GLAAD to honor Ricky Martin, Kristin Chenoweth
Wed. February 9, 2011 10:57 AM by GoPride.com News Staff
New York City -
Singer Ricky Martin and actress Kristin Chenoweth will be honored at the 22nd Annual GLAAD Media Awards.
Martin will receive the Vito Russo Award at the New York award ceremony on March 19, while Chenoweth will receive the Vanguard Award at the Los Angeles event on April 10.
The Vito Russo Award is named after one of the founders of the Gay and Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation, and is presented to an out-of-the-closet gay man or lesbian who's done significant work to help the community.
GLAAD said that after Martin came out over Twitter last March, he helped LGBT youth by speaking out over English and Spanish media.
"Ricky coming out was a game changer for many gay and transgender Latino children, who for too long, did not have many out gay people to look up to," said GLAAD President Jarrett Barrios in a press release.
The Vanguard Award is presented to media and entertainment leaders who have helped increased the visibility and acceptance of the LGBT community.
GLAAD said that Chenoweth has demonstrated her devotion to LGBT by speaking at the National Equality March in October 2009 and at the LGBT Community Center of New York as well as supporting Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS and GLSEN.
Past recipients of the Vanguard Award include Drew Barrymore, Charlize Theron, Antonio Banderas, Sharon Stone, Eric McCormack, Elizabeth Taylor, Liza Minnelli, Kathy Griffin and Whoopi Goldberg.
Martin will receive the Vito Russo Award at the New York award ceremony on March 19, while Chenoweth will receive the Vanguard Award at the Los Angeles event on April 10.
The Vito Russo Award is named after one of the founders of the Gay and Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation, and is presented to an out-of-the-closet gay man or lesbian who's done significant work to help the community.
GLAAD said that after Martin came out over Twitter last March, he helped LGBT youth by speaking out over English and Spanish media.
"Ricky coming out was a game changer for many gay and transgender Latino children, who for too long, did not have many out gay people to look up to," said GLAAD President Jarrett Barrios in a press release.
The Vanguard Award is presented to media and entertainment leaders who have helped increased the visibility and acceptance of the LGBT community.
GLAAD said that Chenoweth has demonstrated her devotion to LGBT by speaking at the National Equality March in October 2009 and at the LGBT Community Center of New York as well as supporting Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS and GLSEN.
Past recipients of the Vanguard Award include Drew Barrymore, Charlize Theron, Antonio Banderas, Sharon Stone, Eric McCormack, Elizabeth Taylor, Liza Minnelli, Kathy Griffin and Whoopi Goldberg.