Tag: GLAAD

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George Takei pulls an “Ellen” at the GLAAD Media Awards

George Takei received the Vito Russo Award last night, which is named after one of GLAAD’s co-founders and the author of The Celluloid Closet.

The award is presented to an out media professional who has made a significant difference in promoting equality.

Previous Vito Russo Award honorees include Anderson Cooper, Ricky Martin, Rosie O’Donnell, Alan Cumming, Cynthia Nixon, Nathan Lane, Cherry Jones, Elton John, k.d. lang, and Tom Ford.

The award was presented to Takei by Broadway director Stafford Arima who is directing Allegiance, a new Broadway musical starring Takei, Telly Leung, and Lea Salonga.

One degree of separation here – I’m staging a production of A Chorus Line with Stafford Arima next month in Sacramento 🙂

In his acceptance speech Takei said: “I am so glad to be with all you GLAAD people to receive this important recognition. The Vito Russo Award is charged with meaning and potency.

“In the twenty-five years since its founding, GLAAD has dramatically changed American society for gays, lesbians, bisexuals and transgender people. I know, because as a closeted kid growing up in Los Angeles… all I saw of gays and lesbians in movies and television or heard on radio were caricatures of people who were mocked and laughed at, or pitied, or hated.

“The media stripped us of all humanity and made us into pathetic stereotypes. The media then was a soul-crushing monster.

“GLAAD took on this formidable beast with its media savvy, political acumen and the power of its advocacy and transformed the media into a powerful force for change. GLAAD inspired and galvanized others into action to join with in the great 21st century civil rights movement.”

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George Takei to be honored at 25th Annual GLAAD Media Awards in NYC

TV icon and LGBT advocate George Takei will be honored at the 25th Annual GLAAD Media Awards in New York at the Waldorf Astoria New York on May 3 where he will receive the Vito Russo Award, it was announced today.

Takei will receive GLAAD’s Vito Russo Award, which is presented to an openly lesbian, gay, bisexual, or transgender media professional who has made a significant difference in promoting equality. Previous Vito Russo honorees include Anderson Cooper, Ricky Martin, Rosie O’Donnell, Alan Cumming, Cynthia Nixon, Nathan Lane, Cherry Jones, Elton John, k.d. lang, and Tom Ford.

Over his career, the actor, advocate, social media star and author has remained one of the most outspoken LGBT voices in Hollywood. Since coming out in 2005, he has spoken out on issues including marriage equality, the Employment Non-Discrimination Act (ENDA), so-called “ex-gay therapy” and more. He has worked closely with GLAAD to bring equality to the Boy Scouts and supported GLAAD’s Spirit Day campaign to show support for LGBT youth and end anti-LGBT bullying. To Be Takei, a documentary about Takei’s life and career, premiered at Sundance in January and is scheduled for a theatrical release this summer.

In addition, international superstar Kylie Minogue will perform at the gala.

Minogue has been a longtime supporter of LGBT equality and has included images of LGBT people in her music videos, including for the song “All the Lovers.”

Minogue has performed at LGBT venues across the world, including London’s famed G-A-Y nightclub and New York City’s Splash Bar.

Additionally, Minogue has headlined LGBT pride events like the Sydney Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras celebration.

Tickets are available now. Sign up to watch the red carpet live Saturday, May 3 at glaad.org/mediaawards.

(from GLAAD)

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Debby Boone: “I have really good friends and family members who have changed my mind” on gay rights

Singer Debby Boone (of 70’s hit “You Light Up My Life” fame) spoke to Traipsing Thru Films at this weekend’s GLAAD awards saying that she has “come into the future” in evolving from the “old way of thinking to a new one” in regard to respecting LGBT folks and their rights.

Boone’s father, Pat Boone, is famously anti-gay having compared gay rights activists to terrorists back in 2008.

Said Boone:

“I’m really happy to be here in support of GLAAD, because I am one of the people that has made the transition from an old way of thinking to a new one. And I think that’s really the crux of what GLAAD is all about…I have really good friends and family members that have changed my mind. And the couple that we’re with tonight is a lesbian couple who attended the church where my husband was associate rector.”

(via Towleroad)

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Rita Moreno presents Jennifer Lopez with GLAAD’s Vanguard Award

Jennifer Lopez accepts the 2014 Vanguard Award from GLAAD

Rita Moreno presented Jennifer Lopez with GLAAD’s 2014 Vanguard Award.

Lopez’s show The Fosters, was also recognized as Outstanding Drama of the Year.

Lopez spoke about her gay aunt during the speech:

“I’ve always felt a tremendous love from the LGBT community and the LGBT community has always supported me and returned that love…

Marisa was my cool aunt. She was my mom’s older sister and she lived in New York City. I lived in the Bronx and she lived in Manhattan, it was like worlds away! She wanted to be an actress and I always wanted to be like her.

Marisa grew up gay in a time when it meant life could be very difficult and that her struggles were mostly kept to herself. It wasn’t until I got older that I really began to know and appreciate the difficulties she dealt with and the struggles of her community. I also realized the quiet lessons I had learned from my family of tolerance and acceptance.”

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GLAAD President Sarah Kate Ellis looks forward to marching in NYC Pride Parade with Bill Donohue

GLAAD president Sarah Kate Ellis underscores the invitation extended by NYC Pride to Catholic League president Bill Donohue to march in the 2014 NYC Pride parade.

