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Maleah Joi Moon delivering her speech at the Pride of Broadway event.
The Out cover star, who was honored at the Pride of Broadway event, got emotional while delivering an inspiring speech.
Tony Award-winning actor and Out cover star Maleah Joi Moon delivered a gorgeous and and heartwarming speech while being honored at the Pride of Broadway event that took place Monday, June 2 in New York City and was held by Out and The Advocate's parent company, equalpride.
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Best known for playing Ali in the Hell's Kitchen musical — for which she won a Tony Award in 2024 — Moon has already established herself as a Broadway superstar who graced the cover of Out's Pride issue alongside musical theater icons such as Megan Hilty, Lea Salonga, Kristin Chenoweth, and Idina Menzel.
During her speech at the Pride of Broadway event, Moon reflected on sharing this Out cover with musical theater legends that she's looked up to for years.
"It's not that it hasn't dawned on me that there are Black and brown kids that look up to me, and that is such a privilege and a responsibility. I hope that I do them right every day that I choose to exist as the fullest version of myself."
"Oh, you're gonna make me cry," the Broadway star said, getting emotional. "It's really important. I love being on this cover. I love sharing this cover with all these beautiful women, and queer icons, and allies.
Moon, with tears in her eyes, added, "Pride Month is one of the most colorful and beautiful months of the year, and I'm so happy to be openly a part of it for the first time. Thank you for seeing me as the young, Black, queer woman artist that I am, and for honoring me. I honor you in return."
Moon's fellow Out cover star, Salonga, also delivered a speech at the Pride of Broadway event. As did The Advocate cover star Cynthia Nixon.
Overall, the Out and The Advocate event was also attended by celebs such as Dominique Jackson (Pose), Megan Hilty (Death Becomes Her), Nathan Lee Graham (Mid-Century Modern), Peppermint (Survival of the Thickest), Amy Schneider (Jeopardy!), and Dan Amboyer (Survival of the Thickest), to name a few.
Watch the video below to check out some of the best moments that took place on Out's and The Advocate's Pride of Broadway celebration.
Bernardo Sim is the deputy editor of Out. He's also a staff contributor to The Advocate, PRIDE, and other equalpride publications. Born in Brazil, he currently lives in South Florida.
You can follow Bernardo Sim on Instagram. Otherwise, you can find him on Bluesky, Threads, X/Twitter, and TikTok.
Bernardo Sim is the deputy editor of Out. He's also a staff contributor to The Advocate, PRIDE, and other equalpride publications. Born in Brazil, he currently lives in South Florida.
You can follow Bernardo Sim on Instagram. Otherwise, you can find him on Bluesky, Threads, X/Twitter, and TikTok.
