“The Perks of Being a Wallflower” is the Toast of the GLAAD Awards

Saturday night in LA, the second of three big GLAAD Media Award ceremonies honored the brilliant film The Perks of Being a Wallflower as the Best Film in Wide Release last year. Perks was my second favorite of 2012 (after Les Miserables) and was an incredibly deserving winner on a night full of them. Honoring the best representations of Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual and Transgender people in various media forms, the Gay Alliance Against Defamation also honored The New Normal as the Best Comedy of the Year. (I was thrilled again as I was lucky enough to do a guest spot on that wonderful show at the beginning of this year.) Other winners included Days of Our Lives, American Horror Story: Asylum, Raising Hope and former President Bill Clinton who received the inaugural Advocate for Change Award… For more on the show and the funny flub by presenter Jennifer Lawrence, head to the GLAAD website here. And check out the winners below.

2013 GLAAD Media Award Winners (LA Ceremony)

Advocate for Change Award: Bill Clinton

Stephen F. Kolzak Award: Steve Warren

Outstanding Film – Wide Release: The Perks of Being a Wallflower (Summit Entertainment), accepted by writer-director Stephen Chbosky with Logan Lerman, Johnny Simmons and Mae Whitman

Outstanding Comedy Series: The New Normal (NBC), accepted by co-creators Ryan Murphy and Allison Adler with Andrew Rannells, Justin Bartha, Georgia King, Jayson Blair, NeNe Leakes

Outstanding Individual Episode: “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell Me What to Do” Raising Hope (Fox), accepted by show creator Greg Garcia with Cloris Leachman, Shannon Woodward

Outstanding TV Movie or Mini-Series: American Horror Story: Asylum (FX), accepted by show creator Ryan Murphy

Outstanding Daily Drama: Days of Our Lives (NBC), accepted by: Freddie Smith

Outstanding Talk Show Episode: “At Home with Neil Patrick Harris, His Fiancé David Burtka, & Their Twins” Oprah’s Next Chapter (OWN)

Outstanding Los Angeles Theater: The Children by Michael Elyanow

SPANISH-LANGUAGE
Outstanding Daytime Talk Show Episode: “Confirma su identidad como mujer” Showbiz (CNN en Español)

Outstanding TV Journalism – Newsmagazine: TIE: “Los transexuales buscan su identidad en medio de ignorancia y prejuicios” Encuentro (CNN en Español) and “La vida en rosa” Aquí y Ahora (Univision)

Outstanding Newspaper Article: “Gays y padres excelentes” by Pilar Marrero (La Opinión)

Madonna and “Smash” Shine at the GLAAD Awards

Last night, Grammy winning Rock n’ Roll Hall of Fame Icon and long time LGBT supporter Madonna honored Anderson Cooper with the “Vito Russo” Award at the New York GLAAD Media Awards. Her speech was funny, fierce and important as she took on the inequality, bullying, lack of tolerance and love in our world and how we need more people like the brave and admirable Cooper who work to change it. It was a wonderful speech as was Coopers when he accepted the award. Check out both inspirational, emotional and important speeches below. Then, head to the Gay and Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation website here for all the news on the show which also honored Smash as the Outstanding Drama Series, the amazing Oscar nominated film How to Survive a Plague for Outstanding Documentary and The Amazing Race as the Outstanding Reality Series of the year…. GLAAD will have more ceremonies in LA and San Francisco over the next few weeks honoring film, music and journalists as well.

Madonna’s Speech honoring Anderson Cooper at the GLAAD Awards

Anderson Cooper Accepting the Vito Russo Award

GLAAD Award Winners:

- Outstanding Drama Series: Smash (NBC)
- Outstanding Documentary: How to Survive a Plague (Sundance Selects)
- Outstanding Reality Program: The Amazing Race (CBS)
- Outstanding Newspaper Article: “Game Changer” by Andy Mannix (City Pages [Minneapolis, Minn.])
- Outstanding Newspaper Columnist: Frank Bruni (The New York Times)
- Outstanding Newspaper Overall Coverage: The Boston Globe
- Outstanding Magazine Article: “School of Hate” by Sabrina Rubin Erdely (Rolling Stone)
- Outstanding Magazine Overall Coverage: The Advocate/Out
- Outstanding New York Theatre: Broadway & Off Broadway: The Whale by Samuel D. Hunter
- Outstanding New York Theatre: Off-Off Broadway: From White Plains written by Michael Perlman in collaboration with Fault Line Theatre
- Outstanding Talk Show Interview: “Entrevista con Orlando Cruz” Titulares Telemundo (Telemundo)
- Outstanding Magazine Article: “Amor genuino” by Cristina Saralegui (People en Español)
- Outstanding Digital Journalism Article: “Operación tolerancia: la lucha contra la homofobia en los medios hispanos” by Lilia Luciano (voces.huffingtonpost.com)
- Outstanding Digital Journalism – Multimedia: “2013: Año clave para la comunidad gay” by Ramón Frisneda (ElDiarioNY.com)

On a side note, GLAAD also gave its inaugural “Ally Award” to filmmaker Brett Ratner for launching the “Coming Out for Equality” PSA campaign. While that is great, it is way too soon to honor this homophobic and ignorant jerk just one year after he was fired from producing the Oscars for his behavior and speech about gay people. I’m happy he is trying to mend fences, but really? He needs to prove it other than saving his own face with this PSA campaign because I don’t believe for a second that he is completely reformed. It’s really a shame that they gave him this award. Maybe and hopefully he will truly deserved it in a few years, but for now I’m disappointed…. Ok, rant done…. Now, let’s concentrate on those great and meaningful speeches from Madge and Coop!

