Ricky Martin and Anderson Cooper take home GLAAD awards

by James Park

 

 

 

Ricky Martin won the Vito Russo Award at the GLAAD media awards (photo: GLAAD)

Ricky Martin won the Vito Russo Award at the GLAAD media awards (photo: GLAAD)

Last night, the Gay and Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation (GLAAD) honoured Ricky Martin, Anderson Cooper and NBC’s 30 Rock among many others with awards for their contribution to the LGBT community.

The GLAAD media awards were held at the Marriott Marquis in Times Square to celebrate the people and stories that are changing hearts and minds.

Film producers Neil Meron and Craig Zadan presented the Vito Russo Award to Ricky Martin, who came out as gay last year. GLAAD cited the positive LGBT role model he has become for the Latino community. He is the father of twin boys.

Martin thanked his parents and boyfriend before he told the audience: “let’s go Latin America and let’s share the love.” Oprah Winfrey won best talk show episode for her interview with Ricky Martin when he came out as gay.

The Reverend Al Sharpton presented hip hop producer Russell Simmons with the Excellence in Media Award. The founder of Def Jam records has been a vocal advocate of LGBT rights including the repeal of ‘Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell’ ban on the gay people being honest about their sexuality while serving in the military . Earlier this month, he posted a video in support of the New Yorkers for Marriage Equality campaign.

Comedian Tina Fey accepted an award for NBC’s 30 Rock. Denis O’Hare accepted the outstanding drama award for HBO’s True Blood. Black womens’ website Essence.com took the outstanding digital journalism prize. Anderson Cooper won an award for his coverage of a series of gay teenage suicides on CNN.

17-year-old Nikki Peet spoke about her work with GLAAD to create a Gay Straight Alliance in her school. The campaign attracted international media attention after her school banned all extracurricular activities rather than let Ms Peet form the alliance.

The full list of winners is below.