On Thursday, September 17, 2026, the historic Beverly Hills Hotel became the backdrop for a glittering tribute to one of Hollywood’s most ardent AIDS activists. Actor, singer and fashion icon Billy Porter stepped onto the stage to receive the Elizabeth Taylor Legacy Award an accolade that recognizes relentless advocacy for those living with HIV. The ceremony, hosted by CNN’s Laura Coates and generously backed by Gilead Sciences Chairman and CEO Daniel O’Day, transformed the evening into a platform for both celebration and urgent reminders of lingering stigma.
The award ceremony and Porter’s unapologetic speech
When Porter accepted the honor, he recalled a moment from 2023 when he was bluntly instructed to “shut the fuck up” after expressing a controversial opinion. He linked that admonition to today’s climate, where public figures often feel compelled to mute themselves. “Many of us have been told to stay quiet or risk backlash,” Porter said, underscoring the personal toll of self-censorship. A year earlier, the performer survived a harrowing bout of sepsis a life-threatening infection that forced him to confront the danger of silence. “I silenced myself and it almost killed me,” he declared, echoing Sir Elton John’s lyric, “the bitch is back,” and vowing to never be quiet again.
Porter’s narrative unfolded into a vivid recollection of his tumultuous youth. He spoke of a stepfather who abused him, the moment he disclosed his HIV status to his mother, and the crushing loss of friends during the early AIDS crisis. By the age of 21, he had watched more peers succumb than his 80-year-old grandmother had seen in a lifetime. “All I know is to fight—no matter who holds office or what consequences arise,” he asserted, positioning his activism as a personal mission inherited from the pioneers who came before.
Following Porter’s remarks, Vanity Fair took center stage to receive the Elizabeth Taylor Commitment to End AIDS Award. In a pre-recorded message, Global Editorial Director Mark Guiducci highlighted the magazine’s 1992 cover where Taylor proudly displayed a condom, titled “Liz’s AIDS Odyssey.” That brave visual, he noted, turned a celebrity moment into a catalyst for public dialogue about HIV, mirroring the publication’s continued dedication to the cause.
Elizabeth Taylor’s lasting impact on AIDS activism
The gala’s ethos was grounded in Taylor’s pioneering work in the 1980s, when she founded the Elizabeth Taylor AIDS Foundation (ETAF) to champion research, care and compassion. Porter praised the late star’s willingness to leverage her fame, saying, “Liz had platforms; she used them to teach the world what unconditional love looks like.” He added that as a young gay man, he directly benefited from her courage and felt compelled to carry that torch forward.
Beyond speeches, the night pulsed with music. Grammy-nominated vocalist Deborah Cox ignited the dance floor, and Porter, refusing to remain seated, joined her for a duet—an undeniable illustration of his promise to keep speaking through performance. The event also featured appearances by ETAF officer Barbara Berkowitz, who emphasized that compassion remains vital, and by other foundation leaders who showcased items from the Elizabeth Taylor Archive, reinforcing the enduring relevance of Taylor’s legacy.
With the spotlight on both past and present, the evening closed not on a somber note but with a collective vow: to continue funding cures, dismantling HIV-related criminalization, and ensuring the conversation never falls silent. As Porter summed up, “From now until the day I die, I will speak to power—because that is the least I can do for the ancestors who fought before us.”