Beginners, Albert Nobbs, Modern Family and Glee are among the GLAAD Media Award Nominees

The Gay and Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation announced the nominees for their 23rd Annual GLAAD Media Awards this morning and we saw some familiar faces. Previous TV winners, Glee and Modern Family were in the mix, along with previous nominees Grey’s Anatomy and Dancing with the Stars. In the Best Film (Wide release category), you have Oscar contenders Albert Nobbs, Beginners and J. Edgar duking it out while Best Film (Limited release) includes standout pictures Circumstance, Pariah, Tomboy, Gun Hill Road and my pic for the winner, Weekend. Take a look at several of the nominees below which feature some of my faves like Hot in Cleveland, The Glee Project and The Big C and for all the contenders and more info, head to the GLAAD site here…. The awards will be given out in 3 ceremonies over the next few months in New York, Los Angeles, and San Francisco. Stay tuned for the winners.

2012 GLAAD Media Award Nominees:

Outstanding Film Wide Release:
Albert Nobbs
Beginners
J. Edgar

Outstanding Film- Limited Release:
Circumstance
Gun Hill Road
Pariah
Tomboy
Weekend

Outstanding Drama Series

Degrassi
TeenNick
Grey’s Anatomy
ABC
Pretty Little Liars
ABC Family
Shameless
Showtime
Torchwood: Miracle Day
Starz

Outstanding Comedy Series

Exes and Ohs
Logo
Glee
Fox
Happy Endings
ABC
Modern Family
ABC
The Big C
Showtime

Outstanding Individual Episode (in a series without a regular LGBT character)

“Acceptance” Man Up!
ABC
“Beards” Hot in Cleveland
TV Land
“Prom” Drop Dead Diva
Lifetime
“Recruited” NCIS
CBS
“The Boy Has Style” Are We There Yet?
TBS

Outstanding TV Movie or Mini-Series

Cinema Verite
HBO

Outstanding Documentary

Becoming Chaz
OWN: Oprah Winfrey Network
The Strange History of Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell
HBO
The World’s Worst Place to be Gay?
Logo
Two Spirits
PBS
We Were Here
Red Flag Releasing

Outstanding Reality Program

Dancing with the Stars
ABC
Girls Who Like Boys Who Like Boys
Sundance Channel
The Glee Project
Oxygen
The Real L Word
Showtime
The Voice
NBC

Outstanding Talk Show Episode

“Chaz Bono” Late Show with David Letterman
CBS
“Children & Teens Caught in the Wrong Bodies” Anderson
syndicated
“Coming Out on the Oprah Show: 25 Years of Unforgettable Guests” The Oprah Winfrey Show
syndicated
“The Wedding of Scott Cronick & David Gorshein” Conan
TBS
“Zach Wahls” The Ellen DeGeneres Show
syndicated

Outstanding Daily Drama

All My Children
ABC
Days of Our Lives
NBC

Outstanding Music Artist

Beverly McClellan, Fear Nothing
Oarfin Records
Girl in a Coma, Exits & All the Rest
Blackheart Records
Hunx and His Punx, Too Young to Be in Love
Hardly Art
Lady Gaga, Born This Way
Interscope Records
MEN, Talk About Body
IAMSOUND Records

Outstanding Los Angeles Theater

Bonded
by Donald Jolly
House of the Rising Son
by Tom Jacobson
Killer Queen: The Story of Paco the Pink Pounder
by Peter Griggs
No Word in Guyanese for Me
by Wendy Graf
Who’s Your Daddy?
by Johnny O’Callaghan

Outstanding New York Theater: Broadway and Off-Broadway

Maple & Vine
by Jordan Harrison
Priscilla Queen of the Desert: The Musical
by Stephan Elliott and Allan Scott
Sons of the Prophet
by Stephen Karam
The Intelligent Homosexual’s Guide to Capitalism and Socialism with a Key to the Scriptures
by Tony Kushner
Unnatural Acts: Harvard’s Secret Court of 1920
conceived by Tony Speciale

Outstanding New York Theater: Off-Off Broadway

She Kills Monsters
by Qui Nguyen
Southern Comfort
book and lyrics by Dan Collins, music by Julianne Wick Davis
The Dog and Pony Show (Bring Your Own Pony)
by Holly Hughes
The Escape Artist
book by John Kelly, songs by John Kelly & Carol Lipnik
The Momentum
by Boo Killebrew, Geoffrey Decas O’Donnell & Jordan Seavey

Adam has the “Fever” at the GLAAD Awards

Here’s some updated video of Adam Lambert performing his songs “Music Again” and  “Fever” (written by Lady Gaga!) in all his glory at this weekend’s GLAAD Media Awards. He sings, he dances, he sweats like Whitney pretty much every day of the week. He’s even walkin’ the catwalk like Miss Jay! It’s like his pre-Idol cabaret performances. Enjoy. Adam certainly did.

