NEW YORK — The Gay and Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation (GLAAD) announced that Madonna will present CNN’s Anderson Cooper with an award for openly gay media professionals.
Anderson Cooper with Madonaa
Image: Anderson Cooper Live
GLAAD told The Associated Press on Saturday that the singer has been chosen to give Cooper the Vito Russo Award at the 24th annual GLAAD Media Awards in New York City on March 16.
The Vito Russo Award is presented to an openly LGBT media professional who has made a significant difference in promoting equality.
The Award is named for Vito Russo, a founder of GLAAD and celebrated activist with ACT UP, who chronicled the early images of LGBT people in film and in his book The Celluloid Closet. Previous Vito Russo honorees include Ricky Martin, Rosie O’Donnell, Alan Cumming, Cynthia Nixon, Nathan Lane, Cherry Jones, Elton John, k.d. lang, Brian Graden, and Tom Ford.
GLAAD President Herndon Graddick says Madonna and Cooper are longtime friends who have both used their careers to support lesbian, gay and transgender people.
Cooper declined to speak publicly about his sexuality for years. But last July he gave blogger Andrew Sullivan permission to publish an email in which Cooper said he was gay and “couldn’t be more happy.”“By sharing his own experiences as a gay man, Anderson has reminded millions of Americans that LGBT people are part of their everyday lives and an integral part of our cultural fabric,” said Graddick. “He continues to raise the bar and set a new standard for journalists everywhere, and I’m proud to call him a friend.”
Filed under: Newsmakers
Florida teen fighting criminal charges related to same-sex relationship
Linda Harvey: Gay news sites trick kids into becoming gay
Wash. florist who refused flowers for gay couple’s wedding files suit against state
Texas judge enforces ‘morality clause’ to split up lesbian couple
Catholic school: Transgender student must wear girl’s graduation gown
Another Ore. bakery refuses to provide wedding cake for same-sex couple
Graham threatens to pull support from immigration bill if gays are included
Matt Barber tweets homophobic cartoon of gay man tricking Boy Scout into sex
UPDATED: Police call fatal New York City shooting an anti-gay hate crime
Russian police confirm man was tortured to death because he was gay
Parents sue S.C. hospital over child’s gender assignment surgery
Scottish cardinal to atone for sexual misconduct with younger clergy
BREAKING: French president signs marriage equality bill into law
BREAKING: Minn. governor signs marriage equality bill — ‘Love is the law’
Everything is bigger in Texas – even the homophobia
I like anderson cooper. Fuck madonna! >:(
Very nice indeed. Although considering Anderson has always been openly gay the timing of the award is interesting but, if I was getting an award getting it from Madonna would be awesome!
Yess!!! Both are bad asses:)
Hurrah! Madonna<3 Material Girl
Awesome! About time people get noticed and thanked for being proud of who they are!
I have an award for Anderson…’cept I don’t wanna tick off his hubby. Love to both and Madonna.
Anderson doesn’t deserve it! Thomas Roberts does!
P.S. Anderson was never openly gay. He only recently acknowledged it publicly after years of those who live in NYC privy to his open secret when he goes around with different men. Few outside of NYC had any idea!
how droll Kathy Griffith would be a much better presenter.
Congrats
Bruce, since when has Anderson been “openly” gay? I mean, we always knew he was gay, but he wasn’t open about it until recently. I like Anderson a lot, but let’s keep things in perspective.
Either way, CONGRATS to Anderson!
Oh, and kudos to Madonna for always supporting the LGBT community. She’s always been ahead of the time.
I am surprised that Ellen Degeneres was not listed as a recipient of this award…. Hmmm
Ok, he covered up the fact that our hijacked government is backing and has backed the homophobic, female-genital-mutilating, child-molesting al-qaeda in Libya, Syria and Malawi among other places. He should receive *NOTHING*! Where’s his independent youtube video exposing this? Amber Lyon did it (regarding what cartoon news network asked her to cover up in Bahrain)! Why can’t he?
And where the Hell is Ms. Ciconne’s voice on this coverup? Who the Hell is she to offer awards?
Oh, by the way, she’s no Anastacia Podnebesnaya: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=psUGRi_-AHM
Usually I hate people committing spamicide where it doesn’t belong but quite enjoyed thanks Sterling.
interesting.
Well deserved!!!
Will our community ever stand tall and award people who have supported us continually throughout their careers instead of this empty shell of a journalist? GLAAD has become just another kiss-the-celebrity’s- ass organization. Star blinded, that’s all we are.