BY CANDY PARKER
Lesbian.com
The 25th annual GLAAD Media Awards were held Saturday night in Los Angeles. The ceremony, held to recognize fair, accurate and inclusive representation in media of the gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender community and the issues that affect their lives, honored 12 of the 29 nominated media categories. Other winners, including those in the movie (outstanding film) and television (outstanding comedy series) will be named at a New York ceremony on May 3.
Among the big winners were Laverne Cox and Jennifer Lopez. Cox received the Stephen F. Kolzak Award which is given to a gay, lesbian, bisexual or transgender member of the entertainment community. Previous recipients include Wanda Sykes, Melissa Etheridge and Ellen DeGeneres.
Lopez was named winner of the Vanguard Award which hails efforts to increase visibility and understanding of the gay, lesbian, bisexual or transgender community. Lopez has been a vocal advocate for LGBT rights and is Executive Producer for the ABC Family series “The Fosters.”
Ellen Page introduces Laverne Cox
Rita Morena presents Jennifer Lopez
Honorees at the event included:
Pioneer Award
Norman Lear
Vanguard Award
Jennifer Lopez
Stephen F. Kolzak Award
Laverne Cox, “Orange Is the New Black”
International Advocate for Change Award
Manny de Guerre, founder of the Side by Side LGBT Film Festival in St. Petersburg, Russia
Outstanding Documentary
TIE: “Bridegroom” (Virgil Films/OWN), Shane Bitney Crone and Linda Bloodworth-Thomason
“Call Me Kuchu” (Cinedigm), co-directors Katherine Fairfax Wright, Malika Zouhali-Worrall, and Ugandan activist John “Long Jones” Abdallah Wambere.
Outstanding Drama Series
“The Fosters” (ABC Family), Peter Paige and Bradley Bredeweg with stars Sheri Saum and Teri Polo
Outstanding TV Movie or Mini-Series
“Behind the Candelabra” (HBO)
Outstanding Reality Program
“Big Freedia: Queen of Bounce” (Fuse)
Outstanding Daily Drama
“Days of Our Lives” (NBC)
Outstanding Newspaper Article
“LGBTQ in the Capital” (series) by Melissa Griffiths (Juneau Empire [Juneau, Alaska])
Outstanding Digital Journalism – Multimedia
“We Are Here: LGBTI in Uganda” by Sunnivie Brydum, D. David Robinson (Advocate.com)
Outstanding Music Artist
Tegan and Sara, “Heartthrob” (Warner Bros. Records)
Outstanding Comic Book
Young Avengers, written by Kieron Gillen (Marvel Comics)
Outstanding Talk Show Interview (Spanish Language)
TIE: “Debate por la igualdad” Al Punto (Univision)
“Decisión Histórica” Sin Límites con Elizabeth Espinosa (CNN en Español)
Outstanding Local TV Journalism (Spanish Language)
“Natalia: rompiendo barreras” Noticiero Telemundo Arizona (KTAZ-39 [Phoenix, Ariz.])
Outstanding TV Journalism Segment (Spanish Language)
“Decisión Histórica” Noticiero Telemundo (Telemundo)
Outstanding Digital Journalism – Multimedia (Spanish Language)
“Eric y Juan, un matrimonio feliz a pesar de todo” by Fernando Mexia (EFE.com)
