Los Angeles - Sunday, April 3—GLAAD announced recipients for 16 of this year's 30 categories for the 33rd Annual GLAAD Media Awards. Kacey Musgraves received the Vanguard Award from Ben Platt, and Michaela Jaé Rodriguez received the Stephen F. Kolzak Award from Andrew Garfield at the star-studded ceremony at the Beverly Hilton in Los Angeles. The Los Angeles ceremony for the 33rd Annual GLAAD Media Awards was hosted by Bob the Drag Queen, Eureka O'Hara, and D.J. "Shangela" Pierce from Emmy Nominated HBO Series We're Here, and featured a special performance from Jake Wesley Rogers.
Hulu will be the official streaming partner for the 33rd Annual GLAAD Media Awards, the second consecutive year that Hulu has shared the ceremony on its platform. The GLAAD Media Awards premiere on Hulu on Saturday, April 16.
Nearly 200 LGBTQ special guests and allies walked the red carpet, many wearing GLAAD's & pin in the colors of the transgender flag. Pins are available at http://glaad.org/pin.
During the Los Angeles ceremony, comic and writer Zeke Smith surprised actor Nico Santos (Superstore, Crazy Rich Asians) with a marriage proposal. Santos said, "I DO!"
Jeopardy! Champion Amy Schneider hosted her own version of the show on the GLAAD stage with Drag Race contestants Bob the Drag Queen, Shangela, and Eureka.
GLAAD presented awards in four categories onstage. Other categories were also announced. A full list is below:
Hacks received the award for Outstanding New TV Series [presented by Ronen Rubinstein & Rafael L. Silva]
Saved by the Bell received the award for Outstanding Comedy Series [presented by Harvey Guillén and Leo Sheng]
Eternals received the award for Outstanding Film - Wide Release [presented by Mira Sorvino]
RuPaul's Drag Race and We're Here tied for Outstanding Reality Program [presented by Jasmin Savoy Brown and Liv Hewson]
During the ceremony, GLAAD also announced the winners of select GLAAD Media Awards categories off-stage and on social media. Remaining winners for select categories will be announced at GLAAD's New York Ceremony on Friday, May 6.
The full list of announced winners thus far can be found below:
Outstanding New TV Series: Hacks (HBO Max)
Outstanding Comedy Series: Saved by the Bell (Peacock)
Outstanding Film - Wide Release: Eternals (Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures)
Outstanding Reality Program: RuPaul's Drag Race (VH1) and We're Here (HBO) TIE
Outstanding Documentary: Changing the Game (Hulu)
Outstanding TV Movie: Single All The Way (Netflix)
Outstanding Film - Limited Release: Parallel Mothers (Sony Pictures Classics)
Outstanding Limited or Anthology Series: It's A Sin (HBO MAX)
Outstanding Video Game: Life is Strange: True Colors (Deck Nine Games/Square Enix)
Outstanding Comic Book: Crush & Lobo (DC Comics)
Outstanding Original Graphic Novel/Anthology: Cheer Up! Love and Pompoms (Oni Press)
Outstanding Magazine Overall Coverage: The Advocate
Outstanding Breakthrough Music Artist: Lily Rose, Stronger Than I Am (Big Loud Records/Back Blocks Music/Republic Records)
Outstanding Spanish-Language Scripted Television Series: Maricón Perdido (HBO Max)
Outstanding Spanish-Language TV Journalism: "Orgullo LGBTQ: 52 Años de Lucha y Evolución" (Telemundo 47)
Special Recognition: All Boys Aren't Blue by George M. Johnson [filmed reading + performance]
Special Recognition: "Alok Vaid-Menon" 4D with Demi Lovato (Cadence13/OBB Sound/SB Projects)
Special Recognition: CODED: The Hidden Love of J.C. Leyendecker (Paramount+)
Special Recognition: Jeopardy! Champion Amy Schneider
Special Recognition: The Laverne Cox Show (Shondaland Audio/iHeartMedia)
Special Recognition: Life Out Loud with LZ Granderson (ABC News)
Special Recognition: Outsports' Coverage of the Tokyo 2020 Olympics and Paralympics
Special Recognition (Spanish-Language): "Celebrando el Mes del Orgullo" (Telemundo)
Upon presenting the award and on Rodriguez's honor, Andrew Garfield stated: "Through her art and her energy, Michaela Jaé is making the world respect Black women, Latinas, and all women as we should. In a moment of reckoning for our industry, she is leading the charge to create and produce stories centered on LGBTQ lives and experiences, particularly those of trans women of color. She reminds us that you can't just say you're an ally. Allyship means action. She inspires me to love others as boldly as I can."
Upon acceptance of the award, Michaela Jaé Rodriguez stated: "I have to thank my mother and father for seeing me and loving me. When a child is loved, whether you are LGBTQIA or not, it makes all the difference. When you tell your queer child that you love them, they think, 'I love me too.' I thank all the parents in Texas, Florida, Idaho, Arizona, and around the world who are standing up to fear and ignorance, and grounding their LGBTQIA children in love and acceptance."
Upon acceptance of the Vanguard Award from Ben Platt, Kacey Musgraves stated: "One of the biggest compliments I've ever gotten in regards to my career is a gay country fan telling me they heard my music and finally felt invited to a party they'd never got invited to. I will continue to have your backs and I so dearly appreciate you having mine."
Kacey Musgraves surprised audience with surprise performance of "Rainbow," dedicated to LGBTQ community.
GLAAD President and CEO Sarah Kate Ellis was introduced by JoJo Siwa, and called for action from Hollywood: "In this moment of crisis, what's different is our community is holding companies accountable. So I have a message for the industry: Don't wait until you're in the hot seat. There's no more time to sit on the sidelines. We need Hollywood on the front lines, fighting for our rights and telling our stories.
GLAAD is calling on Hollywood to take meaningful action and will soon convene the biggest brands, agencies, studios, and streamers together with two goals: 1, to commit to improving the quantity, quality, and diversity of LGBTQ images — especially in kids and family programming; and 2, to speak out against anti-LGBTQ legislation in favor of rights like the Equality Act. I expect every industry executive in this room to join us. GLAAD will give you the playbook. But we won't give you a pass."
The 33rd Annual GLAAD Media Awards honor media for fair, accurate, and inclusive representations of LGBTQ people and issues. Since its inception in 1990, the GLAAD Media Awards have grown to be the most visible annual LGBTQ awards show in the world, sending powerful messages of acceptance to audiences globally. The 33rd Annual GLAAD Media Awards are presented by Gilead Sciences, Inc., Hyundai, and Ketel One Family Made Vodka. Delta Air Lines is a Major Sponsor of the events, Sony Music Group is an Official Sponsor, and Comcast NBCUniversal Telemundo is a Titanium Sponsor.
The nominees for the 33rd Annual GLAAD Media Awards were published, released, or broadcast between Jan. 1, 2021 and Dec. 31, 2021. For a full list of nominees, click here.
About GLAAD:
GLAAD rewrites the script for LGBTQ acceptance. As a dynamic media force, GLAAD tackles tough issues to shape the narrative and provoke dialogue that leads to cultural change. GLAAD protects all that has been accomplished and creates a world where everyone can live the life they love. For more information, please visit www.glaad.org or connect with GLAAD on Facebook and Twitter.
