We don’t need to tell you that Doechii is a certified icon, but we’ll do it anyway, because she just won big at the 36th Annual GLAAD Media Awards. The Alligator Bites Never Heal artist earned the Outstanding Music Artist award, which honors musicians who have done their part to uplift and support the queer community.
Once Maren Morris and Lil Nas X presented her with the award, Doechii started spitting lyrics to her hit “Nissan Altima” and shared a moment with the crowd, who burst into an uproar as she accepted her trophy. The Tampa native then began her speech, thanking her parents and little sisters for “keeping it real” and supporting her in her musical journey.
She also acknowledged her queer predecessors who previously received the award, saying, “I'm thrilled at being recognized with such a prestigious award by GLAAD and joining the prior honorees such as Reneé Rapp, Lady Gaga, Lil Nas X, Sam Smith and Janelle Monáe.”
As she congratulated GLAAD on celebrating its 40th anniversary and thanked the non-profit organization for recognizing her artistry, she showed love to the transgender community, which is being threatened for its existence. In 2025 alone, there are more than 736 active anti-trans bills in the U.S., which seek to block them from “receiving basic healthcare, education, legal recognition, and the right to publicly exist.”
“This organization was founded on the principles of acceptance, inclusiveness and empowerment, and those are the same things that I strongly believe in and advocate for and that continue to propel me forward, especially now that hard-won cultural change and rights for transgender people in the LGBTQ community have been threatened, and I’m disgusted. But I want to say that we are here and we are not going anywhere,” Doechii said as she stood against Maren and Nas on stage.
“The support and the love that I’m feeling as I accept this award from GLAAD is truly overwhelming and uplifting, and as I move forward in my life and career, enabling it’s also a beacon to other aspiring artists to not let anyone ever block your dreams,” she continued. “So I just want to encourage you guys to stay connected with one another. Stay passionate. Stay focused. Keep your chin up. Be kind and be fab.”
The “Denial is a River” artist, who identifies as bisexual, has constantly shown up for the LGBTQ+ community throughout her career. She left a powerful message for queer youth during an interview with GLAAD at the 2025 Grammys, saying, “Stay focused, keep doing you, tell your story authentically, exactly how it is, and don’t ever fucking stop.”
