It’s been 14 years since the first Queerties Awards launched in 2012, and in that time, the ceremony has grown into something far bigger than a trophy night. The Queerties stage has become a proving ground a place where queer artists show up, show out, and remind everyone why LGBTQ+ culture drives the pulse of pop, fashion, and performance.
Over the years, we’ve watched emerging artists break through, established stars deepen their legacies, and performers turn a room full of drag queens, influencers, industry heavy-hitters, and fashion icons into a single screaming organism. These are the moments that left us breathless, buzzing, and desperately refreshing social media the next morning.
Here are five Queerties performances that absolutely ate and left no crumbs.
Bentley Robles & Madison Rose Go Hi-Def
At the 2025 Queerties, Bob the Drag Queen took the stage in a victory lap celebrating his masterful turn on The Traitors, setting the tone for a night that refused to play small. Enter Bentley Robles and Madison Rose, the delicious pop duo who delivered one of the most polished performances in recent Queerties history.
They opened with Robles’ razor-sharp “I Hate the Weekend,” immediately locking the room into their frequency, before closing with the euphoric “High Definition Lover.” The chemistry was undeniable, the vocals were pristine, and the energy was unmistakably main-character.
By the final note, the audience was fully gagged and yes, we’re still not over it.
VINCINT Took Us “Higher”
VINCINT first caught mainstream attention on The Four back in 2018, but by the time they hit the 2023 Queerties stage, there was no question they were operating on a whole new level.
Their performance of “Higher” was pure, unapologetic queer joy big vocals, emotional release, and a sense of communal uplift that only comes when an artist knows exactly who they are and who they’re singing for. It was gay, it was glorious, and it had the entire room floating several inches off the ground.
A reminder that sometimes, sincerity is the spectacle.
Beginners Started a Riot
At the 2022 Queerties, Sam Barbera and her band Beginners turned the ceremony into something closer to a queer fever dream or, as Barbera herself describes it, an “alt-pop gaydream.”
Decked out in glitzy tassels and armed with full riot grrrrl attitude, Beginners delivered a performance that felt raw, loud, and deliciously unpolished in the best way. Barbera’s roof-raising vocals were a battle cry for anyone who’s ever been told they were “too much” or “just starting out.”
If there’s no shame in being an absolute beginner, this performance proved there’s power in it too.
Bronze Avery Gave Us Chills… and Sweats
Bronze Avery understands something fundamental about queer nightlife: we don’t just want to dance we want to sweat through our outfits and forget our names.
At the 2024 Queerties, on a cold February night, Avery turned the venue into a full-blown heatwave. His performance was slick, sensual, and relentless, perfectly matching the ethos he shared with Rolling Stone that year:
“I want people to feel the urge to dance until they’re drenched in sweat.”
Mission accomplished. The room was steamy, the crowd was panting, and Bronze Avery reminded everyone why queer pop belongs in big, bold spaces like the Queerties stage.
Shea Diamond Brought the House to Church
Few performances in Queerties history have carried the emotional weight and spiritual release of Shea Diamond taking the stage.
When Diamond performs, it’s never just a song. It’s testimony. It’s survival. It’s joy forged in fire.
With a voice that feels both intimate and seismic, Shea Diamond transformed the room into something reverent, commanding attention not through spectacle, but through truth. It was one of those moments where the audience didn’t just cheer they listened. And when the applause came, it felt earned, communal, and deeply felt.
A reminder that queer performance isn’t only about turning up it’s about being seen.
Long Live the Queerties Stage
From pop duos to vocal powerhouses, from sweaty dance floors to soul-stirring stillness, the Queerties Awards have consistently showcased what queer artists do best: turn authenticity into art.
Fourteen years in, the performances continue to evolve but the mission remains the same. Celebrate queer excellence. Give artists a stage. Let them eat.
And judging by this lineup? They always do.