Newly out actress Ellen Page presented Orange is the New Black star Laverne Cox with the Stephen F. Kolzak Award, at the 25th Annual GLAAD Media Awards in Los Angeles this weekend. The Award is presented to an LGBT (lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender) media professional who has made a significant difference in moving equality forward, and Cox’s mom made a surprise appearance on stage. Cox said, “I’m so moved by the work that GLAAD has been doing, particularly over the past year, to make sure that the ‘T’ is not silent in the LGBT community. For years, I was trying to have a career as an actor doing what I love to do most and was told repeatedly that they didn’t know what to do with me, and that I would not work.”
Rita Moreno presented Jennifer Lopez with GLAAD’s Vanguard Award, in part for her work on ABC Family’s The Fosters.
Lopez said, “Tonight, I thank GLAAD not only for giving me the Vanguard Award, but for honoring The Fosters as the Outstanding Drama of the Year. We are so proud of this show, because our biggest hope is that it’s outstanding because it is doing the same for young people-helping them feel loved, understood, included-as Rita did for me, and as GLAAD does today.”
“I have to give it up for my lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender fans because they be loyal,” Lopez continued. “Finally, I really want to thank GLAAD for all of the important, daring, powerful work that you do, not only in mainstream media, but in Spanish-language media too. You all need to know that GLAAD is spreading the message of love and acceptance in English and en Espanol. El amor es el amor.”
Oscar-winning actress Lupita Nyong’o presented the award for Outstanding Documentary to Bridegroom and Call Me Kuchu.
What did you think of the big speeches of the night?
