It’s a stark contrast to American Idol where gay contestants like Adam Lambert did not come out until after the competition was over.

‘It just seems crazy not to,’ Burnett told me during the TV Critics Association Winter Press Tour last week.

Levine also weighed in for me: ‘I think we always supported and nurtured all the amazingly talented people who have been in the show regardless of what they do in their private time.’

The show earned a GLAAD Media Award this morning. To read more, see my story posted over at Gay Star News.

The Academy Award nominations will be announced next week but far more meaningful to many in the LGBT community are the GLAAD Media Awards which unveiled their nominations today.

Among those earning nods from the Gay and Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation are Lady Gaga and Ricky Martin, the films J. Edgar and Albert Nobbs and the television shows Modern Family and Glee.

Martin, nominated for his Spanish language album Musica + Alma + Sexo reacted to his nomination via Twitter: :”YEAH! I just got nominated 4a GLAAD MEDIA AWARD!I’m honored!Thanx 2every1 who made this prestigious nomination possible!”

J. Edgar and Albert Nobbs will face off in the Outstanding Film (wide release) category with Beginners. In the outstanding film (limited release) category, the nominees are Pariah, Weekend, Gun Hill Road, Tomboy and Circumstance.

ABC’s Grey’s Anatomy, which featured the wedding between lesbian character Callie and Arizona, was nominated for Outstanding Drama Series. It’s competitors are Degrassi, Pretty Little Liars, Shameless and Torchwood: Miracle Day.

In the comedy series category, Glee and Modern Family will once again square off in a field that also includes The Big C, Happy Endings and Exes and Ohs.

Series that don’t have a regular gay character are recognized in the outstanding individual episode category. Those nominees are Hot in Cleveland, Drop Dead Diva, NCIS, Are We There Yet and Man Up!

Chaz Bono figures into two of the GLAAD nominations in separate categories. His documentary, Becoming Chaz, was nominated for best documentary along with We Were Here, Two Spirits, The World’s Worst Place to Be Gay and The Strange History of Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell.

Bono’s appearance on The Late Show With David Letterman was nominated in the outstanding talk show episode category along with The Oprah Winfrey Show’s 25 years of coming out episode, Anderson Cooper’s syndicated Anderson show for its Children and Teens Caught in the Wrong Bodies show, Conan! for the wedding of Scott Cronick and David Gorshein and The Ellen DeGeneres Show with guest Zach Wahls, the Iowa teen who stood before the state legislature to defend his two moms.

Other television categories:

Reality show: The Glee Project, The Real L Word, Dancing With the Stars, The Voice and Girls Who Like Boys Who Like Boys.

The awards recognize outstanding images of the LGBT community in news coverage and entertainment media.  The awards also complement and fund GLAAD’s work to share the stories of LGBT people through the media. The Awards will be held in New York City on March 24, Los Angeles on April 21 and in San Francisco on June 2.

Here is a LINK to the full list of nominees.

Also, here is a nice video GLAAD has made of the major film and television nominees:

So it was a bit surprising recently when Kelly used anti-transgender words during a recent interview with Glamour UK.

In a post published on GLAAD’s blog and The Transadvocate, Kelly apologizes for her the anti-transgender slurs and writes: “As a lifelong LGBT ally and friend, I feel it is my duty to not only apologize for my wrong but to also correct it. The word “tr*nny” is a derogatory and hurtful word. I was completely ignorant to this and soon came to realize most of my peers and LGBT friends are too. This is a word I will no longer use or allow.

She added: “Transgender people are some of the bravest people on Earth and among the LGBT community. I cannot imagine the courage it takes to live your life openly and honestly, reflecting who you truly are, or the hurt that comes from having to hide who you are because others may not support and accept you.”

Mike Thompson, Acting President of GLAAD, had this to say about Kelly’s apology: “Kelly is taking the right step by using this as an opportunity to express her support of the transgender community and educate her fans about the hardships that they face for being who they are. We hope she inspires more allies of the LGBT community to speak out and have their own voices heard.”

Marti Abernathey of The Transadvocate also weighed in: “With this post Kelly has proven she is a responsible ally to the transgender community. She made a mistake that was borne of ignorance, not malice. This post is will go far in healing that mistake. It will also serve to educate and inform others within the LGBT community and beyond about transgender people’s lives. As I said to Kelly on Twitter, “You get to speak about it [the mistake], and trans people are seen as people and not things. Besides hatred, who’s the loser in this?” I’m grateful to Kelly for taking the time to learn and educate others. In the process she’s turned a mistake into a teachable moment. That is what an ally does. Thank you Kelly!”

In the post, Osbourne also urged people to observe Transgender Day of Remembrance on November 20, writing that “it is a day to remember those who have lost their lives due to anti-transgender violence and speak out against the fact that transgender people face disproportionate amounts of discrimination and harassment every day. The lack of knowledge about transgender people contributes to the unparalleled number of violent acts against them every day.”

Brett Ratner’s public redemption tour has already begun.

The Tower Heist director announced his resignation as producer of the Academy Awards earlier today due to a storm of controversy over a gay slur he made at a screening last weekend.

Like Tracy Morgan and Isaiah Washington before him, Ratner has began a “dialogue” with the Gay and Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation (GLAAD).

“I am grateful to GLAAD for engaging me in a dialogue about what we can do together to increase awareness of the important and troubling issues this episode has raised and I look forward to working with them,” Ratner said in a statement. “I am incredibly lucky to have a career in this business that I love with all of my heart and to be able to work alongside so many of my heroes. I deeply regret my actions and I am determined to learn from this experience.”

