Kerry Washington to be honored at 26th Annual GLAAD Media Awards

LOS ANGELES, CA – GLAAD, the nation's lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) media advocacy organization, today announced it will honor Golden Globe and Emmy-nominated actress Kerry Washington at the 26th Annual GLAAD Media Awards in Los Angeles at the Beverly Hilton on March 21, 2015.

Washington will receive GLAAD's Vanguard Award, which is presented to media professionals who have made a significant difference in promoting equality. Previous Vanguard Award honorees include Jennifer Lopez, Kristin Chenoweth, Charlize Theron, Elizabeth Taylor, Antonio Banderas, Drew Barrymore, Janet Jackson, and Sharon Stone.

Film, stage, and television star Kerry Washington became the first African American woman to a headline a network TV drama since 1974 when she took on the role of Olivia Pope on the LGBT-inclusive show Scandal, executive produced by Shonda Rhimes. Her performance on this hit ABC show has earned her numerous accolades including Golden Globe, Emmy, and SAG Best Actress nominations as well as an NAACP Image Award for Best Actress.

In addition to appearing in LGBT-inclusive projects like Scandal, Peeples, She Hate Me, The Dead Girl, and Life is Hot in Cracktown, Washington has tirelessly spoken out in support of full equality for LGBT people. She has has participated in GLAAD's annual anti-bullying campaign, Spirit Day, by wearing purple to show her support for LGBT youth, and talked about the importance of stopping bullying on Jimmy Kimmel Live.

She has spoken out against the repression of LGBT people in Russia and Africa, and advocated for marriage equality for same-sex couples. Washington was also appointed by President Barack Obama to the President’s Committee of the Arts and Humanities in 2009, and in 2014 Washington was named to Time's 100 Most Influential list.

Washington’s other films include Save the Last Dance, Lift (for which she received an Independent Spirit nomination), The Human Stain, Sin, Ray, Mr & Mrs Smith, I Think I Love My Wife, Miracle At St. Anna, Mother and Child, The Last King Of Scotland, Night Catches Us, Lakeview Terrace, The Details, and Django Unchained.

"Throughout her illustrious career, Kerry Washington has consistently brought life to characters that encourage acceptance of LGBT people,” said GLAAD President & CEO Sarah Kate Ellis. “Her outspoken support for equality, both here at home and abroad, has sent messages of hope and empowerment to fans all over the world, fostering dialogue that builds understanding and helps move hearts and minds.”​

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.

GLAAD previously announced that Channing Tatum will present the Stephen F. Kolzak Award to out director Roland Emmerich at the Los Angeles event. Additional special guests and honorees for the Los Angeles will be announced.

In January, GLAAD announced 104 nominees in 21 English-language categories, and 40 Spanish-language nominees in 10 categories. Nominees for the 26th Annual GLAAD Media Awards can be found here: www.glaad.org/mediaawards/nominees. To receive the latest updates on the GLAAD Media Awards, follow @glaad on Twitter and use the hashtag #glaadawards. The New York GLAAD Media Awards ceremony will take place on May 9 at the Waldorf Astoria New York.

The 26th Annual GLAAD Media Awards is presented by Delta Air Lines, Hilton, Ketel One Vodka, and Wells Fargo; and Official Presenting Partners Amazon and Bud Light.  GLAAD also thanks this year's corporate partners, which include: Titanium Partners-21^st Century Fox, ABC-Disney Television Group and Southwest Airlines; Platinum Partners- Allstate Insurance Company, AT&T, Comcast/NBC Universal, HBO, NBA, WNBA, PwC, Sheppard Mullin, Time Warner, and Viacom;  Gold Partners- CBS/Showtime, Nielsen, Omnicom, Univision, Westfield, and WWE; and Silver Partners- Citi, Discovery Life, MLB, NFL and Skadden. For a full list of corporate partners and information on how to become a corporate partner, purchase tickets, and place a tribute in the tribute book, please visitwww.glaad.org/mediaawards.