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NYC VIBE at the

2018 GLAAD Awards

June 2018 – It’s all about fair, accurate, and inclusive representations of the LGBTQ Community.

It honors those who are bold and original. It recognizes the positive impact on mainstream culture by these extraordinary individuals in the media and the arts.

It’s the GLAAD Media Awards – And NYC VIBE met with this year’s honorees and nominees.

Hosted by Ross Mathews, The GLAAD Awards started the evening by bringing together two renowned music artists who spanned generations – Melissa Etheridge and Adam Lambert. They dueted on the song “I’m The Only One” from Melissa’s breakthrough album “Yes I Am” – Which asserted her status as a gay artist 25 years ago.

Gloria Carter, the mother of recording artist Jay Z, was given a special recognition awards for her poem “Smile” – where she comes out as a lesbian. Her poem appeared on her son’s album “4:44”

The New York Version of the 2018 GLAAD Media Awards followed the earlier Los Angeles edition in April. Attendees all wore blue ampersand pins to represent GLAAD’s “Together” movement which includes the organizations’s work on issues ranging from immigration, racial justice, and women’s rights. While many of the acceptance speeches were an expression of gratitude – nearly all the winners stressed the importance of civic and social action and moving forward. All of the nominees and honorees shared stories that spanned race, artistic genres, age, and geography. They all also shared the common goal of bringing people together – and broadening understanding of the LGBTQ Community, not only in New York City, but around the world. In fact, the underlying theme of the GLAAD Awards was “Art is Activism”!

The media has a powerful impact on the perception of the LGBTQ community, and once again the GLAAD Media Awards raised the bar of excellence.