GLAAD, the nation’s lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) media advocacy and anti-defamation organization, announced plans for a series of public discussions on LGBT images in Hollywood following Ratner’s resignation as a producer of the 84^th Annual Academy Awards.

During a question and answer session about his film ‘Tower Heist,’ Ratner was asked whether he rehearses with his actors before shooting a scene. He replied, “Rehearsing is for f*gs,” according to New York Magazine‘s Vulture blog.

GLAAD and Ratner are working to convene public discussions featuring leaders in the entertainment industry about promoting fair and accurate inclusions of LGBT people and stories. The discussions will address anti-LGBT jokes and slurs in films and on television today as well as their trickle-down effect into popular culture.

The first event will take place in coming weeks with additional discussions to take place over the next three years. Additional details to follow.

“When we sat down with Brett today, he seemed very sincere in his desire to use this experience as a way to begin speaking out against anti-gay language in popular culture,” said Herndon Graddick, Senior Director of Programs and Communications at GLAAD. “We believe his resignation is just the first step and will be announcing a series of concrete actions with Brett in coming days and weeks.”

Added GLAAD Acting President Mike Thompson: “Hollywood has the power and responsibility to grow acceptance of all communities. We look forward to working with Brett and the industry in promoting positive, culture-changing images of our community and sending a message that such slurs, used to belittle gay and lesbian youth and adults every day, have no place in mainstream popular culture or the industry that creates it.”

GLAAD released the 16^th Annual Where We Are on TV report earlier today and the results are mixed when it comes to LGBT visibility on television.

After a significant increase last year, the number of regular lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgendee characters on broadcast networks experienced a decrease while the overall LGBT character count remains steady on cable television.

“While the number of LGBT characters is down, some of the most popular shows with critics and viewers, such as Glee, True Blood and The Good Wife, weave storylines about gay and lesbian characters into the fabric of the show,” said GLAAD Acting President Mike Thompson. “Whether it’s the growing household of  Mitchell and Cameron on Modern Family or the recent wedding of Callie and Arizona on Grey’s Anatomy, Americans expect to see the diversity of our country represented in their favorite programs and that includes gay, lesbian, bisexual, and transgender people.”

The report shows that LGBT characters still account for 2.9% of scripted series regulars in the 2011-2012 broadcast television schedule, up from 1.1% in 2007 and 2.6% in 2008, but down from 3% in 2009 and 3.9% in 2010. The number of scripted LGBT series regulars found on mainstream cable networks has also fallen slightly, from 40 in 2007, 32 in 2008, 25 in 2009, 35 in 2010 to 29 in the upcoming season.  GLAAD counted 25 additional recurring characters on cable.

Fox, the network that airs Glee, is now the most inclusive broadcast television network based on these criteria, with 6.8% of regular characters being gay, lesbian, bisexual or transgender. In 2007, the Where We Are on TV report found zero LGBT series regulars on the network.

From research and information provided by the five broadcast networks, ABC, CBS, FOX, NBC and The CW, GLAAD’s “Where We Are On TV” study reviewed 91 scripted television programs scheduled to air this upcoming season, and it counted a total of 647 series regular characters, 19 of which are LGBT. In addition, GLAAD counted 14 recurring LGBT characters on scripted primetime broadcast television this season.

Among the other findings:

- There is only one scripted transgender character on television – Adam a transgender teenager on TeenNick’s Degrassi

- Not one character on prime-time network TV will be a black LGBT character.

- NBC’s Playboy Club features a gay man and a lesbian who are married in the 1960s and in the closet. But NBC is in decline for the third year in a row, and it will feature three (1.9%) regular LGBT characters out of 154.

- The programs True Blood and Shameless have the highest number of LGBT regular characters. For the second year in a row, HBO features the greatest number of LGBT characters on cable with 11; seven of these are series regulars. Also making a significant contribution to the count are Showtime with ten characters, ABC Family, FX and TeenNick with four characters each, and TNT and BBC America with three.

- Teen networks ABC Family and Teen Nick both have four LGBT characters each.

- ABC is not in the lead for the first time in six years, and the network has significantly dropped in its percentage of regular LGBT characters, from 7.2% in 2010 to 3.4% for the upcoming season.

Complete results and report are available here: www.glaad.org/tvreport11.

On his podcast last week, Adam Carolla made some anti-gay remarks that became widely reported earlier today and he has been strongly condemned by GLAAD (Gay and Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation) who accused him of “gross intolerence.”

Carolla said LGBT people need to “shut up” because by speaking out about equality, they are “ruining his life” and said that members the LGBT community should stop using the letters “LGBT” to describe themselves, and should instead use “YUCK.” Regarding transgender people, Carolla at one point asked: “When did we start giving a sh-t about these people?”

Carolla released this statement today: “I’m sorry my comments were hurtful. I’m a comedian, not a politician.”

These are not his first anti-gay remarks. Two years ago, on the syndicated radio program ‘Loveline,’ Carolla said that “all things being equal” – gay parents are “not as good as” straight parents.

Herndon Graddick, senior director of programs at GLAAD, said in a statement: “Given his history of anti-gay and racist comments, networks and advertisers should know what their money is supporting if they choose to hire Adam Carolla. The gross intolerance that he tries to pass off as comedy should not have a place on our airwaves.”

LINK WITH CAROLLA’S HISTORY AND LATEST AUDIO: http://www.glaad.org/adamcarolla.

