AAFCA Honors ‘Fellow Travelers’ & ‘Little Richard: I Am Everything’ During Pride Month
The African American Film Critics Association and Better Brothers LA are set to celebrate Pride Month with their annual luncheon on June 1, which focuses on films and TV series that enhance visibility for LGBTQ communities.
This year, AAFCA will honor the outstanding Paramount+/Showtime limited series Fellow Travelers for its depiction of gay life and its inclusion of Black LGBTQ characters and storylines. Widely acclaimed as one of the best shows of the past TV season, Fellow Travelers will receive AAFCA’s Social Impact Award.
More from Deadline
“In the spirit of Pride, AAFCA is thrilled to recognize Fellow Travelers,” says AAFCA President Gil Robertson. “We’re honored to host a luncheon celebrating the co-stars Jelani Alladin and Noah Ricketts, alongside showrunner Ron Nyswaner.”
Based on the bestselling novel by Thomas Mallon, Fellow Travelers follows the lives of its two principal characters, Timothy Laughlin and Hawkins Fuller (played by Matt Bomer and Jonathan Bailey), as they navigate the social and political implications of their relationship. The series includes Alladin as Marcus Gaines and Ricketts as Frankie Hines, offering a rare portrayal of Black LGBTQ characters throughout the narrative.
“Fellow Travelers can’t be applauded enough for showcasing the diversity of the LGBTQ+ community, particularly those who identify as Black,” says Better Brothers LA co-founder Scott Hamilton. “Jelani and Noah beautifully humanized their characters, helping the audience understand the struggles of being both Black and queer, as well as the dynamics of gender identity within the community. Fellow Travelers is a reminder that queer individuals have been making an impact for a long time.”
In addition to the Pride celebration, AAFCA will host its fifth annual Black Music Month celebration on June 8 at The Grammy Museum in Los Angeles. The event will include a screening of the Oscar-shortlisted documentary Little Richard: I Am Everything, offering an intimate look at the life and legacy of the late rock ‘n’ roll icon. Attendees will also have the opportunity to engage in a panel discussion featuring the film’s acclaimed director, Lisa Cortes, alongside Black Music Month founder Dyana Williams, Amazon Music executive Phylicia Fant, and veteran multi-hyphenate Erica Grayson.
Best of Deadline
2024 Premiere Dates For New & Returning Series On Broadcast, Cable & Streaming
'Knives Out 3': Everything We Know About The Second Rian Johnson Sequel
Hollywood & Media Deaths In 2024: Photo Gallery & Obituaries
Sign up for Deadline's Newsletter. For the latest news, follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.
