Ricky Martin and Kristin Chenoweth are set to be honored at the Gay & Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation’s 22nd annual Media Awards presentation, the organization announced on Wednesday.
Chenoweth will receive the Vanguard Award — given to “media professionals who have increased the visibility and understanding of the LGBT community” — on April 10 at the Westin Bonaventure in Los Angeles.
GLAAD said Chenoweth’s defense of gay actors in the wake of a controversial Newsweek article (which argued gays “cannot play straight roles” and led to a boycott of the magazine) is why the "Glee" star was chosen this year.
Martin will receive the Vito Russo Award – given to “an openly LGBT media professional who has made a significant difference in promoting equal rights for our community” — on March 19 at a ceremony at the Marriott Marquis in New York’s Times Square.
"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," GLAAD president Jarrett Barrios said in a statement. "Through his music, videos and interviews, Ricky has sent an important message that our community wants the same things all people do: an equal chance to raise our families and take care of our loved ones."
Nominees for the GLAAD Media Awards — which recognize “fair, accurate and inclusive representations of the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender community” — were announced last month.
