That 100-plus media outlets are expected to cover New York’s GLAAD Media Awards ceremony April 12 demonstrates an enormous mainstream interest in the annual event.
“When [the Gay & Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation] started the awards, it was on top of the Time-Life Building [in Rockefeller Center], and 306 people attended,” said Jason Burlin-game, the organization’s director of special events. “Now the members of the media covering the event may top that figure.”
The first such awards were presented independently by the New York chapter of the organization in 1990, making the 2004 presentation the GLAAD Awards’ 15th. “This is a big deal,” said Andrea Swift, the executive producer of “In the Life,” the 12-year-old PBS magazine series being honored this year with the Barbara Gittings Award, named for the former magazine editor and longtime gay and lesbian rights pioneer. The Gittings Award honors contributions to the development of lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender media.
“What you see when you attend the New York event is a great party where there is a blending of the mainstream media and the gay and lesbian media,” Ms. Swift said.
Awards to broadcast and print media are presented in New York, but ties to film and television are visible as well. Honors for outstanding comedy series and outstanding reality series will be bestowed that night.
In addition to “In the Life,” special honors in New York will go to Cherry Jones, the Tony-winning actress, who will receive the Vito Russo Award, given to a lesbian or gay person in the entertainment industry for outstanding contributions to eliminating homophobia.
Actress Julianne Moore, who was nominated for two Academy Awards in 2003 for her work in “The Hours” and “Far From Heaven,” is receiving the Excellence in Media Award, given to a person for work that increases the understanding of the LGBT community. Both of Ms. Moore’s Academy-nominated films that year featured gay characters.