On Saturday (May 11), there was only one show on planet Earth that boasted more queer energy than the Eurovision Song Contest, and that was the 2024 GLAAD Media Awards in New York City at the Midtown Hilton Hotel.
And not unlike this year's Eurovision in Malmö, Sweden, the event was not without protesters. A small group of protesters accusing Israel of genocide against the Palestinian people picketed outside the hotel entrance during the 35th annual GLAAD Media Awards. Most notably, at the top of the show itself, an attendee interrupted host Ross Mathews' opening monologue to repeatedly declare “GLAAD is complicit in genocide” before being escorted out.
“It was awkward for everybody,” Matthews said after a pause. “But you know what? We have to fight for everyone's rights – and this is one of them.”
While the Israel-Hamas War didn't come up again that night, politics were still at the center of the GLAAD Media Awards, as always. New York Attorney General Letitia James made an appearance to celebrate LGBTQ New Yorkers and speak out for transgender rights. GLAAD President Sarah Kate Ellis urged attendees to use their “platform and their privilege” to ensure the next US president is a man who values LGBTQ rights — and warned that the Supreme Court “will overturn our legal marriages as they rolled back Roe v Wade” in a loud, fiery speech. and a very famous Oscar winner took some hilarious shots at a former US vice president during the show.
Jennifer Lawrence (haircut Veronica Lake) appeared to celebrate “my beloved musician and good friend Orville Peck,” who was receiving the Vito Russo Award (named after the late activist and author The celluloid closet) at the 2024 GLAAD Media Awards.
“I love seeing so many people who can make it to the top of their field while still being strong,” Lawrence said. Speaking about her love for the gay community, Lawrence said she once fell in love with a gay man, but soon realized her advances were futile. “Conversion therapy doesn't work,” he said. “Did you hear me, Mike Pence? I said conversion therapy isn't real – even though you think it worked for you.''
Accepting the award, Peck talked about being a singer-songwriter in a genre that hasn't always been the most open to the LGBTQ community. “I'm one of many of us here who have felt excluded or held back because of who we are,” Peck said, adding that queer people nevertheless manage to “turn tragedy into art and humor and culture.”
Peck also spoke about the “responsibility of visibility” when it comes to all minority communities and what it means for the next generation “to allow some kid in a small town who loves country music to see himself in me or Mickey Guyton or TJ Osborne. “
Earlier in the evening, Jennifer Hudson – who already has an EGOT – added another award to her trophy cabinet when she took the stage to accept GLAAD's Outstanding Variety or Talk Show Episode for an episode of The Jennifer Hudson Show in which he surprised HIV activist Ian Haddock (of the Normal Anomaly Initiative) with $10,000.
After a fundraiser that raised more than $350,000, Loren Allred took the stage to perform an emotional version of “Never Enough” from The Greatest Showman, as well as the upbeat 'Come Alive'. The latter was a duet, with Scott Hoying (of Pentatonix and Superfruit) joining her on the slightly funky vocal showcase.
Towards the end of the night, Advertising sign (and Advertising sign's Pride Editor Stephen Daw) were honored when it was named GLAAD Advertising signThe cover of Pride Issue 2023 is the outstanding print article of the year. The (now award-winning) article, written by Daw, is a wide-ranging, in-depth interview with Maren Morris and four drag performers about the proliferation of drag shows in the United States. You can read it here.
