Zach Wahls speaks at GLAAD Media Awards NYC 2012

Last night writer & LGBT advocate Zach Wahls took the stage at the GLAAD Media Awards in New York to share anecdotes from his personal journey following his speech in front of the Iowa House of Representatives which was the most-watched political clip of 2011 according to Youtube.

He talked about the impact of his video, including changing the mind of a soldier on marriage equality and building confidence in a lesbian woman to become a mother. He also spoke jokingly about questions he gets asked about growing up with two mothers. Zach was particularly funny in offering his answer to one question about his moms - "which one is the man" - by saying "that's like looking at chop sticks and asking 'which one is the fork?'"

“Since that speech went viral back in February of 2011, I’ve been all over the country, from California to New York, down to Florida, continuing to share my story and have this conversation about gay marriage or as I like to call it, marriage,” said Zach Wahls.

I think this guy rocks. Amazing to think he's so young and yet so articulate.

GLAAD Media Award winners NYC 2012 - complete list

 

The following is a list of all award recipients announced at the 23rd Annual GLAAD Media Awards in New York:

• Craig Zadan & Neil Meron received the prestigious Vito Russo Award
• Katy Butler, who has been lobbying the Motion Picture Association of America to lower the rating for the documentary Bully, so younger people may view it
• Outstanding feature film: "Pariah"
• Outstanding reality television program: Dancing With The Stars
• Outstanding TV Journalism Segment: "Battle Against Bullying" ABC World News with Diane Sawyer (ABC) [accepted by: reporter Josh Elliott]
• Outstanding Magazine Article: TIE: "15th Anniversary of the Passage of the Defense of Marriage Act" (series) by Chris Geidner (Metro Weekly) [accepted by: Chris Geidner] and "Black & Gay in Corporate America" by Carolyn M. Brown (Black Enterprise) [accepted by: Carolyn M. Brown]
• Outstanding TV Movie Or Mini Series: Cinema Verite (HBO)
• Outstanding Talk Show Episode: "Coming Out on the Oprah Show: 25 Years of Unforgettable Guests" The Oprah Winfrey Show (syndicated)
• Outstanding TV Journalism - Newsmagazine: "The 'Sissy Boy' Experiments" Anderson Cooper 360 (CNN)
• Outstanding Newspaper Article: "Led by the Child Who Simply Knew" by Bella English (The Boston Globe)
• Outstanding Newspaper Columnist: Frank Bruni (The New York Times)
• Outstanding Newspaper Overall Coverage: The New York Times
• Outstanding Magazine Overall Coverage: The Advocate/Out
• Outstanding Digital Journalism-Multimedia: "Injustice at Every Turn" (ITLMedia.org)
• Outstanding Blog: Towleroad and Mombian
• Outstanding Music Artist: Lady Gaga, Born This Way (Interscope Records)
• Outstanding Comic Book: Batwoman by J.H. Williams III and W. Haden Blackman (DC Comics)
• Outstanding Los Angeles Theatre: No Word in Guyanese for Me by Wendy Graf
• Outstanding New York Theatre: Broadway & Off Broadway: The Intelligent Homosexual's Guide to Capitalism and Socialism with a Key to the Scriptures by Tony Kushner
• Outstanding New York Theatre: Off-Off Broadway: Southern Comfort book and lyrics by Dan Collins, music by Julianne Wick Davis

SPANISH-LANGUAGE

• Outstanding Daytime Talk Show Episode: "Lesbianas celebran 10 años" Caso Cerrado (Telemundo)
• Outstanding Talk Show Interview: "Entrevista con Raquel Gómez y Mony Ruiz Velasco" Al Punto (Univision)
• Outstanding TV Journalism - Newsmagazine: "Asesino" Primer Impacto (Univision)
• Outstanding TV Journalism Segment: "Ángeles del cambio" Noticiero 34 (KMEX TV-34 [Los Angeles, Calif.])
• Outstanding Newspaper Article: TIE: "Casamiento e hijos biológicos para pareja gay hispana de EEUU" by Claudia Torrens ( Associated Press) and "Madre hay una sola, no necesariamente" by Virginia Gaglianone (La Opinión)
• Outstanding Magazine Article: "Nueva York la igualdad" by Michelle Oyola (People en Español)
• Outstanding Digital Journalism Article: "Las 7 señales de un niño transgénero" by Paula Andalo (Univision.com)
• Outstanding Music Artist: Ricky Martin, Música + Alma + Sexo (Sony Music Latin)
• Special Recognition: El Diario la Prensa