The Gay & Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation today released its fifth annual Network Responsibility Index, a report that maps the quantity, quality and diversity of images of LGBT people on television. Primetime programming on the five broadcast networks was evaluated as well as original primetime programming on 10 major cable networks.

The full report can be downloaded here: www.glaad.org/nri.

ABC Family became the second network in the NRI’s history to earn an “Excellent” rating from GLAAD.  Of its 103 hours of original primetime programming, 55% included LGBT-inclusive images which also reflected the ethnic and racial diversity of the LGBT community. It is notable that both ABC Family and MTV, which in 2010 received the first-ever “Excellent” rating from GLAAD, are both youth-oriented networks.

“As television audiences get to know our community and the common ground that we all share on the screen and in their own lives, acceptance is growing,” said Mike Thompson, Acting President of GLAAD. “Inclusive programming is a hit with critics and audiences alike who cheered for Kurt and Blaine’s romance on Glee or watched the wedding of Callie and Arizona on Grey’s Anatomy.”

“Programs like Pretty Little Liars and Greek have woven gay, lesbian, and bisexual characters into their stories in a way that mirrors the diversity of our community and the experiences of younger generations,” said Herndon Graddick, Senior Director of Programs at GLAAD. “Viewers expect to see television environments that accurately reflect what it’s like to be a young adult, and today that includes young adults who happen to be gay.”

Broadcast Networks:

-       The CW remains the top broadcast network with 33% of its primetime programming hours being LGBT-inclusive. Fox came in second at 29%, and both networks received a “Good” rating this year.

-       ABC remained in third place in terms of its percentage of LGBT-inclusive programming hours (23%). ABC received a “Good” rating because of the strong quality of its LGBT images, and the network broadcast the greatest total number of LGBT-inclusive hours (253).

-       CBS remained in last place with 10% LGBT-inclusive hours of primetime programming.  After receiving their second “Failing” score in a row last year, however, they improved enough to receive an “Adequate” score this year.

“CBS showed the most improvement of any broadcast network, however we continue to urge them to address the problems and deficiencies in their representation of our community, and hope their forward momentum will soon have them catching up with the other broadcast networks,” Graddick said.

Cable Networks:

-       In addition to ABC Family’s “Excellent” rating, Showtime (37%), TNT (33%), HBO (31%), Lifetime (31%), AMC (29%), and Syfy (22%) all received “Good” ratings for the quantity and quality of their LGBT-inclusive original programming.

-       USA increased their LGBT-inclusive hours from 4% to 18%, which improved their score from “Failing” to “Adequate.”

-       For the fourth year in a row, A&E (5%) and TBS (5%) both received “Failing” ratings for their lack of LGBT-inclusive images.

One area in which all networks continue to struggle is the underrepresentation or misrepresentation of the transgender community.  There were no regular or recurring transgender characters on any networks tracked in this year’s NRI.  And while there were several one-episode stories that included transgender characters, almost none were ideal representations.

“Fairly and accurately depicting the transgender community should be seen not just as a responsibility for networks, but as an opportunity,” said Mike Thompson. “There are rich characters and stories yet to be written that would also help networks reflect the full spectrum of the LGBT community.”

One example can be found on the TeenNick show Degrassi, which features the continuing storyline of a transgender teen named Adam. GLAAD worked with Degrassi on the scripts of several episodes, including Adam’s introduction in “My Body is a Cage,” which received a Peabody Award and was recently nominated for an Emmy® Award.

The 16th Annual GLAAD Where We Are On TV report on diversity will be issued in September 2011. This analysis will examine LGBT inclusion as well as the gender and race/ethnicity of all scripted characters scheduled to appear during the 2011-2012 season.

Barrios is stepping down after 23 months on the job because of fallout over a statement he had released supporting the merger of telecom giants AT&T and T-Mobile. AT&T had donated $50,000 to the LGBT rights organization.

Barrios said in a statement: “None of you have asked me to resign, and I have appreciated such confidence in me. As many of you have observed to me, this entire situation is wrought with miscommunication and assumptions. Be that as it may, I respect the function and responsibility of my position, and know this is the right course of action. Of utmost concern and foremost in all of our minds must be the well-being of GLAAD.  The staff continues to work hard and does not deserve to work under a cloud, nor do they merit the distraction that it has become from our organization’s fine brand.”

Board Co-Chairs Roxanne Jones and Scott E. Miller confirmed that the decision to resign was made on Barrios’ personal accord and that he was not asked to resign by the board.

Said Jones: “Under Jarrett’s tenure, he has put together a staff leadership team that is among the strongest in the movement. I’m confident that our current Board and staff are committed to executing our programmatic goals and reaching new heights.”

The board of Directors also accepted the resignation of several members: Gary Bitner, Jocelyn Bramble, Kelly Dermody, Humberto Mata, Michael Nutt, James Walker, Randi Weingarten and Troup Coronado. Coronado had close ties to AT&T.

The Board of Directors currently has 22 members.

Politico reports that gay activists are calling for reassessment of the group’s policies and for more heads to roll over its backing of AT&T’s proposed acquisition of T-Mobile.

POLITICO earlier this month pointed out that GLAAD was one of several liberal-leaning groups supporting AT&T’s bid that had received donations from the telecom giant — in GLAAD’s case $50,000.
“It was the best thing for the organization and certainly for the LGBT movement after all of the controversy over the support for the merger,” Michaelangelo Signorile, the Sirius XM radio show host, told POLITICO. “I think it was distracting for the group and all of the activists that work there. It really was something egregious that a lot of people don’t expect GLAAD to be involved in and supporting on behalf of the community.”

