Shirley Maclaine and Trace Lysette To Be Honored at 2023 Outfest Legacy Awards

Award to be Presented on Sunday, October 22 at NeueHouse 

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE, Los Angeles, CA, September 21, 2023 – Outfest – the Los Angeles-based nonprofit that uplifts marginalized creators in the entertainment industry by providing career support and curating the exhibition and preservation of queer, LGBTQ+, and underrepresented stories – announced today that they will honor Academy Award® winner Shirley MacLaine with the James Schamus Ally Award and Trace Lysette with the Trailblazer Award at the 2023 Legacy Awards presented by Genesis Motor America. The Legacy Awards will take place on Sunday, October 22 at NeueHouse in Hollywood.  

The James Schamus Ally Award recognizes an ally’s efforts to foster LGBTQ+ moving images and to promote the communities’ stories to a broader audience, and the Trailblazer Award recognizes an artist who has contributed to the history of the community, shedding light on the core of the LGBTQ+ identity and experience. 

“We’re overjoyed to spotlight Shirley MacLaine and Trace Lysette at this year’s Legacy Awards,” shared Outfest’s Executive Director Damien S. Navarro. “Shirley’s illustrious career has not only enthralled generations but her unwavering allegiance to the LGBTQ+ community has been a beacon of hope. Trace, with her groundbreaking performances, is courageously highlighting the essence of the trans journey. Their contributions are testament to the power of artistry in driving meaningful change.” 

Past recipients at the Outfest Legacy Awards include Janelle Monáe, Billy Porter, Tom Hanks, Judith Light, Rita Moreno, Lee Daniels, Hillary Swank, Sean Hayes, Laverne Cox, Michaela Jaé Rodriguez, Bruce Cohen, Lisa Cholodenko, Craig Zadan & Neil Merdon, Tanya Saracho, Victoria Alonso, and Rain Valdez among others.  

The 2023 Outfest Legacy Awards are presented by Genesis Motor America. Additional sponsors include NeueHouse Hollywood, ABC7 Los Angeles and On The Red Carpet, the Los Angeles Times, and West One Music Group. For more information about sponsorship, contact Meghan Adamovic at meghan@outfest.org.  

Tickets, tables, and tribute ads are on sale now at www.outfest.org/legacy-awards For information about tables and tickets, contact Tarik Yetken, Director of Development at tarik@outfest.org. For sponsorship and tribute journal ads please contact meghan@outfest.org. 

About Outfest 

Founded by UCLA students in 1982, Outfest is the world’s leading organization that promotes equality by creating, sharing and protecting Queer and Trans stories on the screen. For forty-one years, Outfest has showcased thousands of films from around the world, educated and mentored hundreds of emerging filmmakers, and preserved more than 40,000 LGBTQ+ films and videos. Outfest programs include The Outfest Screenwriting Lab, which has mentored and helped launch the careers of nearly 150 screenwriters, and The Outfest UCLA Legacy Project, which, in partnership with the UCLA Film & Television Archive, is the only film archive in the world exclusively dedicated to preserving LGBTQ+ images, among others. 

About Genesis Motor America: 

At Genesis, we put the customer at the center of every decision we make. Genesis is a global automotive brand that delivers the highest standards of performance, design, safety, and innovation while looking towards a more sustainable future. Genesis designs customer experiences that go beyond products, embodying audacious, forward-thinking, and distinctly Korean characteristics within its unique Athletic Elegance design identity. With a growing range of award-winning models — including G70, G80, and G90 sedans, along with GV60, GV70, and GV80 SUVs — Genesis aims to lead the age of electrification, starting with its Electrified G80, GV60, and Electrified GV70 models. Genesis has stated its commitment to becoming an all-electric vehicle brand by 2030 and to pursuing carbon neutrality by 2035.  www.Genesis.com