and multiple award recipients. The list features a mix of comedians, directors, and showrunners.

Major award recipients

Jane Lynch, an Emmy-winning actor, comedian and author, will receive the Groundbreaker Award. The tribute recognizes her career and recent work hosting Fox’s Celebrity Weakest Link.
Dan Levy will be honored with the Vanguard Award for his work on Big Mistakes, premiering Thursday on Netflix. His projects often center queer lives with nuance and joy.
Paula Pell will get the Trailblazer Award in recognition of a long career. Her recent work includes Peacock and UCP’s The ‘Burbs.

Performance and creative awards

Hannah Einbinder receives the Performance Award for a Comedy Series. The honor cites her role in Hacks, which returns for its fifth and final season this week.
Bre-Z will receive the Performance Award for a Drama Series for All American. The show’s eighth season is scheduled to premiere later this year on The CW.
Brandon Scott Jones earns the Supporting Performance Award for a Comedy Series. He stars in CBS’s Ghosts, now in its fifth season and renewed for a sixth.
Dearbhla Walsh will be presented with the Director Award. Her work includes Margo’s Got Money Troubles, which debuts April 15 on Apple TV.

Showrunner, ensemble, and breakthrough honors

Jacob Tierney will receive the Showrunner Award for Crave’s Heated Rivalry. The series became an international sensation after its late 2025 release.

‘Heated Rivalry’ Headline CCA’s 3rd LGBTQ+ Celebration underscores Tierney’s contribution. The show also won this year’s GLAAD Media Award for Outstanding New TV Series.

Tig Notaro, Karim Diané, Gina Yashere and Kerrice Brooks will share the Ensemble Award. They are recognized for their work on Paramount+’s Star Trek: Starfleet Academy.
Noah Schnapp is slated for the Breakthrough Performance Award. His performance in Netflix’s Stranger Things depicts a coming-out story set in the 1980s.
The Boulet Brothers will receive the Reality TV Award for The Boulet Brothers’ Dragula: Titans on Shudder. Dino-Ray Ramos served as the show’s writer.

Event logistics and hosts

Andrew Freund and CCA member Jerry Nunn will host the ceremony. The show is produced by Hammond Infante Productions.

Producers Javier Infante, Madelyn Hammond and Ella Carlson oversee the event production. The Critics Choice Association will continue its push to uplift LGBTQ+ voices.

Filmogaz.com will provide coverage of the Celebration and post highlights from the night. The event offers a clear snapshot of the industry’s evolving representation.