Here is some video from the evening during which Kim Cattrall was also honored. You can see her acceptance speech HERE.

“As many of you know, I played a gay man on a popular television show,” she joked.

“What a defining moment not just in my career but in my life,” she said of being honored by GLAAD. She also joked that after listening to all the speeches earlier in the evening, she was considering becoming a lesbian but then added: “But I can only do so much for the cause.”

The Gay & Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation (GLAAD has announced it will honor Golden Globe-winning actress Kim Cattrall at the 22^nd Annual GLAAD Media Awards in San Francisco.

Miss Cattrall, of course, plays the fabulous Samantha Jones on the Sex and the City TV series and movies and is first-rate in that iconic role. She will receive the Golden Gate Award at the ceremony on Saturday, May 14.

As a strong supporter of the LGBT community, Cattrall has appeared on the cover of The Advocate and spoken out for marriage equality. She can currently be seen in the new film Meet Monica Velour and will star in Noël Coward’s Private Lives on Broadway this fall.

GLAAD’s Golden Gate Award is presented to media professionals who, through their work, have increased the visibility and understanding of the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender community.  Previous recipients include Megan Mullally, Jennifer Beals, Stockard Channing, Cybill Shepherd, Jennifer Tilly, James Schamus, and Brooke Shields.

“Kim Cattrall has not only grown acceptance of our community through storylines on shows like Sex and the City, but used her platform to speak out for equality,” said GLAAD President Jarrett Barrios. “We are proud to honor such a talented and passionate advocate.”

GLAAD also announced that tech journalist Kara Swisher will receive the Local Hero Award, and AT&T will receive the Corporate Leader Award.

Naya Rivera, whose character of Santana is struggling with her sexuality on Glee, will host the event.

Other guests expected to attend include: Sara Ramirez (Grey’s Anatomy); Mario Lopez (Extra); rugby player Ben Cohen; Nelsan Ellis (True Blood); Dustin Lance Black, Reed Cowan (8: The Mormon Proposition); Tabatha Coffey (Tabatha Takes Over); Lisa Cholodenko (The Kids Are All Right); Gbenga Akinnagbe (The Good Wife, Nurse Jackie); John Gidding (Designed to Sell); openly gay Mexican pop star Christian Chávez and a special performance from Cirque du Soleil® Zumanity.

Award recipients in the following three categories will also be announced:  Outstanding Film – Wide Release, Outstanding Documentary, and Outstanding Spanish-Language Music Artist.

Previous GLAAD Media Awards ceremonies were held in New York on March 19, 2011 at the Marriott Marquis Times Square, and in Los Angeles on April 10 at the Westin Bonaventure.

A complete list of nominees for the 22^nd Annual GLAAD Media Awards are available here: http://www.glaad.org/mediaawards/22/nominees.

GLAAD MEDIA AWARDS: I must say, Sunday night’s GLAAD Media Awards in downtown Los Angeles was one of the most emotional that I can remember in about a decade of covering the LA ceremony.

Modern Family and Glee tied for outstanding comedy series. While accepting for Family, Jesse Tyler Ferguson joked: ‘I’ve always actually kind of dreamed of holding a Tony Award but this is just as cool – and just as gay! … We’re thrilled to accept it and honored to be here.”

Chris Colfer and Mike O’Malley, who play father and son on Glee, accepted their show’s award. Said Chris: “GLAAD has made Glee so happy.”

O’Malley found it ironic to accepting a comedy award because “I have yet to say a funny thing on the show.”

Project Runway won the outstanding reality show award with one of the show’s contestants (sorry, didn’t get the name!) telling the audience that “my mom and dad found out that I’m gay and have a partner on Project Runway.”

MSNBC’s Laurence O’Donnell won the outstanding TV Journalism Segment Award for his coverage of openly gay Ft. Worth City Councilman Joel Burns’ emotional speech to gay teens telling them: “I know that life can seem unbearable. I know that the people in your household, or the people in your school, may not understand you, and they may physically harm you. But I want you to know that it gets better.”

O’Donnell ran the entire speech and then had Joel and his husband on his show. He told the crowd that the award really belongs to Burns and called the councilman to the stage. Burns said: “I’d like to say through the work of GLAAD and responsible journalists like Laurence O’Donnell, I think societal attitudes have changed in the last six months.”

He pointed out that a handful of LGBT youths kill themselves every day and some after years of being bullied.

“It’s not the responsibility of those kids to end bullying in their schools,” Burns said. “It’s the responsibility of every single person and all of us.”

Kristin Chenoweth was such a worthy recipient of the Vanguard Award (presented to her by her Promises, Promises leading man Sean Hayes). She’s a beloved figure in the LGBT community and that affection only deepened after her heartfelt acceptance speech.

She talked about her Christian faith and how it never prevented her from accepting gay people. Her parents, she said, told her early on: “You will love everyone the same.”

Her father was more proud of the award she got from The Point Foundation than for the Emmy Award she was nominated for in the same year.

Kristin’s speech was funny and honest as she talked about the gay people in her life dating back to a friend in elementary school who the kids cruelly called a “dyke” and the boy who lived across the street “and got beat up for wearing pink” and her cousin Pam or “Pam the man who came out of the womb wearing overalls.” Then she had to pause so to not break down in tears as she spoke of her best friend Danny who she met in college and who immediately assured her they would fix her highlights adding “I don’t care what it costs.”