“As a fellow Irish New Yorker, I’m hoping Bill will march with me at NYC Pride. I look forward to the day when I can march openly with Bill in the NYC St. Patrick’s Day Parade, and not be turned away because of who I am.”

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Sarah Kate Ellis named new president for GLAAD

An experienced communications experts, Sarah Kate Ellis led national media brands to huge successes including Real Simple, Vogue, InStyle, New York, and House & Garden.

GLAAD’s National Board of Directors is proud to announce that Sarah Kate Ellis has been elected as GLAAD’s new CEO and president. As a respected media executive and outspoken advocate for LGBT equality, Sarah Kate is uniquely qualified to lead GLAAD, the nation’s leading LGBT media advocacy organization.

Steve Warren, National Co-Chair of GLAAD’s Board said: “GLAAD’s unparalleled history in shifting American beliefs on LGBT families paved the way for our recent legal victories and will be instrumental in inspiring more and more Americans to stand with LGBT people and our families. We are excited to welcome Sarah Kate at a time when our community needs more of GLAAD’s work in the media to share the stories that create real change.”

Sarah Kate spoke to her vision for GLAAD’s advocacy work: “While our community has made great strides in recent years, our movement has an important and critical journey ahead. Together with our dedicated staff, I will push for a culture where everyone in the LGBT community not only has legal equality, but is fully welcomed and respected by our neighbors. I look forward to leading GLAAD and creating a world where LGBT people and our families have the freedom to joyously– and openly– live a life they love.”

Ellis also penned a memoir with wife Kristen Ellis-Henderson, titled “Times Two, Two Women in Love and the Happy Family They Made,” released by Simon & Schuster.

(via press release)

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GLAAD President Herndon Graddick resigns

Via press release we learn that GLAAD President Herndon Graddick has resigned, after a bit more than a year in the position, effective immediately:

“I’m proud to leave GLAAD with a stronger, more efficient organization and an incredibly talented and experienced Board and staff,” Graddick said in a statement to the press.

“I’m happy the role I was able to play in advancing the need for our community to fully support the rights of our transgender brothers and sisters. Our movement is benefited by the leadership not only of heroes like Evan Wolfson, Chad Griffin, Mara Keisling, and Kate Kendell, but of the necessary and vital blogger and grassroots communities.  I look forward to returning to a private life and supporting the fight from behind the scenes.”

GLAAD’s Chief of Staff Dave Montez will serve as Acting President.

Under Herndon’s tenure, GLAAD began campaigns including a national call for the Boy Scouts of America to end their ban on gay scouts and scout leaders. 

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2013 GLAAD Media Awards in Los Angeles

The Los Angeles GLAAD Media Awards were held last night:

The event, hosted by actress-producer-director Drew Barrymore, boasted such Hollywood heavyweights as presenters Jennifer Morrison, Charlize Theron, Betty White and Leonardo DiCaprio. Other winners included “Perks of Being a Wallflower,” which was named outstanding film: wide release, and former President Bill Clinton was given the first Advocate for Change award.

On the arrivals line, longtime Clinton friend, Oscar-winner Mary Steenburgen, defended the former president’s controversial honor. Under Clinton’s administration came the Defense of Marriage Act, which bars federal recognition of same-sex marriage, as well as the “don’t ask, don’t tell” military policy.

“Actually, (”don’t ask, don’t tell”) was a sorrow for him,” Steenburgen said. “So, I think he’s spent a large part of his life making up for that. But I tell you this: He’s never not had his heart in the right place, in terms of the gay community.”

“I believe you will win the DOMA fight and I think you will win the constitutional right to marry,” Clinton said. “If not tomorrow, then the next day and the next day.”

President Clinton added, “When you have won marriage equality everywhere, ask yourself, ‘How in the world do we ever win a great cultural battle and we can’t even pass ENDA?’ What is wrong with this picture?”

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Bill Clinton to be honored as GLAAD’s 1st “Advocate for Change”

Via press release we get the news that former President Bill Clinton will be honored later this month at the GLAAD Media Awards in Los Angeles:

Bill Clinton will receive GLAAD’s first Advocate for Change Award during the event. In 2011, Clinton advocated for marriage equality in New York, stating that “for more than a century, our Statue of Liberty has welcomed all kinds of people from all over the world yearning to be free. In the 21st century, I believe New York’s welcome must include marriage equality.” In 2012, he joined the Coalition to Protect North Carolina Families in working against North Carolina’s proposed Amendment One to ban marriage and civil unions for gay and lesbian couples. Most recently, he called for the Supreme Court to strike down the Defense of Marriage Act in an op-ed for The Washington Post.

During his administration, Clinton became the first U.S. President to appoint out gay and lesbian people to all levels of government. He appointed more than 150 including James Hormel as America’s first openly gay ambassador. During the height of the HIV/AIDS crisis, his administration convened the first White House Conference on the epidemic, created the national AIDS Policy Coordinator post, and expanded funding for research. In 2002, his Clinton Health Access Initiative (CHAI) began as the Clinton HIV/AIDS Initiative to address the HIV/AIDS crisis in the developing world.

Here are the details:
Saturday, April 20, 2013 – 5:30pm
JW Marriott Los Angeles
900 W Olympic Blvd
Los Angeles, CA

Click here for ticket info.