Hair receives Special Recognition Award at New York event presented by IBM and Prudential
New York, Sunday, March 14, 2010 — Sigourney Weaver, Meredith Vieira, Alan Cumming, Bryan Batt, Sarah Paulson, Rosie Perez, Michael Urie, Gavin Creel, and Dustin Lance Black were among the celebrities who joined the Gay & Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation ( GLAAD ) as it honored Joy Behar, Cynthia Nixon, and the best in television and journalism last night at the 21st Annual GLAAD Media Awards in New York.
The GLAAD Media Awards elevate and promote fair, accurate and inclusive stories of lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender ( LGBT ) issues, people and allies that have increased awareness, understanding and respect for the lives of LGBT people. The GLAAD Media Awards also fund GLAAD's work to amplify stories of LGBT people and issues that build support for equality.
Photographs from the 21st Annual GLAAD Media Awards in New York may be downloaded immediately at www.wireimage.com, or after 5:00 p.m. ET on March 14 at www.glaad.org .
At the ceremony, Sex and the City creator, Michael Patrick King, presented the Vito Russo Award to actress Cynthia Nixon, whose openness about her family has led to a greater understanding of the need for full marriage equality. The Vito Russo Award is presented to an openly lesbian, gay, bisexual or transgender media professional who has made a significant difference in promoting equal rights for the LGBT community.
"Coming out wasn't hard in 2004. But if it had been 1994? What would I have done? I'll never know. Only 10 years difference and a whole different universe," Nixon said in her acceptance speech. "Coming out wasn't difficult for me because of the work of many people in this room and because of the vision, tenacity and sacrifice of people like Vito Russo, who are no longer with us, but because of whom there is a room — a room that has all of us in it."
Also at the event, journalist Meredith Vieira presented the Excellence in Media Award to Joy Behar, who has shown a strong commitment to educating the public about the lives of gay and transgender people on her HLN talk show, The Joy Behar Show, and as co-host of The View. The Excellence in Media Award is presented to individuals who, through their work, have increased the visibility and understanding of the LGBT community in the media.
Discussing her days as an up-and-coming comedian, Behar said in her acceptance speech: "I was not sure of myself in any way, totally freaked out by the whole thing but I had to do it because I had no money and...I was raising a kid, so I needed to keep moving ahead and the gay community was so great and warm to me and just got everything. They understood and got all the jokes and I will forever be grateful to you for that."
Actress Sigourney Weaver and producers Daniel Sladek and Damian Ganczewski accepted the award for Outstanding TV Movie or Mini-Series for Prayers for Bobby. "We Love You, This Won't Change a Thing," by John Buccigross ( ESPN.com ) tied with "Why Can't You Just Butch Up? Gay Men, Effeminacy, and Our War with Ourselves" by Brent Hartinger ( AfterElton.com ) for the Outstanding Digital Journalism Article award. The awards were accepted by John Buccigross and Patrick Burke, and Brent Hartinger, respectively. Brothers & Sisters received the GLAAD Media Award for Outstanding Drama Series, and show writer Geoffrey Nauffts accepted on behalf of the show.
CNN's American Morning producer Beth Marengo and Will Phillips accepted for the Outstanding TV Journalism Segment, "Why Will Won't Pledge Allegiance" which featured Phillips and his father.
In a rousing speech that elicited a standing ovation, 11-year-old Phillips said: "I know there are certain political restraints that make action difficult, however lack of equality for some is lack of equality for all and I think its time for us all to get equal."
A Special Recognition Award was presented to Broadway musical Hair. The award was accepted by openly gay cast member Gavin Creel, and the cast of Hair performed to close the show.
"The honorees, nominees and award recipients at tonight's event represent media professionals who are expanding acceptance and understanding about our community through their excellent work," said GLAAD President Jarrett Barrios. "GLAAD thanks all in attendance for joining us and voicing their support for equality."
Tony Award-winning actor Alan Cumming hosted the evening, and the Youth Pride Chorus opened the show with a performance for the capacity crowd. Other guests and presenters at the event included: Geoffrey Fletcher ( Precious ) ; Jane Velez-Mitchell ( HLN ) ; Sandra Bernhard ( Dare ) ; Gerald McCullouch ( CSI: Crime Scene Investigation ) ; Nigel Barker, Jay Manuel ( America's Next Top Model ) ; Scott Evans, Brett Claywell ( One Life to Live ) ; Sam McMillen ( The Amazing Race 15 ) ; John Tartaglia ( Shrek the Musical ) ; Jonathan Tolins ( Secrets of the Trade ) ; Maya Luz ( Project Runway ) ; Jill Zarin ( The Real Housewives of New York City ) ; former President of Entertainment at MTV Networks, Brian Graden; and GLAAD President Jarrett Barrios. Guests at the after-party enjoyed the music of renowned DJ Corey Craig.