Then, the Tony winner (You’re A Good Men, Charlie Brown) and the Emmy winner (Pushing Daisies) wrapped up her wonderful speech by telling the adoring crowd: “This is the biggest honor I have ever received.”

Sean Hayes clearly adores Kristin but began his presentation with some good-natured jokes: “The first time I saw her, I thought the first thing most people thought: ‘The circus was in town.’”

Then he added, more seriously: “Every day with Kristin was special … Aside from being the most talented person person, Kristin is the kindest human being that I’ve ever known which is more important than anything. She is light and I love her and would do anything for her.”

The evening was co-hosted by Amy Poehler and Rashida Jones who were pretty much a riot. Amy, a former regular on Saturday Night Live, kicked things off by assuring the crowd: “I’m not Victoria Jackson!” [Jackson, a former SNL regular, is very publicly anti-gay]. Then when someone in the crowd yelled out that they loved her, Poehler cracked: “Colin Farrell, sit down!”

Speaking of the dashing Mr. Farrell, he was the evening’s first presenter and remarked: “We should all be accepted and respected how we are and as we are.”

[Farrell read poetry at Elizabeth Taylor's funeral last month and I was surprised there was no public mention of the former Vanguard Award recipient during the event.]

Dolly Parton was the evening’s surprise guest. She had flown into LA just an hour before taking the stage to present Robert Greenblatt with the Stephen F. Kolzak Award then was due to board a plane to London after the ceremony.

“I’ve been trying to get here to you folks for years and years – I guess you could say I’m coming out tonight!” Dolly said with her usual high level of enthusiasm.

She worked on the Broadway musical version of 9 to 5 with Greenblatt and said of her friend: “He’s never been afraid to push the envelope or stand behind things that make a difference in the world.”

Greenblatt, former president of entertainment a Showtime, recently joined NBC as chairman of NBC Entertainment.

“We can change the way the world thinks about LGBT entertainment,” he said, “and how LGBT people feel about themselves.”

Lines of the evening:

Presenter Joel McHale: “Good evening gays and breeders. It’s amazing to be here with everyone who saw Burlesque on its opening weekend.”

Presenter Chaz Bono: “In the 14 years since I was GLAAD media director, the world has changed … and I’ve changed with it.”

Rashida Jones introducing Sean Hayes: “You may recognize him for a television show that was on before TiVo.”

Sean Hayes: “I jest mainly because I’m too uncomfortable with myself to be real.”

A few days ago, I posted about Ricky Martin being honored at the GLAAD Media Awards in New York City over the weekend. I’m a few days late in finishing the recap which included plenty of other honorees!

Also at the event, the Rev. Al Sharpton presented the Excellence in Media Award to pioneering hip-hop producer, entrepreneur and philanthropist Russell Simmons, who has repeatedly spoken out on issues of concern to the LGBT community, urging Americans to support full equality.

The Excellence in Media Award is presented to individuals who, through their work, have increased the visibility and understanding of the LGBT community in the media.

“It’s a great honor and I’m truly appreciative of the GLAAD Media Awards including me in this special night,” Simmons said in his acceptance speech.  “I’m humbled by having one of my mentors and heroes Rev. Sharpton giving me this award.  It’s no secret that faith-based communities, in some cases, have been difficult, and I think that for all of us who step outside of our comfort zone and fight for the rights of others, we are blessed.  And Rev. Sharpton [has] stood up in so many ways and has been very special.  And to the gay and lesbian community he’s a true blessing.  I’m honored and appreciative and I just want to thank everybody.  Thank you.”

Tina Fey accepted the award for Outstanding Individual Episode for the “Klaus & Greta” episode of 30 Rock. Openly gay actor Denis O’Hare, who played Vampire King Russell Edgington, accepted the award on behalf of True Blood which received the nod for Outstanding Drama Series.

The award for Outstanding Digital Journalism – Multimedia was accepted by journalist Bobbi Misick, Emil Wilbekin, managing editor of Essence.com, and Danielle and Aisha Moodie-Mills for the Essence.com story “Bridal Bliss: Aisha and Danielle.”  This story was the first time Essence.com included a lesbian couple in its weekly wedding feature.

“The year’s honorees, nominees and award recipients represent diverse stories that are building acceptance and understanding about our community through their excellent work,” said GLAAD President Jarrett Barrios. “GLAAD thanks all in attendance for joining us and voicing their support for equality.”

Bravo’s Executive Vice President of Original Programming & Development Andy Cohen hosted the evening,

Following is a complete list of GLAAD Media Award recipients announced Saturday in New York.  Additional awards will be presented in Los Angeles on April 10 at the Westin Bonaventure and in San Francisco on May 14 at the San Francisco Marriott Marquis.  To receive the latest updates on the GLAAD Media Awards, follow @glaad on Twitter and use the hashtag #glaadawards.

