GLAAD is putting the finishing touches on its East Coast awards gala schedule by confirming Jennifer Hudson and Orville Peck for top honors and media personality Ross Mathews to lead the affair as host.
The GLAAD Media Awards – scheduled for May 11 at the Hilton Midtown – will honor Hudson with an Excellence in Media Award while country artist Peck will win a Vito Russo Award. Hudson will receive the trophy for being an ally who has “made a significant difference in promoting acceptance of LGBTQ people.” She will join a list of honorees including Marren Morris, Judith Light, Ava DuVernay, Patti LaBelle, Debra Messing, Tyra Banks, Julianne Moore, Barbra Walters, Diane Sawyer and many others.
“A multi-faceted talent who uses her platform and influence in media to support and uplift LGBTQ people, Ally Jennifer Hudson is thoughtful, loud and powerful,” said Sarah Kate Ellis, president and CEO of GLAAD . “Most recently, she advocates for our community on her talk show by regularly spotlighting inspiring LGBTQ changemakers for audiences around the world.”
The Jennifer Hudson Show is nominated for a GLAAD Media Award for Outstanding Variety or Talk Show Episode for the segment “Jennifer Hudson Surprises HIV Activist With $10,000.”
The Vito Russo Award is given to an “LGBTQ media professional who has made a significant difference in accelerating LGBTQ acceptance.” Previous winners include Wilson Cruz, Billy Porter, Anderson Cooper, Ricky Martin, Andy Cohen, RuPaul, Cynthia Nixon, Samira Wiley and George Takei, among others.
“Orville Peck opened a new frontier for artists in a genre historically excluding queer voices. By boldly navigating country music as a gay man and collaborating with legends like Willie Nelson and Lady Gaga, Peck cemented himself in the industry and showed our community that she belonged in every space.” , Ellis said.
The New York edition of the GLAAD Media Awards follows the recent Los Angeles gala, hosted by Wayne Brady and featuring honorees like Oprah Winfrey and Niecy Nash-Betts. The 35th annual GLAAD Media Awards in New York is presented by Gilead Sciences and Hyundai Motor America, with official sponsors Delta Air Lines, Ketel One Family Made Vodka and Sony Music Group.
