Tony Kushner, Ricky Martin, et al. Receive GLAAD Media Awards

The 23rd Annual GLAAD Media Awards were held last night, March 24, 2012 at the Marriott Marquis Times Square and were streamed live online. Footage of the red carpet and ceremony are available to view at the GLAAD website and on YouTube. Glee's Cory Monteith and Naya Rivera hosted the event.

Tony Kushner received an award for Outstanding New York Theatre: Broadway & Off Broadway for his Off-Broadway play, The Intelligent Homosexual's Guide to Capitalism and Socialism with a Key to the Scriptures.

Taking home the award for Outstanding New York Theatre: Off-Off Broadway was the musical Southern Comfort with book and lyrics by Dan Collins and music by Julianne Wick Davis. Wendy Graf won the award for Outstanding Los Angeles Theatre for her play, No Word in Guyanese for Me.

In music, Evita's Ricky Martin received the Spanish-Language Outstanding Music Artist award for his album, Música + Alma + Sexo. Lady Gaga took home the Outstanding Music Artist award for her album, Born This Way.

Among the winners for the television categories was ABC's Dancing with the Stars which won the award for Outstanding Reality Program.

As previously announced, Broadway legend Bernadette Peters presented the Vito Russo Award to film, television, and theatre producers Craig Zadan and Neil Meron (PROMISES, PROMISES, HOW TO SUCCEED IN BUSINESS WITHOUT REALLY TRYING, 'Chicago', 'Hairspray', 'Smash').

Writer and producer Shonda Rhimes ('Grey's Anatomy', 'Private Practice', 'Scandal') and financial services company Wells Fargo and Facebook were also honored at the 23rd Annual GLAAD Media Awards presented by Ketel One and Wells Fargo.

Weinstein Company Co-Chairman and outspoken anti-bulloying advocate Harvey Weinstein presented a Special Recognition Award to high school student Katy Butler who launched a campaign to change the 'R' rating of the upcoming documentary 'Bully' to 'PG-13. The petition has about half a million signatures.

Special guests for the New York event included: Dakota Fanning (The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn - Part 2); Martha Plimpton (Raising Hope); Megan Hilty (Smash); Carson Kressley (Dancing with the Stars); Padma Lakshmi (Top Chef); MSNBC's Thomas Roberts; Kim Wayans (Pariah); Vinny Guadagnino (Jersey Shore); Ted Allen (Chopped); Tracey Gold (Starving Secrets with Tracey Gold); Wendy Williams (The Wendy Williams Show); Laverne Cox (Musical Chairs); Jay Manuel, Isis King (America's Next Top Model); journalist Chris Geidner; writer Janet Mock; and Emil Wilbekin (Essence).

The GLAAD Media Awards fund GLAAD's work to bring stories of LGBT people and issues to Americans. Each year, the GLAAD Media Awards in New York, Los Angeles and San Francisco bring together more than 5,000 advocates and allies to raise nearly $3.5 million for the organization's work.

More than 100 corporate partners showed their support, including National Presenting partners Ketel One and Wells Fargo, New York Presenting partners Delta Air Lines and Prudential, Los Angeles Presenting partner Delta Air Lines, and San Francisco Presenting partner Southwest Airlines. GLAAD is also grateful to the 23rd Annual GLAAD Media Awards Platinum Underwriter corporate partners: Anheuser-Busch, Inc., Comcast/NBC Universal, Disney-ABC Television Group/ESPN, IBM, Sheppard Mullin and Time Warner, as well as Underwriter corporate partners: Allstate Insurance Company, AT&T, Barefoot Wine & Bubbly, David Yurman, Food Network/Cooking Channel, New York City Marriott Marquis & Renaissance Hotel, PricewaterhouseCoopers, VPI Pet Insurance and Westin Bonaventure Hotel & Suites. For a full list of corporate partners please visit www.glaad.org/mediaawards.

The Gay & Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation (GLAAD) amplifies the voice of the LGBT community by empowering real people to share their stories, holding the media accountable for the words and images they present, and helping grassroots organizations communicate effectively. By ensuring that the stories of LGBT people are heard through the media, GLAAD promotes understanding, increases acceptance, and advances equality. For more information, visit www.glaad.org.

Photo Credit: Walter McBride/WM Photos

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