• Excellence in Media Award:  Russell Simmons (presented by the Rev. Al Sharpton)
• Vito Russo Award:  Ricky Martin (presented by film and Broadway producer Craig Zadan)
• Outstanding Drama Series:  True Blood (HBO)
• Outstanding Individual Episode (in a serious without a regular LGBT character): “Klaus & Greta” 30 Rock (NBC)
• Outstanding Talk Show Episode:  “Ricky Martin Coming Out as a Gay Man and a New Dad” The Oprah Winfrey Show (syndicated)
• Outstanding TV Journalism – Newsmagazine:  “Gay Teen Suicides” (series) Anderson Cooper 360 (CNN)
• Outstanding Newspaper Article:  “Rutgers Student Tyler Clementi’s Suicide Spurs Action Across U.S.” by Judy Peet (The Star-Ledger [Newark, N.J.])
• Outstanding Newspaper Columnist:  Frank Rich (The New York Times)
• Outstanding Newspaper Overall Coverage:  Denver Post
• Outstanding Magazine Article:  “What Happens When You Find the One…And He’s Nothing – Nothing – Like You Expected?” by Allison Cooper (O, The Oprah Magazine)
• Outstanding Magazine Overall Coverage:  The Advocate/Out
• Outstanding Digital Journalism Article:  “View From Washington” (series) by Kerry Eleveld (Advocate.com)
• Outstanding Digital Journalism – Multimedia: “Bridal Bliss: Aisha and Danielle” by Bobbi Misick (Essence.com)
• Outstanding Blog:  Joe. My. God. (http://joemygod.blogspot.com/)
• Outstanding Music Artist:  Scissor Sisters, Night Work (Downtown Records)
• Outstanding Comic Book:  X-Factor by Peter David (Marvel Comics)
• Outstanding Los Angeles Theater:  Something Happened by L. Trey Wilson
• Outstanding New York Theater:  Broadway & Off–Broadway:  The Pride by Alexi Kaye Campbell
• Outstanding New York Theater:  Off–Off Broadway:  When Last We Flew by Harrison David Rivers

When he took the stage at the New York ceremony, Martin said: “GLAAD has helped me so much. A couple of months ago, I was being attacked by someone in the media in Puerto Rico, and I called GLAAD and I said ‘What do you do? Because I’m new at this, I really don’t know what to do.’ And they said, ‘Don’t worry, we’ll take care of it.’ And they hopped on a plane and they went to Puerto Rico and they did what needed to be done. And today, Puerto Rican television is one step closer to being free from hate, thanks to GLAAD.”

The singer, who came out publicly last year and released a candid memoir called Me, added: “I just want to be free. I can say today I’m free. And for that I definitely need to thank my parents for being so supportive, my mother and my dad for their unconditional love, and my friends, my family, my fans. And my partner in crime and my boyfriend Carlos.”

GLAAD, which promotes positive images of lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender people in the media, will present additional media awards in Los Angeles on April 10 and San Francisco in May 14.

The Gay & Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation (GLAAD today announced it will honor Grammy Award-winning singer Ricky Martin and Emmy and Tony Award-winning actress and singer Kristin Chenoweth at the 22nd Annual GLAAD Media Awards.

Martin will receive the Vito Russo Award at the New York award ceremony on Saturday, March, 19 at the Marriott Marquis Times Square. Chenoweth will receive the Vanguard Award at the Los Angeles event on Sunday, April 10, 2011 at the Westin Bonaventure.

GLAAD also announced that Andy Cohen, Bravo’s Executive Vice President of Original Programming and host of Watch What Happens: Live will host the New York event. Additional honorees and special guests will be announced soon.

Nominees for the 22nd Annual GLAAD Media Awards were announced last month and are available here: http://www.glaad.org/mediaawards/22/nominees. The awards recognize and honor media for their fair, accurate and inclusive representations of the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender community and the issues that affect their lives.

Martin will receive the Vito Russo Award, which is named after one of GLAAD’s founders, and is presented to an openly LGBT media professional who has made a significant difference in promoting equal rights for our community.

Previous Vito Russo Award honorees include Cynthia Nixon, Suze Orman, Rosie O’Donnell, Alan Cumming, Nathan Lane, Elton John, Liz Smith, k.d. lang, David LaChapelle, Brian Graden, and Tom Ford.

“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,” said GLAAD President Jarrett Barrios. “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.”

Chenoweth will receive the Vanguard Award which is presented to media professionals who have increased the visibility and understanding of the LGBT community.

In May 2010, Chenoweth responded to a controversial Newsweek article which incorrectly asserted that gay actors ‘cannot play straight roles.’ She defended gay actors including Sean Hayes, her co-star in Promises, Promises, and called on Newsweek to “embrace stories which promote acceptance, love and unity.”

Chenoweth has demonstrated her devotion to LGBT equality by participating in the National Equality March in October 2009, speaking at the LGBT Community Center of New York as well as supporting Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS and GLSEN. She has also been honored with the Point Courage Award by the Point Foundation.

Past recipients of the Vanguard Award include Drew Barrymore, Charlize Theron, Antonio Banderas, Sharon Stone, Eric McCormack, Elizabeth Taylor, Liza Minnelli, Kathy Griffin and Whoopi Goldberg.

“When allies like Kristin take such powerful stands against anti-gay sentiments in the media, it sends an important message of equality,” said Barrios. “It is a privilege to honor such a talented and conscientious advocate for fairness towards the LGBT community.”

The GLAAD Media Awards ceremonies will be held in New York on March 19, 2011 at the Marriott Marquis Times Square; in Los Angeles on April 10 at the Westin Bonaventure; and in San Francisco on May 14 at San Francisco Marriott Marquis.

But Jay, who has publicly supported gay marriage, did it again last week when Amy Poehler was a guest and told The Tonight Show host a story about her 4-year-old son seeing a sad Patriots coach Bill Belichick doing as post-game press conference and kissing the TV screen to cheer the coach up.

Leno reacted to the cute anecdote by going into a bit of gay panic: “Was dad concerned by this?” he asked.

Watch the exchange for yourself and below it, I will share with you part of a well-written reaction from GLAAD President Jarret Barrios, something I hope Leno has read.

