Reneé Rapp Calls for “Immediate and Permanent Ceasefire in Gaza” From GLAAD Awards Stage

Renee Rapp calling for a Ceasfire in Gaza from the GLAAD stage, she is wearing a black suit against a black sparkly background

Renee Rapp calling for a Ceasefire in Gaza at the 2024 GLAAD Awards. (Photo by Matt Winkelmeyer/Getty Images for GLAAD)

“I talk a lot… I talk a good amount. If you know me you’re well aware, if you don’t know me you’re also probably well aware,” Reneé Rapp ain’t never told a lie. And after winning Outstanding Music Artist last night at the 2024 GLAAD Media Awards, her matter-of-fact tone has never been put to better use than when she used her 30 seconds on the stage to advocate for an immediate and permanent ceasefire in Gaza.

Her speech itself is short and conversational in the ways that have become Rapp’s trademark. She fangirled over Victoria Monét (relatable), she gently roasted her parents for being straight, and correctly noted that gays are, of course, the hottest people any place that we enter. But then she acknowledged not only her immense privilege standing on that stage, but also the privilege and power of others in the room:

“We’re in a room of very influential people and very privileged people, which is exciting, and it’s also a huge privlege to be a part of that. Having said that, I would also like to take the opportunity to show support and call for an immediate and permanent ceasefire in Gaza. Please continue to advocate for yourselves, please continue to advocate for your friends, for your queer friends, and for those who cannot advocate for themselves.”

What most struck me about Reneé Rapp’s willingness to say the words “ceasefire in Gaza” from the GLAAD stage is how rare it is, even now, to see even that level of advocacy at all.

To be honest with you, it feels weird that this would be news. It feels weird that publicly wishing for an end to unconscionable levels of violence, of genocide, that have been going on for months would necessitate headlines or even be considered as bravery.

But we’ve also seen as artists like Melissa Barrera have their entire careers halted for similar demonstrations of solidarity. After social media posts drawing comparison to her own country’s history with colonization (Barrera is from Mexico) and Palestine, Barrera was fired from the Scream franchise that she’d recently become the face of. Just this week, we learned that she will be replaced with the return of Neve Campbell, Scream’s original final girl. Even Susan Sarandon, Hollywood royalty with a decades long career behind her, was dropped by her talent agency for speaking at a pro-Palestine protest. With last Sunday’s Oscars and this week’s GLAAD Awards, we’ve unofficially wrapped what is often known as “Awards Season” in the industry, and with very little mention of Gaza beyond red buttons by Artists for Ceasefire worn on red carpets.

In his Oscars speech on Sunday, Jonathan Glazer, the Jewish director of the Holocaust film Zone of Interest, used his time on stage to condemn “the Holocaust being hijacked by an occupation, which has lead to conflict for so many innocent people.” The ceremony itself was protested by Film Workers for Palestine and SAG-AFTRA Members for Ceasefire calling for “No awards amid a genocide.”

And still, even with these moments of celebrity advocacy and the risks that I know statements like the ones they are making come with, I believe Reneé Rapp (listen she does not know me, but her brand is “relatability” so excuse me for making her a friend in my head) would agree with me in keeping the main thing, the main thing.

I am proud that Reneé Rapp used her time on the GLAAD stage to do what so few others have been able to. But she’s using her platform to advocate for a ceasefire, so let’s keep that at the center of our energy and not be distracted by the celebrity news of it all. Ceasefire NOW. End the violence NOW. Run it ‘till it’s backwards.

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Carmen Phillips

Carmen Phillips is Autostraddle's former editor in chief. She began at Autostraddle in 2017 as a freelance team writer and worked her way up through the company, eventually becoming the EIC from 2021-2024. A Black Puerto Rican feminist writer with a PhD in American Studies from New York University, Carmen specializes in writing about Blackness, race, queerness, politics, culture, and the many ways we find community and connection with each other.  During her time at Autostraddle, Carmen focused on pop culture, TV and film reviews, criticism, interviews, and news analysis. She claims many past homes, but left the largest parts of her heart in Detroit, Brooklyn, and Buffalo, NY. And there were several years in her early 20s when she earnestly slept with a copy of James Baldwin’s “Fire Next Time” under her pillow. To reach out, you can find Carmen on Twitter, Instagram, or her website.

Carmen has written 716 articles for us.

6 Comments

  1. Thank you for this article. I continue to commend Autostraddle for standing against the genocide in Gaza and reporting on the situation. I know that as an independent queer website, it is scary and risky to tell the truth about the situation, given how divisive this issue is and how much of the website’s support comes from individual donors. Go Autostraddle and go Renee!

  2. there was already a ceasefire hamas broke it

    if you were r”ped kidnapped or killed during a supposed ceasefire would you want people to do nothing and cheer for you to keep being kidnapped and tortured….wtf autostraddle

  3. Sweet darlings,

    Great words. A little dream of mine to make it complete ( a woman can dream doesn’t she?…) I wish there will be a plague of peace doves over Israel and Palestine. And that all extreme forces will drop dead instantly, on both sides.

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