GLAAD Honors :: 25 Years of Advocacy

With most of New York City already clad in black, there was one spot in town where black was optional attire - black tie that is, as the Big Apple celebrated the 2011 GLAAD Media Awards. This year's affair which honors positive and informed portrayals of the LGBT community across all medias, and chose to award several inspired individuals who have made significant contributions in the continual support of equal civil rights, including marriage equality and discrimination against gays and lesbians.

Held in the heart of Manhattan's Times Square at the Marriott Marquis, the evening began with the auctioning of several unique high-ticket items which were donated by sponsorships from Virgin Atlantic, American Airlines, Food Network and SyFy to name a few. Before the master of ceremonies, the spirited Andy Cohen took over the reins and introduced several awards, including some for popular shows from HBO - "True Blood" received the award for Best Drama Series, and Tina Fey was on hand to accept on behalf of NBC's "30 Rock".

Special honorees included Ricky Martin, awarded the Vito Russo Award for his growing advocacy and recent coming out in mainstream media as a gay man and father of two twins, and LGBT ally and philanthropist Russell Simmons who received the Excellence in Media Award.

The Work Continues

GLAAD President Jarrett T. Barrios lauded and reminded the guest and honorees in attendance of the 25 years of work that GLAAD has dedicated to advancing equality, and especially brought attention to how incredibly diverse and vital media has become in our digital age of social networking - Barrios promised that although much has been accomplished, there was still a lot of work left to do, and a debt of responsibility that must be honored to future generations of LGBT youth.

And among those invited to attend the event were a selection of young people, members of the LGBT community and allies from across the country that represent the very future for which GLAAD is working.