Writes Barrios:

What’s sad about Jay Leno’s joke is that it was so unsurprising. Comedy routinely plays on types and often makes fun of people from all walks of life. But jokes like this one — ones that reaffirm these stereotypes for laughs — can also make things harder for gay and transgender people who already face tremendous hurdles.

What’s even sadder was that he made the joke about a child’s behavior and a parent’s expectations. When young people come out, the first people they should be able to go to are their parents. And at a time when so many of us are asking why our lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender youth are being physically or verbally bullied or worse — shouldn’t we want a child to believe they can go to their father to talk about it? But who would go talk to a dad like the one in Leno’s joke?

The Gay & Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation (GLAAD), the nation’s lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) media advocacy and anti- defamation organization, announced today the nominees for its 22nd Annual GLAAD Media Awards.

GLAAD announced 114 nominees in 23 English-language categories, and 33 Spanish-language
nominees in 9 categories. In the English-language categories, cable networks earned 22
nominations, while broadcast networks garnered 11 nominations. The awards recognize and honor media for outstanding images of the LGBT community.

Among the nominees: Lisa Cholodenko’s Golden Globe-winning film The Kids Are All
Right, I Love You Phillip Morris starring Jim Carrey and Ewan McGregor, Howl, starring James
Franco, the summer hit film Easy A, HBO’s acclaimed drama True Blood, Fox’s hit show Glee,
ABC’s hit comedy Modern Family, NBC’s hit sitcom 30 Rock, Prodigal Sons, a documentary
about a transgender woman and her family, season eight of Project Runway, The Oprah Winfrey
Show for Ricky Martin’s first televised interview, MSNBC’s interview with Fort Worth City
Council member Joel Burns, CNN’s Anderson Cooper 360, Essence.com’s “Bridal Bliss: Aisha
and Danielle,” and Spanish-language nominees Levántate, Aquí y Ahora, Caso Cerrado, Casos de Familia, and openly gay music artists Christian Chavez and Fedro.

In 2011, the GLAAD Media Awards will also celebrate GLAAD’s twenty-fifth anniversary year,
looking back at a quarter-century of work to build acceptance and advance equality through
LGBT images in the media.

“This year’s nominees represent some of the images and stories at the root of the growing
acceptance of our community and support for our equality,” said GLAAD President Jarrett
Barrios. “They also have created a benchmark for inclusion of our community that other media
outlets should look to. As GLAAD celebrates twenty-five years of working with the media, we
are proud to recognize this year’s nominees and we challenge the industry to share more stories
that reflect the diversity of our community and the challenges that gay and transgender people
face.”

The GLAAD Media Awards ceremonies will be held in New York on March 19, 2011 at the
Marriott Marquis in Times Square; in Los Angeles on April 16 at the Westin Bonaventure; and in
San Francisco on May 14 at San Francisco Marriott Marquis.

Here is the list of nominees:

OUTSTANDING FILM – WIDE RELEASE
Burlesque (Screen Gems), Easy A (Screen Gems), The Girl Who Played with Fire (Music Box Films),
The Kids Are All Right (Focus Features), Scott Pilgrim vs. the World (Universal Pictures)

OUTSTANDING DRAMA SERIES
Brothers & Sisters (ABC), Degrassi (TeenNick), Grey’s Anatomy (ABC), Pretty Little Liars (ABC Family)
True Blood (HBO)

OUTSTANDING FILM – LIMITED RELEASE

Howl (Oscilloscope Pictures), I Love You Phillip Morris (Roadside Attractions), La Mission (Screen Media Ventures), Patrik, Age 1.5 (Regent Releasing), Undertow (Wolfe Releasing)

OUTSTANDING COMEDY SERIES
Glee (Fox), GREEK (ABC Family), Modern Family (ABC), Nurse Jackie (Showtime), United States of Tara (Showtime)

OUTSTANDING INDIVIDUAL EPISODE (in a series without a regular LGBT character)

“Escape the Castle” Bored to Death (HBO), “Innocence” Law & Order (NBC), “Klaus & Greta” 30 Rock (NBC), “Queen of Mean” Drop Dead Diva (Lifetime), “Samaritan” Law & Order: UK (BBC America)

OUTSTANDING REALITY PROGRAM
The Fabulous Beekman Boys (Planet Green), Girls Who Like Boys Who Like Boys (Sundance Channel), Project Runway (Lifetime), Top Chef: Just Desserts (Bravo), TRANSform Me (VH1)

OUTSTANDING DOCUMENTARY
8: The Mormon Proposition (Red Flag Releasing), Edie & Thea: A Very Long Engagement (Sundance Channel), Prodigal Sons (First Run Features), “Sylvester” UnSung (TV One), Out. The Glenn Burke Story (Comcast SportsNet Bay Area)

OUTSTANDING TV JOURNALISM – NEWSMAGAZINE
“”Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” (series) The Rachel Maddow Show (MSNBC), “Gay Teen Suicides” (series) Anderson Cooper 360 (CNN), “Katie Miller: Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” Outside the Lines (ESPN), “Olson and Boies on Same-Sex Marriage” Bill Moyers Journal (PBS), “Transitions” Real Sports with Bryant Gumbel (HBO)

OUTSTANDING TALK SHOW EPISODE
“Constance McMillen” The Ellen DeGeneres Show (syndicated), “Neil Patrick Harris” The Talk (CBS),
“Rebuilding Home After Tragedy: The Seth Walsh Story “The Nate Berkus Show (syndicated), “Ricky Martin Coming Out as a Gay Man and a New Dad” The Oprah Winfrey Show (syndicated), “Transgender Kids: Too Young to Decide?” The Dr. Oz Show (syndicated)

