Tag: GLAAD

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Debra Messing Accepts GLAAD’s “Excellence In Media” Award Will A Call To Action

Debra Messing accepts GLAAD’s Excellence in Media Award

Accepting GLAAD’s Excellence in Media Award in New York City this past Saturday, honoree Debra Messing declared, “It’s time to make America gay again!”

The Excellence in Media Award is presented to media professionals who have made a significant difference in promoting LGTBQ acceptance.

During her remarks, Messing said, “Right now there is a very bad and very orange man in the White House. At least a few days a month.”

But it wasn’t just the president Messing had a message for. She also spoke directly to Ivanka Trump:

“It’s not enough to simply say that women’s issues are important to you. It’s time to do something. You can change the lives of millions of women and children just by telling your dad stories about real people who are suffering.

“Don’t let him separate immigrant mothers from their American-born children. Don’t let him take health care away from women who need it. Don’t allow him to make trans kids like Gavin [Grimm] fight in court for their basic human dignity.”

This fall, Messing and her original Will & Grace costars will return to NBC for a 12 episode reboot of the iconic sitcom.

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News Round-Up: March 31, 2017

Colton Haynes as “Daddy Warbucks” and Kathy Griffin as “Grannie”

Some news items you may have missed:

• Find out what happens when “Annie” hangs out too long at the orphanage in this parody “Grannie” of the hit musical. The clip stars Kathy Griffin as the aged orphan, plus it gives you a reason to finally call Colton Haynes “Daddy.”

• The NCAA will announce next week if North Carolina’s fake repeal of HB2 will actual help the state’s standing in terms of booking any championship games in the next five years.

• The Trump administration’s new budget seeks to cut $342 million in HIV/AIDS research and prevention programs. #ThanksTrump

• Congressional Democrats are demanding the next Census include questions on sexual orientation. That data is vitally needed to help policymakers understand the needs of the LGBT community.

• New survey by GLAAD indicates 25% of non-LGBTQ Americans are “uncomfortable” seeing an LGBTQ co-worker’s wedding picture on their desk.

• Trumpeter, singer, producer, and dancer Spencer Ludwig wants you to get “Diggy” this weekend. Watch the grooving video below:

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2016 GLAAD Media Awards Include Robert De Niro, Mariah Carey

GLAAD, the world’s lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) media advocacy organization, honored Robert De Niro, Mariah Carey, and the best in film, television, and journalism at the 27th Annual GLAAD Media Awards at the Waldorf Astoria New York on Saturday.

The GLAAD Media Awards recognize and honor media for their fair, accurate and inclusive representations of the LGBT community and the issues that affect their lives. The GLAAD Media Awards also fund GLAAD’s work to amplify stories from the LGBT community and issues that build support for acceptance.

At the ceremony, Academy Award-winning actress and surprise guest Jennifer Lawrence presented Robert De Niro with GLAAD’s Excellence in Media Award, which is presented to media professionals who, through their work, have increased the visibility and understanding of the lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender community.

In his acceptance speech, De Niro celebrated the Supreme Court’s landmark decision for marriage equality, while cautioning to “also remember oppressive laws like the ones in North Carolina that let us know the struggle continues and challenges us to be vigilant and aggressive in protecting all our rights.” De Niro continued, “Thank you for this honor, I’m proud to stand with you, I’m GLAAD.”

Also at the event, Lee Daniels presented Mariah Carey with the Ally Award, which is presented to a media figure who has consistently used their platform to support and advance LGBT equality and acceptance.

Following is a complete list of GLAAD Media Award recipients announced Saturday in New York. Additional awards were presented in Los Angeles at the Beverly Hilton on April 2.

• Excellence in Media Award: Robert De Niro (presented by Jennifer Lawrence)

• Ally Award: Mariah Carey (presented by Lee Daniels)

• Outstanding TV Journalism – Newsmagazine: “Bruce Jenner: The Interview” 20/20 (ABC) [accepted by: Diane Sawyer, Caitlyn Jenner, and David Sloan, senior executive producer]

• Outstanding TV Journalism Segment: “Interview with Jim Obergefell” Anderson Cooper 360 (CNN) [accepted by: U.S. Supreme Court plaintiff Jim Obergefell]

• Outstanding Magazine Overall Coverage: Cosmopolitan [accepted by: Laura Brounstein, special projects director]

• Outstanding Film – Limited Release: Tangerine (Magnolia Pictures)

• Outstanding Individual Episode: “The Prince of Nucleotides” Royal Pains (USA Network)

• Outstanding Digital Journalism – Multimedia: “Stopping HIV? The Truvada Revolution” Vice Reports (Vice.com)

• Outstanding Newspaper Article: “Cold Case: The Murders of Cosby and Jackson” by Dianna Wray (Houston Press)

• Outstanding Magazine Article: “Behind Brazil’s Gay Pride Parades, a Struggle with Homophobic Violence” by Oscar Lopez (Newsweek)

• Outstanding Digital Journalism Article: “This Is What It’s Like To Be An LGBT Syrian Fleeing For Your Life” by J. Lester Feder (Buzzfeed.com)

