CELEBRITIES AND CHANGEMAKERS CALL OUT BIGOTRY AND ISSUE CHALLENGE TO TURN LGBTQ ALLYSHIP INTO ACTION AT GLAAD MEDIA AWARDS IN NEW YORK

JONATHAN VAN NESS ACCEPTS GLAAD’S VITO RUSSO AWARD AS FIRST NONBINARY RECIPIENT OF THE HONOR:

“We need to proudly say we are pro queer pro trans pro black pro-abortion rights, pro-immigration, we are PRO-HUMAN!” [VIDEO HERE]

MAREN MORRIS ACCEPTS GLAAD’S EXCELLENCE IN MEDIA AWARD AS FIRST COUNTRY ARTIST TO RECEIVE THE HONOR:

“I want my fellow country music artists to understand that inclusivity is not only the right thing, but it’s also good for business.” [VIDEO HERE]

IDINA MENZEL DAZZLES WITH GLOBAL DEBUT OF NEW HIT “MOVE”

34TH ANNUAL GLAAD MEDIA AWARDS WINNERS INCLUDE:

WE’RE HERE, ANYTHING’S POSSIBLE, FIRE ISLAND, HEARTSTOPPER, DOVE CAMERON, RAQUEL WILLIS, THE PROBLEM WITH JON STEWART WITH GUEST APPEARANCES BY: KARINE JEAN-PIERRE, JONATHAN BENNETT, JOEL KIM BOOSTER, COLMAN DOMINGO, FRANKIE GRANDE, TAMRON HALL, BOWEN YANG AND MORE WITH HOST HARVEY GUILLÉN

New York, NY – Saturday, May 13, 2023 – GLAAD, the world’s largest lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer (LGBTQ) media advocacy organization, announced recipients for the final 18 of this year’s 33 categories of the 34th Annual GLAAD Media Awards in New York City. Maren Morris accepted GLAAD’s Excellence in Media Award, introduced by Cynthia Lee Fontaine and Alyssa Edwards, making Morris the first country music artist to receive that honor. Jonathan Van Ness accepted GLAAD’s Vito Russo Award, presented by ALOK, making Van Ness the first nonbinary recipient to receive that honor.

The New York ceremony for the 34th Annual GLAAD Media Awards was hosted by producer, Critics Choice-nominated actor and GLAAD Award winner, Harvey Guillén. The evening opened with a special performance by multi-platinum selling singer/songwriter and Tony Award-winning Broadway icon, Idina Menzel, with the global debut of her new hit, Move. The pop disco track is fresh off her upcoming dance project, Drama Queen, releasing August 18.

Recognizing the rise in anti-LGBTQ violence and rhetoric across the country, including over 500 anti-LGBTQ bills introduced so far in 2023, GLAAD welcomed transgender Montana State Representative Zooey Zephyr, as well as queer and nonbinary Oklahoma State Representative Mauree Turner, to spotlight the critical role we all have in representing our communities with the power of the vote. Both representatives were targeted and silenced in recent weeks, censured by the state legislatures they both serve in. When bigoted politicians turn to disgusting tactics to erase queer voices, GLAAD turns up the volume on exposing hate and amplifying what accurate and fair queer visibility look, sounds and feels like.

Rep. Zooey Zephyr:
“Trans people have always been here and we always will be. And not just our lives, but our resilience, our joy, and our love is forever. You cannot legislate trans people out of existence any more than you can legislate away joy and love. If we root ourselves in that love, and root ourselves in community, we are sure to win. We already are.”

Rep. Mauree Turner:
“I am the culmination of the things bigots hate the most: a Queer Black non-binary Muslim elected official. What they say is: you don’t get access to the same Oklahoma as the rest of us because I don’t like you. And what I say is: leave your homegrown bigotry at home. I was lucky to have a mother who said I see you, I will always advocate for you. But even with that support I didn’t think I was going to make it through middle school, let alone high school. Now it’s the same bullies with different tactics. But I did not give up when I was 12 or 15, and I’m not going to give up now. I want trans youth, trans youth of color, and all youth to hear this: I know how heavy and scary it is right now. I’ve been there.”

Presented by Cynthia Lee Fontaine and Alyssa Edwards, Maren Morris accepted GLAAD’s Excellence in Media Award, saying in part:

“I want my fellow country music artists to understand that inclusivity is not only the right thing, but it’s also good for business. You open up yourself and your sound to a much larger audience, even if you lose some along the way. The crowds at my shows are a sea of diversity, from race, identity to age. It is a loving, safe space for my band, crew, venue staff and most notably, my fans. This community stood up for me and made me feel safe when I felt alone and I’ll never be able to repay them, but I hope I get to spend the rest of my life and career settling up.”

Presented by ALOK, Jonathan Van Ness accepted GLAAD’s Vito Russo Award, saying in part:

“Living in Texas, I am not willing to sit on the sidelines as these grown bullies attempt to erase our community. Luckily I grew up with strong women who taught me to stand up for what’s right. One of the ways I do that is to frequently join my friends from Equality Texas and GLAAD in Austin. I want everyone to find their healing. I know people love and accept you more once you love and accept yourself. I also know that we need to proudly say we are pro queer pro trans pro black pro-abortion rights, pro-immigration, we are PRO HUMAN! What is happening now should be a jolting wakeup call.”

GLAAD’s President & CEO Sarah Kate Ellis made keynote remarks, saying in part:

“We want an America where AR-15 assault rifles do not have more rights than people of color, women, and LGBTQ Americans. So when they go low, we get LOUD. That is GLAAD’s superpower…We are not going to let anyone tell a story that villainizes us, when the truth is that everyone deserves to live happily ever after. So raise your voice. Take action with GLAAD. Get loud and stay proud.” [VIDEO HERE]

VIDEOS & PHOTOS

PHOTOS of red carpet and arrivals courtesy of Getty Images for GLAAD: HERE.

