GLAAD Media Awards: Drew Barrymore and Wanda Sykes to be honored at LA event in April

The GLAAD Media Awards are always my favorite event of the year because it is so gratifying to see all of the LGBT images from the past year up on screen and to see some of the folks responsible for it being recognized.

GLAAD has just announced its special honorees for its April 17 gala in Los Angeles and I do not think they could have chosen a better pair of extraordinary women: 2010 Golden Globe and SAG Award winner Drew Barrymore will receive the Vangaard Award while the smart, outspoken and wonderfully funny Wanda Sykes will receive the Stephen F. Kolzak Award.

“When Americans see allies like Drew standing up for fairness for all and hear stories of Wanda and her family, support for full equality grows,” said GLAAD President Jarrett Barrios. “It’s the voices of diverse allies and community members that GLAAD works to amplify everyday in local communities.”

The Vangaard Award has gone to such LGBT straight allies as Charlize Theron, Sharon Stone, Eric McCormack, Elizabeth Taylor, Liza Minnelli, Kathy Griffin and Whoopi Goldberg. It is presented to media professionals who have increased the visibility and understanding of the LGBT community.

In 2009, Barrymore took on the role of the lesbian daughter of a widower played by Robert De Niro in Everybody’s Fine, nominated for Outstanding Film – Wide Release at the 21^st Annual GLAAD Media Awards, and in 1995 starred in Boys on the Side. a past GLAAD winner.

Last May, I was at a massive rally in West Hollywood against Prop. 8 at San Vicente and Santa Monica Blvd. The crowd went wild when a surprise guest was announced: Drew Barrymore!

I was in the front row and taped Drew’s remarks but the cheers drowned out some of her words. But I got most of it:

“… May (we) chip away at people who put these hurdles in our path. I am defined by gay people my entire life. Children need families, people need to be in love and we have to take steps forward, not backward. I want to live in a world where Prop. 8 doesn’t exist. … What defines a family? We do! Thank you and I’m honored to be in your presence!”

Drew was very emotional and while already a fan, I just fell in love with her more. She has managed to survive and thrive – despite some well-publicized bumps along the way – and she is now one of the most respected actresses and producers around. She also made a wonderful directorial debut in last year’s criminally unseen Whip It (please, get the DVD, it’s wonderful).

Here’s is Drew’s reaction to the GLAAD honor: “I was born, bred and raised among diversity, it has defined me and made me the person I am today. I’m honored and humbled to be receiving this award.”

That brings us to the wonderful Wanda Sykes who came out publicly at a anti-Prop. 8 rally in the fall of 2008. She has only become a bigger star since then and has become such a treasure to the LGBT community. She was honored last fall by the LA Gay and Lesbian Center and hosted last year’s HRC dinner in Los Angeles.

I chatted with Wanda at that HRC dinner and asked how her life had changed since coming out in such a public way.

“I still feel like me, maybe a little free, a little more liberated – more fired up. It’s great,” she said.

She also explained to me how it all came about: “I was in Vegas working at Planet Hollywood and I knew there was a national rally going on and I wanted toi be a part of the rally. I was just in the crowd with everyone else and I guess the word got around that I was there in the crowd and they asked if I would come up and say a few words. And you know the rest.”

The Stephen F. Kolzak Award is presented to an openly LGBT media professional who has made a significant difference in promoting equal rights for our community.  She has appeared in LGBT PSAs, performed at LGBT fundraisers and is a Board Member for the Equality California Institute. Wanda also became the first openly gay and first African American woman to be the featured entertainer for the annual White House Correspondents’ Association dinner in 2009.

Previous recipients of the Stephen F. Kolzak Award include Rufus Wainwright, Melissa Etheridge, Bill Condon, Alan Ball, Ellen DeGeneres, and Sir Ian McKellen.

Wanda had this to say about the Kolzak honor: “I greatly appreciate the work that GLAAD continues to do, promoting equality, fair representation and tolerance for our LGBT community.  I just pray that I don’t ruin what GLAAD has achieved with all of my shenanigans.”

Not a chance!

The GLAAD Media Awards elevate and promote fair, accurate and inclusive stories of lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) issues, people and allies that have increased awareness, understanding and respect for the lives of LGBT people. The GLAAD Media Awards also fund GLAAD’s work to bring stories of LGBT people and issues to Americans.