Following is a complete list of GLAAD Media Award recipients announced Saturday in New York. Additional awards will be presented in Los Angeles on April 17 at the Hyatt Regency Century Plaza, and in San Francisco on June 5 at the Westin Saint Francis.
Excellence in Media Award: Joy Behar ( presented by Meredith Vieira )
Vito Russo Award: Cynthia Nixon ( presented by Michael Patrick King )
Special Recognition Award: Hair ( accepted by Gavin Creel )
Outstanding Film-Limited Release: Little Ashes ( Regent Releasing )
Outstanding Drama Series: Brothers & Sisters ( ABC )
Outstanding Individual Episode: "Pawnee Zoo" Parks and Recreation ( NBC )
Outstanding TV Movie or Mini-Series: Prayers for Bobby ( Lifetime )
Outstanding Daily Drama: One Life to Live ( ABC )
Outstanding Talk Show Episode: "Ellen DeGeneres and Her Wife, Portia de Rossi" The Oprah Winfrey Show ( syndicated )
Outstanding TV Journalism Segment: "Why Will Won't Pledge Allegiance" American Morning ( CNN )
Outstanding TV Journalism — Newsmagazine: "Uganda Be Kidding Me" ( series ) The Rachel Maddow Show ( MSNBC )
Outstanding Newspaper Article: "Kept From a Dying Partner's Bedside" by Tara Parker-Pope ( The New York Times )
Outstanding Newspaper Columnist: Frank Rich ( The New York Times )
Outstanding Newspaper Overall Coverage: The New York Times
Outstanding Magazine Article: "Coming Out in Middle School" by Benoit Denizet-Lewis ( The New York Times Magazine )
Outstanding Magazine Overall Coverage: The Advocate
Outstanding Digital Journalism Article: TIE: "'We Love You, This Won't Change a Thing'" by John Buccigross ( ESPN.com ) and "Why Can't You Just Butch Up? Gay Men, Effeminacy, and Our War with Ourselves" by Brent Hartinger ( AfterElton.com )
Outstanding Comic Book: Detective Comics by Greg Rucka ( DC Comics )
Outstanding New York Theater: Broadway & Off—Broadway: A Boy and His Soul by Colman Domingo
Outstanding New York Theater: Off—Off Broadway: She Like Girls by Chisa Hutchinson
SPANISH-LANGUAGE CATEGORIES
Outstanding Novela: Más Sabe el Diablo ( Telemundo )
Outstanding Daytime Talk Show Episode: "Adopci"n gay: un tema muy controversial" Paparazzi TV Sensacional ( MegaTV )
Outstanding Talk Show Interview: "Realidades de ser gay en la tercera edad" El Show de Cristina ( Univision )
Outstanding TV Journalism — Newsmagazine: TIE: "En el cuerpo equivocado" Primer Impacto ( Univision ) and "Damas gracias: Entrevista con Eva Leivas-Andino" Al Rojo Vivo ( Telemundo )
Outstanding Newspaper Article: "Mas familias de dos papás o dos mamas" by Pilar Marrero ( La Opini"n )
Outstanding Magazine Article: "Del odio a la justicia" by Lena Hansen ( People en Español )
Outstanding Digital Journalism Article: "Saliendo del cl"set: C"mo enfrentarlo en familia" by Fernanda Martínez ( Univision.com )
More than 100 corporate partners are showing their support, including New York Co-Presenting corporate partners IBM and Prudential, Los Angeles Presenting corporate partner ABSOLUT® Vodka and San Francisco Presenting corporate partner Southwest Airlines. GLAAD is also grateful to the 21st Annual GLAAD Media Awards Platinum Underwriter corporate partners: AT&T, Anheuser-Busch, Inc., Time Warner, Lexus and University of Phoenix, as well as Underwriter corporate partners: Allstate Insurance Company, American Airlines, Comcast, Delta Air Lines, Harrah's Foundation, Herb Ritts Foundation, MillerCoors, New York City Marriott & Renaissance Hotels, NBC Universal, The Palette Fund, PricewaterhouseCoopers, Sheppard, Mullin, Richter & Hampton LLP, Sony Pictures Entertainment, Terry K. Watanabe Charitable Trust and UBS.
For a full list of corporate sponsors or information on how to become a corporate sponsor, purchase tickets or a tribute journal ad, please visit www.glaad.org/mediaawards or contact Stamp Event Management at ( 877 ) 519-7904 or glaad@stampeventco.com .
About GLAAD
The Gay & Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation ( GLAAD ) is dedicated to promoting and ensuring fair, accurate and inclusive representation of people and events in the media as a means of eliminating homophobia and discrimination based on gender identity and sexual orientation. For more information, please visit www.glaad.org
