Washington, DC – Today, Equality PAC announced that Canadian actor, creator, writer, and director Jacob Tierney, who created, directed, produced, and wrote Heated Rivalry, will receive its inaugural Game Changer Award. Presented by Equality PAC, this distinguished honor celebrates visionary trailblazers in pop culture and media whose work has profoundly transformed how LGBTQ people are seen and understood, sparking empathy, expanding acceptance, and amplifying the richness of the community’s stories on a global stage.
“Through his storytelling, Jacob Tierney has helped bring LGBTQ stories to life with authenticity, depth, and humanity,” said Equality PAC Co-Chairs Ranking Member Mark
Takano (D-CA) and Congressman Ritchie Torres (D-NY). “With Heated Rivalry, in particular, he has created a powerful and nuanced portrayal that resonates deeply with audiences, capturing both the intimacy and complexity of LGBTQ experiences. His work doesn’t just entertain, it challenges assumptions, broadens understanding, and creates space for more honest and inclusive narratives to thrive. We are especially proud to honor him as the inaugural recipient of our Game Changer Award. His creative vision and commitment to representation are helping to shape a culture where more people feel seen, valued, and understood. That kind of impact extends far beyond the screen, it moves hearts, influences conversations, and helps drive meaningful change.”
“I’m deeply honored to be named the inaugural recipient of the Game Changer Award from Equality PAC,” said Jacob Tierney. “With Heated Rivalry, we set out to tell a love story that felt authentic, intimate, and grounded in real emotional truth, one that didn’t shy away from complexity, vulnerability, or joy. To see it resonate with audiences in such a meaningful way has been incredibly moving. I’ve always believed that storytelling has the power to build empathy and bridge understanding, and this recognition is a powerful reminder of what can happen when people are able to see themselves reflected on screen with honesty and care. I’m grateful to everyone who helped bring this story to life, and to those who continue to champion inclusive storytelling. There are so many more stories to tell, and I’m inspired to keep pushing that work forward.”
Jacob Tierney is an acclaimed film and television creator and co-president of Accent Aigu Entertainment, the production company he co-founded in 2023. A visionary showrunner, he created, wrote, directed, and executive produced the internationally celebrated, award-winning Crave original series Heated Rivalry. The series has earned the prestigious Peabody Award and won the GLAAD Award for Outstanding New Television Series. It has also garnered 18 Canadian Screen Award nominations, including Best Writing, Best Direction, and Best Drama Series, among numerous other accolades. Jacob is next set to write, direct, and executive produce Alexander for Netflix. He also served as an executive producer on The Traitors Canada for its first three seasons.
Jacob co-developed, co-wrote and directed every episode of the hit series Letterkenny and directed the first two seasons of its spinoff Shoresy, earning 10 Canadian Screen Awards and cementing his reputation as a defining voice in television. Before his rise as a powerhouse in TV, Jacob wrote and directed four feature films, including Twist (Venice Film Festival premiere), The Trotsky (Genie Award for Best Original Screenplay) and the cult classic, Good Neighbours. He also executive produced the 2023 feature War Pony, which won the prestigious Caméra d’Or Award for Best Feature at the Cannes Film Festival.
Recognized for both his creative impact and cultural influence, Jacob is the recipient of the Harvey Milk Medal, Cultural Innovator Award from the Departure Festival + Conference, and the Cultural Impact Award from The NYC LGBT Community Center.
Tierney will receive Equality PAC’s Game Changer Award at Equality PAC’s annual National Pride Gala on Tuesday, June 9, 2026, at Washington, DC’s historic Andrew W. Mellon Auditorium. This is Equality PAC’s largest event in terms of attendees and fundraising each year.
Equality PAC’s primary mission is simple: to elect more LGBTQ+ persons to Congress — individuals who will have a seat at the table, impact the debate, and humanize the LGBTQ community’s concerns. Beyond this goal, Equality PAC also supports strong LGBTQ community allies who will proudly and unapologetically stand with us in the fight to pass the Equality Act and equal protection under our nation’s laws. All funds that Equality PAC raises are directed to re-elect and expand our small – but mighty – LGBTQ caucus and to elect a pro-Equality Majority in the House of Representatives.
Today, Equality PAC remains the only identity PAC that financially supports every Frontline Member and Red2Blue candidate because we know that without pro-Equality majorities, the progress our community has made and the civil rights and equal protections we have fought so hard for – and are still fighting for every day – remain in jeopardy.
In the short time that Equality PAC has existed, it has played an unmatched role in making history for the LGBTQ community, electing LGBTQ leaders at the federal level such as current House Members Sharice Davis (Kansas); Ritchie Torres (New York); Becca Balint (Vermont); Robert Garcia (California); Eric Sorensen (Illinois); Angie Craig (Minnesota); and Chris Pappas (New Hampshire).
And in the most recent elections, Equality PAC notched three huge historic wins: in TX-32 with Julie Johnson who made history as the first openly LGBTQ person ever elected to Congress from Texas or the South; in WA-06 with Emily Randall who made history as the first ever queer Latina elected to Congress and the first LGBTQ Member from Washington state; and with DE state Senator Sarah McBride in DE-AL as the first trans person ever elected to Congress.
With their elections, we have DOUBLED the number of LGBTQ women in the House from 3 to 6. And for the first time ever – there is parity within the LGBTQ caucus with 6 women and 6 men serving together in the House. This is an incredible accomplishment. On top of this, 5 of the 12 LGBTQ persons serving right now in the House are persons of color. These are incredible accomplishments for our community and its representation in Congress
Equality PAC has grown exponentially since its founding by Congressman Mark Takano and former Congressman (now Governor) Jared Polis in 2014 – when we raised $32,000 from some very loyal and trusting friends who took a chance on us and the experiment we were at the time.
Today, we are extraordinarily grateful to have deeply committed and generous supporters in all 50 states, Washington, DC, and Puerto Rico – and throughout the grassroots, labor, and business communities.
In total, during the 2023-24 election cycle, we raised and spent an impressive $23.4m for Equality PAC and direct contributions for our endorsed Members and candidates, state Party funds, the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee (DCCC), and independent expenditure efforts. As we look to the 2026 election and possible opportunities – particularly in potential open House and Senate seat races – we anticipate making even more history and growing the LGBTQ House Caucus deeper into double digits and electing at least two new LGBTQ Senators.