GLAAD Global Voices Program to Recognize International LGBT Advocates at 25th Annual GLAAD Media Awards

New York, Thursday, February 13, 2014 – GLAAD, the world’s largest lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) media advocacy organization, today acknowledged international advocates working through the media to advance equality across the globe, by announcing the inaugural International Advocate for Change Award to be presented at the 25th Annual GLAAD Media Awards. The announcement comes as the world’s attention turns to Sochi, Russia during the 2014 Winter Olympic Games and is part of GLAAD’s recently announced GLAAD Global Voices program, which aims to build support for LGBT equality across the globe by sharing culture-changing stories of LGBT people and families in American and international media.

“As equality in America continues to advance, it’s important that we focus attention on LGBT people across the globe who still lack even the most basic protections, as well as the courageous advocates working to advance human rights in those places,” said GLAAD Chief Executive Officer & President Sarah Kate Ellis. “Therefore, we are proud to recognize the groundbreaking work of LGBT people and our allies in other countries at the Silver Anniversary of the GLAAD Media Awards.”

“As we make enormous strides in LGBT equality across the United States, in both policy and culture, it becomes even more important to support LGBT people outside the United States. GLAAD operates in a global context and our critical work transcends national boundaries. As such, it’s only fitting that we honor global LGBT citizens and allies who make a significant and demonstrable difference in our community around the world,” said GLAAD National Board Member Anthony Watson. “As the first British citizen and first non-American citizen to be appointed to GLAAD’s National Board of Directors, I am particularly excited that we are choosing the 25th anniversary of the GLAAD Media Awards to advance GLAAD’s support for the international LGBT community with the creation of the International Advocate for Change Award.”

Those recognized as GLAAD Global Voices advocates include: Boy Abunda (Filipino television host); Charlie Condou (British actor); Manny de Guerre (Russian organizer of the Side by Side LGBT Film Festival); Jane Hill (BBC journalist and broadcaster); Imran Khan (Indian actor and LGBT ally); Anton Krasovsky (Russian journalist); Daniela Mercury (Brazilian singer); Pratibha Parmar (British filmmaker); Bishop Christopher Senyonjo (Ugandan clergyman and LGBT ally); Florencia Trinidad (Argentinian transgender actress); Sophie Ward (British actor and writer); Jin Xing (Chinese transgender actress and dancer).

Each of the international media professionals has demonstrated commitment to supporting LGBT equality through their work with the media.

Each of the GLAAD Global Voices Advocates will be profiled on GLAAD.org in upcoming weeks. One will be recognized with the inaugural International Advocate for Change Award.

To receive the latest updates on the GLAAD Media Awards, follow @glaad on Twitter and use the hashtag #glaadawards.

Earlier this year, GLAAD announced 93 nominees in 20 English-language categories, and 37 Spanish-language nominees in 9 categories. Special Honorees for each city will be announced in coming weeks.

A complete list of nominees for the 25th Annual GLAAD Media Awards may be found here.

The GLAAD Media Awards ceremonies will be held in Los Angeles on April 12, 2014 at The Beverly Hilton and in New York on May 3 at the Waldorf Astoria New York.

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 equality.