PHOTOS of show, backstage and after-party courtesy of Getty Images for GLAAD: HERE.

VIDEO of honoree speeches and key moments courtesy GLAAD: HERE.

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WINNER’S LIST

GLAAD presented the following awards from four categories onstage in New York:

• Fire Island and Anything’s Possible both received the award for Outstanding Film – Streaming/TV
• We’re Here received the award for Outstanding Reality Series
• The Problem with Jon Stewart received the award for Outstanding Variety or Talk Show Episode
• “Logo’s Trans Youth Town Hall” received the award for Outstanding Online Journalism – Video or Multimedia presented by Frankie Grande and Tamron Hall.

During the New York ceremony, GLAAD also announced winners in the following categories in an off-stage video reel:

Outstanding Kids & Family Programming – Live Action: Heartstopper (Netflix)
Outstanding Kids & Family Programming – Animated: Dead End: Paranormal Park (Netflix)
Outstanding Breakthrough Music Artist: Dove Cameron (Columbia Records)
Outstanding Broadway Production: A Strange Loop
Outstanding Video Game: Apex Legends (Respawn Entertainment/Electronic Arts)
Outstanding Original Graphic Novel/Anthology: Young Men in Love (A Wave Blue World)
Outstanding TV Journalism Segment: “HIV in the Deep South” In Real Life (Scripps News)
Outstanding TV Journalism – Long-Form: “PRIDE | To Be Seen” Soul of a Nation (ABC)
Outstanding Live TV Journalism – Segment or Special: “The Last Thing Before We Go: Stephanie Ruhle Talks Spirit Day” The 11th Hour (MSNBC)
Outstanding Print Article: “Pediatricians Who Serve Trans Youth Face Increasing Harassment. Lifesaving Care Could Be on the Line” by Madeleine Carlisle (TIME)
Outstanding Online Journalism Article: “Alabama Is Trying to Raise the Legal Driving Age for Trans People to 19” by Nico Lang (TheDailyBeast.com)
Outstanding Blog: Mombian
Outstanding Podcast: TransLash Podcast with Imara Jones (TransLash Media) and Sibling Rivalry (Studio71) (TIE)
Outstanding Spanish-Language Online Journalism Article: “Proyectos de ley anti LGBTQ+ en Florida son una ‘licencia para discriminar’ y reviven el dolor de Pulse, dicen grupos locales” por Jennifer A. Marcial Ocasio (OrlandoSentinel.com)
Outstanding Spanish-Language Online Journalism – Video or Multimedia: “Las abuelas trans buscan dignificar su vejez” por Liliana Rosas y Silvana Flores (ReporteIndigo.com)

GLAAD previously announced winners of the following categories at the Los Angeles Ceremony of the GLAAD Media Awards and the full list is also available HERE.

Outstanding New TV Series: A League of Their Own (Prime Video)
Outstanding Comedy Series: What We Do in The Shadows (FX)
Outstanding Film – Wide Release: Bros (Universal Pictures)
Outstanding Documentary: Framing Agnes (Kino Lorber)
Outstanding Film – Limited Release: The Inspection (A24)
Outstanding Reality Program – Competition: Dancing with the Stars (Disney+)
Outstanding Music Artist: Fletcher, Girl of My Dreams (Capitol Records)
Outstanding Limited or Anthology Series: The White Lotus (HBO MAX)
Outstanding Comic Book: Poison Ivy, by G. Willow Wilson, Marcio Takara, Atagun Ilhan, Brian Level, Stefano Gaudiano, Jay Leisten, Arif Prianto, Ivan Plascencia, Hassan Otsmane-Elhaou (DC Comics)
Outstanding Children’s Programming: “Adoptasaurus Rex” Dino Ranch (Disney Junior)
Outstanding Magazine Overall Coverage: The Advocate
Outstanding Spanish-Language Scripted Television Series: Los Espookys (HBO)
Outstanding Spanish-Language TV Journalism: “Vico Ortiz” Primer Impacto (Univision)
Barbara Gittings Award for Excellence in LGBTQ Media: Los AngelesBlade + Washington Blade
Special Recognition: Alejandra Caraballo
Special Recognition: Drag Story Hour
Special Recognition: Rothaniel (HBO)
Special Recognition: #Letters4TransKids
Special Recognition: The Lesbian Bar Project
Special Recognition (Spanish-Language): “En Sus Palabras” (Univision)

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About the GLAAD Media Awards: The 34th 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 34th  Annual GLAAD Media Awards are presented by Gilead Sciences, Inc., Hyundai, and Ketel One Family Made Vodka. GLAAD is also grateful to Major Sponsor Delta Air Lines and Official Sponsor Sony Music Group.

The nominees for the 34th Annual GLAAD Media Awards were published, released, or broadcast between January 1, 2022 and December 31, 2022. For a full list of nominees, click here.

On socials please follow @GLAAD and #glaadawards

The GLAAD Media Awards ceremonies, which fund GLAAD’s work to accelerate LGBTQ acceptance, will be held in Los Angeles at the Beverly Hilton on Thursday, March 30, 2023 and in New York at the Hilton Midtown on Saturday, May 13, 2023. GLAAD President and CEO Sarah Kate Ellis serves as Executive Producer of the GLAAD Media Awards, alongside GLAAD staff Rich Ferraro and Anthony Allen Ramos. with Wendy Shanker serving as Head Writer.