Michaela Jaé Rodriguez, LGBTQ+ People of Color Shine at 33rd GLAAD Media Awards in Los Angeles
The International Ballroom inside The Beverly Hilton Hotel, home to The Golden Globes, got even gayer on April 2 as the 33rd GLAAD Media Awards returned to its original in-person format after being forced to go virtual for the past two years.
Hosted by beloved drag queens Shangela, Eureka, and Bob the Drag Queen (“We’re Here,” “RuPaul’s Drag Race”), recipients in 16 out of 30 categories were crowned winners in the first of two awards ceremonies. A second ceremony will take place in New York City on May 6, where the remaining winners will be announced.
Grammy Award-winning country superstar Kacey Musgraves received the prestigious Vanguard Award. Tony Award-winner Ben Platt introduced Musgraves. In her speech, she recalled a moving exchange with a gay country fan.
“One of the biggest compliments I’ve ever gotten in regards to my career is a gay country fan telling me they heard my music and finally felt invited to a party they’d never got invited to,” Musgrave said. “I will continue to have your backs and I so dearly appreciate you having mine.”
Golden Globe winner Michaela Jaé Rodriguez (“POSE,” “Tick, Tick, Boom”) was presented with the Stephen F. Kolzak Award by Academy Award-nominee and co-star Andrew Garfield. With her mother seated at a table a few feet away from the stage, Rodriguez, while holding back tears, illustrated the impact of having supportive parents throughout her transition and rise to fame.
“Of course, I have to thank my mother and father for seeing and loving me," Rodriguez said. “When a child is loved, whether you’re LGBTQIA or not, it makes all the difference. When you tell your queer child that you love them, they think, I love me too. I thank all of the parents in Texas, Florida, Idaho, Arizona, and all around the world who are standing up to fear and ignorance and are grounding their LGBTQIA children in love and acceptance,” she said.
Rodriguez was one of several winners and speakers throughout the night who voiced their disapproval of several anti-LGBTQ+ bills, like Florida’s “Parental Rights in Education,” coined by opponents as the “Don’t Say Gay Bill” that was signed into law by Gov. Ron DeSantis on March 28. There is a similar law currently making its way through the Georgia legislature and in other state legislatures across the country.
“When a child is loved, whether you’re LGBTQIA or not, it makes all the difference. When you tell your queer child that you love them, they think, I love me too.”
Victoria Alonso, President of Physical, Post Production, VFX, and Animation at Marvel Studios, received a standing ovation during her acceptance speech for Marvel’s win in the Outstanding Film–Wide Release category for “Eternals.” Alonso recounted a 45-minute conversation she had with her boss, Disney executive Bob Chapek, regarding anti-LGBTQ+ laws in Florida and across the country.
“I asked him to look around and truly if what we sell is entertainment for the family, we don’t choose what family,” Alonso said. “Family is this entire room. Family is the family in Texas, in Arizona, in Florida, and in my family, in my home. So I ask you again Mr. Chapek: please respect—if we’re selling family—take a stand against all of these crazy outdated laws. Take a stand for family. Stop saying that you tolerate us—nobody tolerates me, let me tell you that. You tolerate the heat in Florida, the humidity in Arizona or Florida, and the dryness in Arizona and Texas. And you tolerate a tantrum in a two-year-old. But you don’t tolerate us. We deserve the right to live, love, and have. More importantly, we deserve an origin story,” she said.
Sarah Kate Ellis, President, and CEO of GLAAD used her onstage moment to encourage support and congressional passage of The Equality Act. Ellis also put Hollywood industry executives on notice.
“In this moment of crisis, what’s different is our community is holding companies accountable,” Ellis said. “So I have a message for the industry: Don’t wait until you’re in the hot seat. There’s no more time to sit on the sidelines. We need Hollywood on the front lines, fighting for our rights and our stories,” she said. “I expect every industry executive in this room to join us. GLAAD will give you the playbook. But we won’t give you a pass.”
HIV Is Not A Crime
In partnership with CNP, Gilead, and The Elizabeth Taylor AIDS Foundation, I, along with Diana Feliz Oliva, Associate Director, Public Affairs Community Engagement & Advocacy for Gilead, used our onstage moment to advocate for HIV decriminalization and more diverse stories of Black and Latinx LGBTQ+ people.
While progress has been made in dozens of states throughout the country, there are still over 30 states where people living with HIV can face felony charges and lengthy prison sentences. Both Olivia and I spoke to this reality and the power of the media to change the narrative about people living with HIV.
