The Gay & Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation (GLAAD) announced on Tuesday that Grammy and Oscar-winning actress and singer Jennifer Hudson and country music artist Orville Peck will be honored with special awards at the 35th annual GLAAD Media Awards ceremony in New York on May 11th.
Hudson, whose daytime talk show ‘The Jennifer Hudson Show’ is nominated for Outstanding Variety or Talk Show Episode at the New York ceremony, will receive GLAAD’s Excellence in Media Award for her unwavering support and advocacy for LGBTQ people and issues. She joins a distinguished list of previous honorees, including Maren Morris, Judith Light, Ava DuVernay, Patti LaBelle, and Debra Messing.
Peck, renowned for his groundbreaking music that defies traditional country music norms and celebrates LGBTQ identity, will receive the Vito Russo Award. Named after GLAAD co-founder and ACT UP activist Vito Russo, this award recognizes individuals who have made significant contributions to LGBTQ visibility and acceptance. Previous recipients include Wilson Cruz, Billy Porter, Anderson Cooper, Ricky Martin, Andy Cohen, and RuPaul.
GLAAD President and CEO Sarah Kate Ellis praised Peck’s impact, stating that he ‘paved a new frontier for artists in a genre historically exclusionary of queer voices.’
The New York ceremony, hosted by Ross Matthews at the Hilton Midtown, will also see the presentation of 17 remaining GLAAD Media Awards. A portion of the awards were previously announced during the Los Angeles ceremony in March, hosted by Wayne Brady.
GLAAD’s Excellence in Media Award is bestowed upon allies who have played a pivotal role in promoting LGBTQ acceptance and equality, while the Vito Russo Award specifically honors those who have elevated LGBTQ awareness in media and entertainment.
