Beyoncé and Jay-Z to be honoured for support of LGBT+ community at GLAAD Media Awards

Power couple described as ‘longtime allies and supporters of the LGBT+ community’

Beyoncé and Jay-Z are to be honoured at this year's GLAAD Media Awards for their support of the LGBT+ community.

The celebrity couple, who have been married for more than a decade, will receive the Vanguard Award at the awards ceremony on Thursday 28 March in Los Angeles.

The Vanguard Award is given to "allies who have made a significant difference in promoting acceptance of LGBT+ people," GLAAD (formerly the Gay and Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation) states.

The organisation outlines how Beyoncé has frequently spoken out in support of the LGBT+ community, celebrating the legalisation of same-sex marriage and featuring LGBT+ people in the music videos for her songs "Formation" and "All Night".

In 2018, Jay-Z received a Special Recognition Award at the GLAAD Media Awards for his song "Smile" and its accompanying music video, from his thirteenth studio album 4:44.

In the song, the rapper shares the story of his mother Gloria Carter, who used the song to reveal she is a lesbian.

"Cried tears of joy when you fell in love, don’t matter to me if it’s a him or her," Jay-Z raps about his mother in the song.

Sarah Kate Ellis, CEO and president of GLAAD, expressed her delight over naming Beyoncé and Jay-Z as the recipients of the award.

"Beyoncé and Jay-Z are global icons and passionate defenders of human rights and acceptance for all people," Ellis said.

"When Beyoncé and Jay-Z speak, the world becomes inspired and when it comes to LGBT+ people, their voices of acceptance have been heard loud and clear."

Previous recipients of the Vanguard Award include Cher, Janet Jackson, Kerry Washington and Whoopi Goldberg.

The 30th Annual GLAAD Media Awards are taking place across two dates, first on Thursday 28 March in Los Angeles and then followed by a second ceremony on Saturday 4 May in New York City.

During the second event, Madonna will receive the Advocate for Change Award, an accolade that recognises an individual who "through their work, changed the game for LGBT+ people around the world".

Madonna will be the second person and the first woman to receive the award, following on from former US president Bill Clinton in 2013.