“We are starving for images that reflect our lived experiences, especially when it comes to storytelling around Black and Brown queer men and those living with HIV. Seeing these images on screen helps eradicate the stigma that too often blocks HIV prevention like PrEP. The media can help reinforce the truth that people living with HIV today, when on effective treatment, lead long and healthy lives and cannot transmit the virus. Undetectable= Untransmittable.”
“Laws in 32 states still target people living with HIV, creating stigma, shame, and danger. Those laws sent me to jail,” Olivo said. “But living with HIV is not a crime,” she said before pleading with industry executives to step up their commitment to diversity.
“If you’re a creative, write about me, Darian, and our LGBTQ siblings. Give us more HIV stories, more trans stories, and more stories centering queer people of color. Tell us these stories in English and Spanish. Join us in calling for an end to the criminalization of people living with HIV,” she said.
In addition to representing our respective Black and Latinx LGBTQ+ communities during our onstage moment, there was no shortage of brilliant people of color at tables inside the ballroom.
“We are starving for images that reflect our lived experiences, especially when it comes to storytelling around Black and Brown queer men and those living with HIV. Seeing these images on screen helps eradicate the stigma that too often blocks HIV prevention like PrEP. ”
Cynthia Erivo, Lena Waithe, Peppermint, Meagan Good, Jonica T. Gibbs, Shiloh Shanner, AJ Totten-Reynolds, Dr. Chauncey Watson, Dr. Shanell McGoy, Alexandra Grey, Victor Jackson, DaShawn Usher, Nate Moore, Chloe Zhao, Shoniqua Shandai, Nathan Hale Williams, George M. Johnson, LaQuann Dawson, Larry Powell, Peter Dodd, Bernard David Jones, Wilson Cruz, Carl Clemons-Hopkins, Dyllon Burnside, Jerrie Johnson, Kevin Daniels, LZ Granderson, Shar Jossell, and Brandee Evans, were all spotted.
The GLAAD Media Awards raised over $2.8 million, benefiting GLAAD’s media advocacy efforts.
Highlights from the 33rd GLAAD Media Awards will stream on HULU on April 16.
The Reckoning is nominated in the Outstanding Blog category. The winner in this category will be announced in New York City on May 6.
The full list of winners from the LA ceremony is below.
Outstanding New TV Series: Hacks (HBO Max)
Outstanding Comedy Series: Saved by the Bell (Peacock)
Outstanding Film—Wide Release: Eternals (Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures)
Outstanding Reality Program: RuPaul’s Drag Race (VH1) and We’re Here (HBO)
Outstanding Documentary: Changing the Game (Hulu)
Outstanding TV Movie: Single All The Way (Netflix)
Outstanding Film—Limited Release: Parallel Mothers (Sony Pictures Classics)
Outstanding Limited or Anthology Series: It’s A Sin (HBO MAX)
Outstanding Video Game: Life is Strange: True Colors (Deck Nine Games/Square Enix)
Outstanding Comic Book: Crush & Lobo (DC Comics)
Outstanding Original Graphic Novel/Anthology: Cheer Up! Love and Pompoms (Press)
Outstanding Magazine Overall Coverage: The Advocate
Outstanding Breakthrough Music Artist: Lily Rose, Stronger Than I Am (Big Loud
Records/Back Blocks Music/Republic Records)
Outstanding Spanish-Language Scripted Television Series: Maricón Perdido (HBO Outstanding Spanish-Language TV Journalism: “Orgullo LGBTQ: 52 Años de Lucha Evolución” (Telemundo 47)
SPECIAL RECOGNITION
Special Recognition: All Boys Aren’t Blue by George M. Johnson [filmed reading + performance]
Special Recognition: “Alok Vaid-Menon” 4D with Demi Lovato (Cadence13/OBB Sound/Projects)
Special Recognition: CODED: The Hidden Love of J.C. Leyendecker (Paramount+)
Special Recognition: Jeopardy! Champion Amy Schneider
Special Recognition: The Laverne Cox Show (Shondaland Audio/iHeartMedia)
Special Recognition: Life Out Loud with LZ Granderson (ABC News)
Special Recognition: Outsports’ Coverage of the Tokyo 2020 Olympics and Paralympics
Special Recognition (Spanish-Language): “Celebrando el Mes del Orgullo” (Telemundo)