SPANISH-LANGUAGE NOMINEES

• Outstanding Daytime Program Episode: “¿El marido de mi padre o yo?” Caso Cerrado (Telemundo)

• Outstanding TV Journalism – Newsmagazine: TIE: “Amor que rompe barreras” Un Nuevo Día (Telemundo) and “En cuerpo ajeno” Aquí y Ahora (Univision)

• Outstanding TV Journalism Segment: “Víctimas de abusos” Noticiero Univision (Univision)

• Outstanding Digital Journalism – Multimedia: “Campeones de la igualdad” (Univision.com)

(via press release)

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Today Is Transgender Day Of Remembrance

(image via GLAAD)

Transgender Day of Remembrance (TDOR) is an annual observance on November 20 that honors the memory of those whose lives were lost in acts of anti-transgender violence.

From Gwendolyn Ann Smith, founder of Transgender Day of Remembrance:

“The Transgender Day of Remembrance seeks to highlight the losses we face due to anti-transgender bigotry and violence. I am no stranger to the need to fight for our rights, and the right to simply exist is first and foremost. With so many seeking to erase transgender people — sometimes in the most brutal ways possible — it is vitally important that those we lose are remembered, and that we continue to fight for justice.”

You can participate by attending or organizing a vigil on November 20 to honor all those whose lives were lost to anti-transgender violence that year.

Vigils are typically hosted by local transgender advocates or LGBT organizations, and held at community centers, parks, places of worship and other venues. The vigil often involves reading a list of the names of those who died that year.

Click here for a list of events.

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Elizabeth Taylor AIDS Foundation & GLAAD: “Let’s Finish What We Started”

Via GLAAD:

GLAAD, the world’s lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) media advocacy organization, releases a new public service announcement (PSA) The PSA begins with Elizabeth Taylor’s historic and impassioned speech at the 1992 Freddie Mercury Tribute Concert as a framework to introduce a new generation to the modern realities of HIV and AIDS, as well as the tools we have to overcome them. It includes participation from Meredith Vieira, Whoopi Goldberg, Jonathan Groff, Michael Emerson, Tituss Burgess, and Bebe Neuwirth and will air nationally in a thirty-second format with generous support from Comcast–NBCUniversal. An extended version of the PSA will run online.

“The Elizabeth Taylor AIDS Foundation is thrilled to be partnering with GLAAD. Their organization was created to respond to misinformation in the media about HIV and AIDS at a time when conversation in the zeitgeist about the epidemic was very high, but understanding of the virus was very low,” said Joel Goldman, Managing Director of The Elizabeth Taylor AIDS Foundation. “ Today, it’s the opposite. Conversation about HIV and AIDS is barely discussed in individual circles and has comparatively fallen out of the news cycle. This is despite the fact that the U.S. has not seen a decrease in new infection rates in nearly two decades.”

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Empire State Building Goes Purple For Spirit Day – October 16th

Emmy-nominated actress Laverne Cox will have the honor of lighting up the Empire State Building in purple to recognize GLAAD’s annual anti-bullying Spirit Day.

Spirit Day, which will take place on October 16, inspires millions to wear purple or “go purple” online in a united stand against bullying and to show their support for lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) youth.

Each year, Spirit Day draws the participation of celebrities, corporations, media outlets, sports leagues, schools, faith institutions, national landmarks, and individuals.

Spirit Day is made possible by the generous support of its national partners PepsiCo and Wells Fargo, as well as official partners Comcast-NBCUniversal and Google, and supporting partner American Eagle Outfitters.

“By recognizing National Bullying Prevention Month and lighting in purple for Spirit Day, the world’s most famous office building is supporting countless kids across the world,” said GLAAD President & CEO Sarah Kate Ellis. “At a time when eight in 10 LGBT youth are harassed at school, it’s critical that we let them know it’s okay to be who you are.”

(via press release)

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YouTube and GLAAD launch new pride initiative #ProudToPlay

Today, GLAAD and YouTube launch a new campaign, #ProudToPlay, which honors LGBT athletes, their supporters, as well as the YouTube Creators who stand up for diversity in sports and elsewhere.

You Can Play Project, Athlete Ally and several other LGBT organizations contributed to the initiative.

As part of the campaign, YouTube’s logo, seen by tens of millions of people every day, features a rainbow soccer ball and leads visitors to the #ProudToPlay channel, which showcases videos of LGBT athletes and allies speaking out in support of equality on the field.

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George Takei accepts Vito Russo Award at the 2014 GLAAD Media Awards in NYC

From George Takei’s speech accepting the Vito Russo Award at the 2014 GLAAD Media Awards in NYC:

“As long as LGBT people can be fired from their job for simply being who they are, our work isn’t done yet.

As long as young people are kicked out of their families just for being who they are, our work is not done yet.

As long as people are be bullied into feeling that their lives are so hopeless that they are driven to self-destructive acts, our work is not done.

Working in concert with GLAAD, with its history of achievement and the legacy of Vito Russo, we will make this a better world, a more equal society of all people.

I accept the GLAAD Vito Russo Award with pride, and with humility and with resolve.”