Sophia Bush, who publicly came out as queer in 2024, proudly attended the 36th annual GLAAD Media Awards in Beverly Hills on Thursday evening—her first time at the star-studded celebration. For the occasion, the One Tree Hill alum wore a breathtaking Jean Pierre Khoury gown featuring an intricately embroidered bodice and sleek floor-length skirt. The elegant red ensemble, she noted, was also a tribute to her uncle Winston, a drag queen.
“For years when I was a kid, he did drag in LA as Diana Ross, always in red sequins. So my dress for tonight is a bit of an homage,” Bush told Vogue on the red carpet. “I just really wanted a moment. This felt appropriate for GLAAD.”
Each year, GLAAD—the world’s largest LGBTQ media advocacy organization—honors fair, accurate, and inclusive representations of the LGBTQ community across film, television, music, podcasts, and beyond. This year’s electric ceremony, hosted by actor Michael Urie, honored the cast of Hacks (Outstanding Comedy Series), Agatha All Along (Best New Series), Baby Reindeer (Outstanding Limited or Anthology Series), and RuPaul’s Drag Race (Outstanding Reality Program).
Bush took to the stage to introduce GLAAD’s president and CEO Sarah Kate Ellis, who reminded the crowd of the cultural power of storytelling: “Stories about the LGBTQ community shift culture and give people power to see beyond their own experience—to open their minds to those they’ve never met.”
Nearly a year since Bush publicly came out and confirmed her relationship with retired U.S. Women’s National Team soccer star Ashlyn Harris, she reflected on the decision. Did she worry it might jeopardize her career?
“No, I wasn’t afraid,” Bush shared. “The odd thing about a job like mine is you try so hard to keep something private for yourself. But when the thing you most want to protect is also deeply important to your identity—and can foster solidarity for your community—it becomes important to share. There’s a constant push and pull in living a public life. But for me, I have never been more proud of who I am, where I am, and who I love. So it felt like a no-brainer coming out. I really hope the more of us that show up in rooms like this, the more we can support young people to be exactly who they are.”
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