OUTSTANDING TV JOURNALISM SEGMENT
“Don’t Ask…” CBS Sunday Morning (CBS), “Fort Worth Speech” The Last Word with Lawrence O’Donnell (MSNBC), “Gay Teens Talk Their Truth” CNN Newsroom (CNN), “Images of Protest” ABC World News with Diane Sawyer (ABC), “Mom, Dad… I’m Coming Out” Today (NBC)

OUTSTANDING NEWSPAPER ARTICLE
“Coming Out, Fitting In” by Rosemary Winters (The Salt Lake Tribune), “D.C. Gay Couple Caps a Momentous First by Tying the Knot” by Monica Hesse (The Washington Post), “Rutgers Student Tyler Clementi’s Suicide Spurs Action Across U.S.” by Judy Peet (The Star-Ledger [Newark, N.J.), “A Tragic Love Story” by Steve Friess (LA Weekly), “Worlds Apart” by Lauren Smiley (SF Weekly)

OUTSTANDING NEWSPAPER OVERALL COVERAGE
Atlanta Journal Constitution, Denver Post, Los Angeles Times, The New York Times, The Salt Lake Tribune

OUTSTANDING NEWSPAPER COLUMNIST
Peg Mcentee (The Salt Lake Tribune), Leonard Pitts, Jr. (The Miami Herald), Frank Rich (The New York Times), Eugene Robinson (The Washington Post), Rev. Byron Williams (The Oakland Tribune)

OUTSTANDING MAGAZINE OVERALL COVERAGE
The Advocate/Out, The Chronicle of Higher Education, Entertainment Weekly, People, US Weekly

OUTSTANDING DIGITAL JOURNALISM – MULTIMEDIA
“Bridal Bliss: Aisha and Danielle” by Bobbi Misick (Essence.com), “Censoring Wojnarowicz” (IntheLifetv.org), “A Gay Family Album” (Newsweek.com), “Kicked Out But Ready to Go Back” by Jon Groat
(Newsweek.com)

OUTSTANDING MAGAZINE ARTICLE
“All That’s Left is God” by Michelle Theall (5280 Magazine), “‘I Was Scared to Sleep’: LGBT Youth Face Violence Behind Bars” by Daniel Redman (The Nation), “It’s a Shocking Trend: Gay Teens Being Bullied to the Point of Suicide” by Kenneth Miller (Ladies’ Home Journal), “Just Another Girl (Who Used to be a Boy)” by Genevieve Field (Glamour), “What Happens When You Find the One…And He’s Nothing – Nothing – Like You Expected?” by Allison Cooper (O, The Oprah Magazine)

OUTSTANDING DIGITAL JOURNALISM ARTICLE
“The Camera in the Closet: Gay Service Members Speak Out to ABC News About Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” by Mary Kathryn Burke (ABCNews.com), “‘Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell’ Hurts African-American Women the Most” by Lynette Holloway (TheRoot.com) “Ice Cracks Beneath Weir’s Critics” by LZ Granderson (ESPN.com) “View From Washington” (series) by Kerry Eleveld (Advocate.com) “Wrestler Hudson Taylor a Champion for Gay Rights” by Jim Buzinski (Outsports.com)

OUTSTANDING BLOG
The Bilerico Project (http://www.bilerico.com/), Blabbeando (http://blabbeando.blogspot.com/), Joe. My. God. (http://joemygod.blogspot.com/), Pam’s House Blend (http://www.pamshouseblend.com), Rod 2.0 (http://rodonline.typepad.com/)

OUTSTANDING MUSIC ARTIST
Antony and the Johnsons, Swanlights (Secretly Canadian), Big Freedia, Big Freedia Hitz Vol. 1 (Big Freedia Records) Chely Wright, Lifted Off the Ground (Vanguard Records) Kele Okereke, The Boxer (Glassnote Records) Scissor Sisters, Night Work (Downtown Records)

OUTSTANDING LOS ANGELES THEATER
Dr. Cerberus by Robert Aguirre-Sacasa, Haram Iran by Jay Paul Deratany, Revolver by Chris Phillips, Something Happened by L. Trey Wilson, The Twentieth-Century Way by Tom Jacobson

OUTSTANDING COMIC BOOK

Buffy the Vampire Slayer by Scott Allie, Brad Meltzer, Joss Whedon (Dark Horse Comics), Fogtown by Andersen Gabrych (Vertigo/DC Comics), Veronica by Dan Parent (Archie Comics) X-Factor by Peter David (Marvel Comics) Young Avengers: Children’s Crusade by Allan Heinberg (Marvel)

OUTSTANDING NEW YORK THEATER: BROADWAY & OFF-BROADWAY
In the Wake by Lisa Kron, The Kid, book by Michael Zam, lyrics by Jack Lechner, music by Andy Monroe,
Passion Play by Sarah Ruhl, The Pride by Alexi Kaye Campbell, Secrets of the Trade by Jonathan Tolins

OUTSTANDING NEW YORK THEATER: OFF-OFF BROADWAY
Lay of the Land by Tim Miller, Let Them Eat Cake by Holly Hughes, Megan Carney and Moe Angelos, This One Girl’s Story, book by Bil Wright, music and lyrics by Dionne McClain-Freeney, Vaginal Davis Is Speaking from the Diaphragm by Vaginal Davis, When Last We Flew by Harrison David Rivers