Live Out Loud’s Trailblazing Gala Red Carpet Guests Included Frankie Grande and Racquel Chevremont During Pride Month

In a year that’s felt heavy with headlines and division, nights like this one feel like a breath of fresh air. On May 19th, against a golden Manhattan sunset at the Lighthouse at Chelsea Piers, Live Out Loud’s 24th Annual Young Trailblazers Gala reminded everyone in the room what it looks like when community, celebration, and purpose come together during Pride Month.

For nearly 25 years, Live Out Loud has been doing just that—bringing people together to support and uplift LGBTQ+ youth in New York City and beyond. What began as a response to the heartbreaking realities facing queer teens has grown into a powerful movement: one that gives young people the tools, mentors, and confidence they need to live authentically and lead boldly.

This year’s gala was more than just a beautiful night—it was a show of solidarity, joy, and commitment to the next generation.

Frankie Grande and Racquel Chevremont posing on the carpet during. Courtesy of Stephen Lane Photography

Hosted by the magnetic Shequida, the night honored bold voices and quiet heroes alike: trailblazing actress Tommy Dorfman, Real Housewives of New York star and curator Racquel Chevremont, and legendary menswear designer Jeffrey Banks. Each honoree, in their own right, is reshaping what it means to live authentically, publicly, and proudly.

Yet it was the scholarship presentation—a hallmark of the gala—that brought the most poignant applause. Three high school seniors, radiant with conviction, took the stage to accept $5,000 Live Out Loud Young Trailblazers Scholarships for their advocacy and leadership within the LGBTQ+ community. Their stories, filled with both hardship and hope, reminded the audience that progress begins with possibility—and that possibility begins with support.

Live Out Loud President Leo Preziosi Jr. Courtesy of Stephen Lane Photography

The night unfolded with the kind of elegance one expects from Chelsea Piers: a glittering step-and-repeat, an open bar, curated bites passed between spirited conversations, and a silent auction that raised critical funds for Live Out Loud’s expanding youth programming. But beneath the glamour pulsed a deeper resonance: in these fractured times, solidarity is not a slogan. It’s a practice.

“This gala is not just about looking back at what we’ve built,” said Leo Preziosi, Jr., the organization’s founder and executive director. “It’s about looking forward—at who these young leaders will become, and how we can show up for them every step of the way.”

With over 400 attendees—donors, mentors, elected officials, corporate champions, and, most importantly, LGBTQ+ youth—the event buzzed with joyful defiance. In a culture that still often pushes queer voices to the margins, Live Out Loud offers something quietly radical: a microphone, a mirror, and a map.

In a time when visibility is both a celebration and a shield, Live Out Loud continues to illuminate the path forward. Not just for those who are already out—but for those still finding their way there.

Because pride doesn’t just belong to June—it belongs to every moment we dare to live out loud.