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Hi Friend, Welcome to our bi-weekly newsletter about GLAAD’s programs and activities that your investments make possible. GLAAD continues to leverage the media to move hearts and minds toward LGBTQ acceptance. This includes overturning anti-trans legislation by equipping journalists with facts they need to know and moving to protect the most vulnerable in our community. GLAAD also announced the nominees for the GLAAD Media Awards, the most visible LGBTQ awards show that recognizes the best of the best in media. Keep reading to learn more. GLAAD Media Awards‘Happiest Season,’ ‘Disclosure,’ ‘Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom,’ ‘Schitt’s Creek,’ ‘We’re Here,’ Sam Smith, MSNBC, CNN among nominees for the 32nd Annual GLAAD Media AwardsIn a viral TikTok live stream, GLAAD announced the nominees for the 32nd Annual GLAAD Media Awards. The GLAAD Media Awards set the standard for LGBTQ inclusion in media by raising the bar for studios, artists and journalists who tell stories about our community. As the most visible LGBTQ awards show, the ceremony moves hearts and minds toward LGBTQ acceptance by highlighting the impressive work in a given calendar year. Last year, the GLAAD Media Awards went virtual and reached more people than ever. This year we’re going virtual again, so stay tuned for more information. News and Rapid ResponseKentucky moves to ban so-called conversion therapyBipartisan support is growing in Kentucky to end so-called conversion therapy with the introduction of State House Bill 199. If passed, the legislation would make “conversion therapy” illegal for anyone under the age of 18 and Kentucky would be just one of 15 states to ban the practice. GLAAD is working with local media to amplify the stories of Kentucky survivors and ensure journalists have the facts they need. Transgender Media and RepresentationState legislatures take aim at transgender youthA new wave of anti-trans legislation has been introduced that targets the most vulnerable in our community: youth. In nine states, state legislatures have introduced bills that would ban or restrict trans children from competing in athletics. Also in nine states, elected officials are moving to make gender-affirming surgeries for minors illegal. These discriminatory bills are rooted in hate, not science, and GLAAD is working with local and national media to ensure the facts are being presented to get these bills overturned. GLAAD highlights transmasculinity in film and TV through a virtual panel at Sundance Film FestivalGLAAD and Outfest partnered with Sundance to create a panel of transmasculine creatives as part of this year's free virtual Queer House at Sundance. Moderated by Nick Adams, GLAAD's Director of Transgender Representation, the panel features eight transmasculine people working both in front of and behind the camera in Hollywood. The discussion focuses on the price of invisibility, but also on the opportunity to tap a well of transmasculine talent and stories that haven't yet been told. The panel included Sydney Baloue, Elliot Feliciano, Alex Schmider, Yance Ford, Scott Turner Schofield, D'Lo, Leo Sheng, and Bobbi Salvör Menuez. This diverse panel of experienced creators only scratches the surface of the talented trans men and transmasculine people working in Hollywood today. Communities of ColorGLAAD’s HIV Stigma and HIV Summit | Feb 24 - 26The HIV Stigma and Faith Summit will be taking place Wednesday, February 24 through Friday, February 26. GLAAD with the Gilead COMPASS Initiative, Emory University Rollins School of Public Health, University of Houston Graduate College of Social Work, Southern AIDS Coalition, and Wake Forest University School of Divinity have convened this three-day summit to address the HIV/AIDS epidemic in the Southern region of the United States. Moderators include: Marc Malkin, Senior Editor, Culture & Events, Variety; Raquel Willis, Award-Winning Writer and Activist; and Dr. Shonda Jones, Wake Forest University School of Divinity. The summit will feature free daily panels with guest speakers, journalists, HIV experts, faith leaders and community advocates. Additionally, GLAAD Media Institute (GMI) will host free daily media trainings. REGISTER FOR THE SUMMIT HEREGLAAD’s Abdool Corlette reflects on the one-year anniversary of NEONOne year ago, GLAAD x NEON was launched. The digital content series centers Black queer voices and employs all Black content creators. NEON Co-founder and GLAAD’s Creative Director Abdool Corlette spoke to Ad Age about its inaugural series, a “14-part