Adam Lambert’s “Fever” at the 21st Annual GLAAD Media Awards.
http://www.youtube.com/glaadmedia#p/c/D560FCB402F16EDA/0/EviLKEsVNdk

“Music Again”

Gleeful GLAAD Awards

Congragulations to Glee yet again! This year’s Golden Globe and SAG Award winning phenomenon added another kudos to their ever growing list with the trophy for Best Comedy Series at the 21st Annual GLAAD Media Awards tonight in Los Angeles. In a very competitive category (Ugly Betty, Modern Family), Glee sang out and proud, lauded for their great inclusive and respectful storytelling of LGBT characters like teen fashionista and Glee club member “Kurt” who’s coming out story with his father was just beautiful and wonderfully done.
The Awards also recognized the Oscar nominated film A Single Man as Outstanding Wide Film Release and the outrageously entertaining Rupaul’s Drag Race as Outstanding Reality Series. For the full list of winners including the winners from the previous NYC ceremony (including Outstanding Drama Series winner Brothers and Sisters), click here.

The show also featured an amazing performance by Adam Lambert plus special awards given to Drew Barrymore (Vanguard Award) and Wanda Sykes (Stephen F. Kolzak Award). For more on GLAAD, click here.

Here’s a list of some of tonight’s Award winners:

• Vanguard Award: Drew Barrymore (presented by openly lesbian star of Iron Chef America Cat Cora)

• Stephen F. Kolzak Award: Wanda Sykes (presented by Constance McMillen, the Mississippi teenager whose high school cancelled prom because she asked to attend with her girlfriend)

• Outstanding Film – Wide Release: A Single Man (The Weinstein Company) [Accepted by: Tom Ford]

• Outstanding Comedy Series: Glee (Fox) [Accepted by: Ryan Murphy, Jane Lynch, Chris Colfer, Dianna Agron, Jessalyn Gilsig, Kevin McHale, Cory Monteith, Amber Riley, Mark Salling, and Jenna Ushkowitz]

• Outstanding Reality Program: RuPaul’s Drag Race (Logo/VH1) [Accepted by: RuPaul]

• Outstanding Spanish-Language TV Journalism Segment: “Polémicas Adopciones” Noticiero Telemundo (Telemundo) [Accepted by: Ramon Escobar, executive vice-president of news for Telemundo; reporter Carlos Botifoll and producer, Elisa Ross]

Adam Lambert to perform at the GLAAD Media Awards on 4/17.

More Adam Lambert News…

Last year’s best and most talented Idol is set to perform at this year’s GLAAD Media Awards in Los Angeles on April 17. Riding high off the success of his debut album For Your Entertainment, Adam Lambert is also a nominee going into the ceremony for Outstanding Music Artist. The show will also be honoring the Best TV Comedy (a fight between Glee and Modern Family if you ask me) and Outstanding Feature Film (I think A Single Man has that in the bag) among other kudos. For more information on the ceremony, click here.

And to whet your appetite, check out Adam’s amazing performance of “A Change is Gonna Come” from last year’s American Idol finale…

Aren’t you GLAAD?

Over the weekend in New York City, the Gay and Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation, held the first of its three ceremonies celebrating the 21st GLAAD Media Awards. The kudos which honor fair, accurate and inclusive  portrayals of GLBT people in the media honored ABC’s Brothers and Sisters for Outstanding Drama Series for the 4th year in a row along with the wonderful and heartbreaking Lifetime movie Prayers for Bobby for Outstanding TV Movie or Miniseries. The Oprah Winfrey  Show took the Outstanding Talk Show episode title for an episode centering on Ellen DeGeneres & Portia DeRossi while One Life to Live won for Daytime Drama. (It was a bittersweet win considering the popular gay couple “Kish” is being written out in the next month). The Robert Pattinson drama about Salvidor Dali, Little Ashes, nabbed the award for Limited Release Film and the hilarious episode of Parks and Recreation about gay penguins won the Outstanding Individual TV Episode award.

Two wonderful ladies were honored for their personal work for the LGBT community as well. Tony and Emmy Award winnning Sex and the City star Cynthia Nixon received the Vito Russo Award for promoting equality and The View’s Joy Behar was given the Excellence in Media award for her work with LGBT advocacy.

I only wish I had been there for this fantastic occasion in person. I went to the LA awards ceremony last year and it’s always an inspiring and entertaining evening put on by such a worthy organization. The next ceremony will be in LA on April 17 where they will award Oustanding Feature Film and Comedy Series among others.

For a full list of winners and ceremony details, click here: http://www.glaad.org/mediaawards/21/ny/recipients