Additional categories will be presented at the GLAAD Media Awards in Los Angeles on April 21 and in San Francisco on June 2.

Ketel One Vodka Hosts 'Walk Of Change' At The 23rd Annual GLAAD Media Awards

NEW YORK, NY - MARCH 24: Celebrities and supporters stopped by the Ketel One Vodka “Walk of Change” at the GLAAD Media Awards to make their mark - literally.

For each celebrity handprint left, Ketel One donated $1,000 to GLAAD. Participants included Bernadette Peters, Cheyenne Jackson, Jay Manuel and Thomas Roberts.

When leaving his hand print on the Ketel One Walk of Fame, Cheyenne Jackson brought attention to his new wedding ring saying, “Look at my wedding ring!! This is so weird!”

Smash star, Phillip Spaeth, wasn’t shy about getting his hands dirty for a good cause when leaving his handprint on the Ketel One Walk of Change.

Broadway superstar Bernadette Peters flexed her stardom as she playful posed for the camera and even stated, “Am I making a muscle?” as she left her handprint.

The always fabulous Bernadette Peters

Vinny Guadagnino from Jersey Shore

Craig Zadan, producer

Jay Manuel and Cheyenne Jackson

Thomas Roberts of MSNBC

Phillip Spaeth from SMASH

Photo Credit - WireImage for Ketel One Vodka

From GLAAD - Commentator Accountability Project

The GLAAD Commentator Accountability Project (CAP) aims to put critical information about frequent anti-gay interviewees into the hands of newsrooms, editors, hosts and reporters.

Journalists or producers who are on deadline often don't have the time to dig into the histories of a commentator. Audiences need to be aware that when they’re not talking to the mainstream media, these voices are comparing the LGBT people to Nazi Germany, predicting that equal treatment of LGBT people will lead to the total collapse of society, and even making accusations of satanic influence.

The Commentator Accountability Project is bringing all of these statements to light, while calling attention to the sentiments behind them. We will show that the commentators who are most often asked to opine on issues like marriage equality or non-discrimination protections do not accurately represent the "other side" of those issues. They represent nothing but extreme animus towards the entire LGBT community.

Have you seen these anti-LGBT voices in your local media? Let GLAAD know today.

Below are just 9 of the many anti-LGBT leaders.  Click here for more info and a full list.

Click to enlarge

Delta Airlines supports GLAAD

From GLAAD: Millions of travelers from all across the globe will learn about the need for vital LGBT-inclusive workplace protections with the release of a new full-page ad appearing in this month’s issue of ‘Delta Sky Magazine.’

The ad reads in part: “Today, in 29 states, a person can be fired from their job simply for being lesbian, gay or bisexual. In 34 states, a person can be fired from their job simply for being transgender.”

Readers are directed to glaad.org to learn more about how they can support the LGBT community.

Delta Sky is the world’s most-read onboard magazine with a circulation of over 5 million and introduces readers to the people, places and subjects that define our ever-evolving world. The ad, which was created by GLAAD, also commends Delta for its ongoing commitment to equality.

Delta Air Lines was designated as one of HRC’s ‘Best Places to Work’ for LGBT employees in 2011, and continues to earn near-perfect scores on HRC’s Corporate Equality Index.

Delta Air Lines is also the Local Presenting Partner of the GLAAD Media Awards in New York, as well as the GLAAD Media Awards in Los Angeles.