love letter to the pioneers who paved the way for present generations.” Abdool was selected for the opportunity by Ad Age guest editor and former GLAAD Board Member Aaron Walton, a leader on LGBTQ inclusion in advertising. Walton wrote: “It doesn’t get much better than shining a light on someone who is shining a light on the Black LGBTQ+ community—in fact, a NEON light. Abdool’s profound understanding of intersections shows up in design, digital content and documentaries in ways that allow us all to see and be seen.” Latinx Media and RepresentationGLAAD’s Monica Trasandes discusses the importance of LGBTQ Latinx representation with ‘Hispanic Executive’Monica Trasandes, GLAAD’s Director of Spanish-Language and Latinx Media and Representation, was featured in an article by Hispanic Executive about her work to increase positive and authentic representations of the Latinx LGBTQ community in media. In the piece, Trasandes discusses how there has been a shift in both representation and in studios and networks’ desire to get it right, highlighting recent examples like Veneno, Gentefied, and Love, Victor. Trasandes said: “I’m talking to more writers, reading more scripts, and pushing my way into more writers rooms to make sure they have all the tools. If they come to us after the content is shot and edited, then there is very little we can do. We need to get the material from the beginning and effect change from the written words on the initial script. Bring us in early so we can avoid audiences saying that something is homophobic or transphobic.” Entertainment MediaJojo Siwa announces she is part of LGBTQ communityOnline superstar JoJo Siwa opened up for the first time about being a member of the LGBTQ community in an Instagram Live. During the conversation, Siwa said: “Someone asked, 'How long have you been a part of the community? How long have you been whatever you are?' I don't know. I think my whole life, because my whole life I have really really been just – I like people. But I never had fallen in love before, but I always believed my person was going to be my person. If that person happened to be a boy, then great. If that person happened to be a girl, great.” Siwa’s coming out signals to LGBTQ children and youth “to love who they are and to find safe and welcoming environments to speak out,” GLAAD President and CEO Sarah Kate Ellis said. GLAAD’s Jeremy Blacklow talks increasing LGBTQ visibility in HollywoodIn its February/March issue, Metrosource profiled Jeremy Blacklow, GLAAD’s Director of Entertainment Media, and his work to increase LGBTQ visibility in Hollywood. In the feature, Jeremy discusses his earliest moments seeing LGBTQ representation in the media, his work at other top-tier media outlets throughout his career, and how it has all led him to his current role at GLAAD. He also highlights where the needle has moved in Hollywood and where it still needs to improve: “Most Americans are comfortable with seeing lesbian and gay storylines on film and television, and bisexual representation is finally starting to move past the old tropes and stereotypes. Mainstream audiences still have a lot to learn about transgender and non-binary representation, which is why the new documentary Disclosure is so important.” Spotlight Watch ‘The World To Come’ nowThe World to Come, starring Katherine Waterston and Vanessa Kirby, is a powerful 19th century romance set in the American Northeast and it is available in theaters now (where theaters are open.) The film tells the story of Abigail (Waterston), a farmer’s wife, and her new neighbor Tallie (Kirby) who find themselves irrevocably drawn to each other. A grieving Abigail tends to her withdrawn husband Dyer as free spirit Tallie bristles at the jealous control of her husband Finney. Together, their intimacy begins to fill a void in each other's lives they never knew existed. Anthony Ramos, GLAAD's Head of Talent, spoke with the film's stars Katherine Waterston and Vanessa Kirby about the film. Both women discussed how they learned so much about what it may have been like to be LGBTQ in the mid-1850s in the United States. You can stream ‘It’s a Sin’ nowIf you’re looking for some weekend streaming, look no further than HBO Max’s It’s a Sin. The British series from Russell T. Davies documents a decade in the life of a group of friends during the HIV/AIDS epidemic. Along with the series, GLAAD’s DaShawn Usher, Programs Officer, Communities of Color, talked about the legacy of HIV/AIDS activism from the ’80s through the present day on a panel. |
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