Billy Porter to Receive 2024 Isabelle Stevenson Tony Award

Billy Porter, who is as philanthropic as he is flamboyant, will receive the 2024 Isabelle Stevenson Tony Award in recognition of his contributions as an activist and spokesperson for the LGBTQ+ community.

The Isabelle Stevenson Award – the Tonys’ equivalent of the Jean Hersholt Humanitarian Award presented by the Academy of Motion Picture Arts & Sciences – is presented annually to a member of the theater community who has made a substantial contribution of time and effort on behalf of one or more humanitarian, social service or charitable organizations.

Porter serves as an ambassador for The Elizabeth Taylor AIDS Foundation; is a member of the board of trustees of the Entertainment Community Fund (formerly The Actors Fund); and is an outspoken activist for the LGBTQ+ and BIPOC communities through his work with Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS, HRC (Human Rights Campaign), GLAAD, Planned Parenthood and other organizations.

The multi-talented Porter – an actor, singer, director, producer, composer and playwright – has won two Tonys, a Primetime Emmy and a Grammy. His Emmy is for his leading role in Pose (2019). His Tonys are for his leading role in Kinky Boots (2013) and as a producer on A Strange Loop, which was voted best musical (2022). His Grammy is for the Kinky Boots cast album, which was voted best musical theater album.

The 77th Annual Tony Awards, hosted for the third year in a row by Ariana DeBose, will air live on both coasts from the David H. Koch Theater at Lincoln Center for the Performing Arts in New York City on Sunday, June 16 (8-11 p.m ET/5-8 p.m. PT). The show will be broadcast on CBS and will also stream on Paramount+ in the U.S.

The Tony Awards are produced in collaboration with Tony Award Productions, a joint venture of the Broadway League and the American Theatre Wing, and White Cherry Entertainment. Ricky Kirshner and Glenn Weiss are showrunners and executive producers for White Cherry Entertainment. Weiss will also serve as director. Jack Sussman is also an executive producer.