{"id":81660,"date":"2019-03-20T12:25:33","date_gmt":"2019-03-20T16:25:33","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.gayfriendschat.com\/socialblog\/andy-cohen-to-be-honored-with-vito-russo-award-at-the-30th-annual-glaad-media-awards-in-new-york-city-award-presented-by-sarah-jessica-parker\/"},"modified":"2019-03-20T12:25:33","modified_gmt":"2019-03-20T16:25:33","slug":"andy-cohen-to-be-honored-with-vito-russo-award-at-the-30th-annual-glaad-media-awards-in-new-york-city-award-presented-by-sarah-jessica-parker","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.gayfriendschat.com\/socialblog\/andy-cohen-to-be-honored-with-vito-russo-award-at-the-30th-annual-glaad-media-awards-in-new-york-city-award-presented-by-sarah-jessica-parker\/","title":{"rendered":"Andy Cohen to be honored with Vito Russo Award at the 30th Annual GLAAD Media Awards in New York City; award presented by Sarah Jessica Parker"},"content":{"rendered":"

Andy Cohen to be honored with Vito Russo Award at the 30th Annual GLAAD Media Awards in New York City; award presented by Sarah Jessica Parker<\/b><\/p>\n

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Photo Credit: Larry Busacca\/Getty Images<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
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GLAAD has announced today that Emmy Award-winning host, producer, and author Andy Cohen is slated to receive the Vito Russo Award at the 30th Annual GLAAD Media Awards in New York City on Saturday, May 4, 2019.\u00a0 The award will be presented by Cohen\u2019s longtime friend, actress and LGBTQ ally Sarah Jessica Parker.\u00a0They join previously announced honoree Madonna, who will become the first woman<\/a> ever to receive GLAAD\u2019s Advocate for Change Award.\u00a0<\/p>\n

The Vito Russo Award is presented to an openly LGBTQ media professional who has made a significant difference in accelerating LGBTQ acceptance. The Award is named for Vito Russo, a founder of GLAAD and celebrated ACT UP activist, who pushed open the door for news and entertainment industries to include LGBTQ performers and stories. Previous Vito Russo honorees include Samira Wiley, Anderson Cooper, Ricky Martin, Cynthia Nixon, Rosie O\u2019Donnell, Tom Ford, Billy Porter, Thomas Roberts, Suze Orman, and Alan Cumming, among others.<\/p>\n

\u201cAndy Cohen is a force in the entertainment industry who consistently prioritizes and celebrates LGBTQ stories,\u201d said GLAAD President and CEO Sarah Kate Ellis.\u00a0\u201cBoth on-screen and behind-the-scenes, Andy\u2019s trademark brand of LGBTQ advocacy has resulted in some of the buzziest and entertaining culture changing moments.\u201d<\/p>\n

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Andy Cohen became the first out gay<\/a> host of an American late-night talk show with the premiere of Bravo\u2019s Watch What Happens Live with Andy Cohen <\/em>in 2009. The Emmy-Award winning host and executive producer consistently speaks out on LGBTQ issues on the show including marriage equality, anti-transgender legislation, and hate violence against LGBTQ people, Jewish people, and people of color. He recently directly addressed the leader of Chechnya in an impassioned plea to end the torture and murder of LGBTQ people in Chechnya.\u00a0Each year, Cohen and Watch What Happens Live <\/em>participate in the Spirit Day campaign, showing their support for LGBTQ youth by going purple on the show and speaking out against bullying on-air. Cohen and the show frequently highlight the achievements of LGBTQ entertainers including Laverne Cox, Lena Waithe, Matt Bomer, Adam Rippon, Rosie O\u2019Donnell, Billy Porter, Sam Smith and countless others.\u00a0<\/p>\n

In his ten years as an executive at Bravo he was responsible for an aggressive slate of unscripted series and specials that showcase and celebrate diverse LGBTQ people including “Project Runway,\u201d \u201cTop Chef,\u201d \u201cQueer Eye For the Straight Guy,\u201d “The Millionaire Matchmaker,\u201d the \u201cMillion Dollar Listing\u201d franchise,\u00a0\u201cTop Design,\u201d \u201cMake Me a Supermodel,\u201d \u201cBlow Out,\u201d \u201cKathy Griffin My Life On the D List,\u201d \u201cThe Rachel Zoe Project,\u201d \u201cTabatha\u2019s Salon Takeover,\u201d and \u201cThe Real Housewives\u201d franchises. \u00a0He currently serves as executive producer of \u201cThe Real Housewives\u201d franchise and hosts the network\u2019s reunion specials. In Fall of 2015, Cohen launched \u201cRadio Andy,\u201d a personally curated channel on SiriusXM focused on pop culture, celebrities, LGBTQ issues, and relationships. He tackles also LGBTQ issues in his best-selling book imprint Andy Cohen Books <\/em>and on his \u2018AC2: An Intimate Evening with Anderson Cooper & Andy Cohen\u2019 speaking tour.<\/p>\n

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In 2013, Cohen famously withdrew from hosting the Miss Universe pageant over host-country Russia\u2019s anti-LGBTQ laws and inaction on anti-LGBTQ violence.\u00a0 Cohen and Anderson Cooper also raised more than $240,000 for the OneOrlando Fund following the anti-LGBTQ shooting at Pulse Nightclub in Florida.\u00a0 He most recently announced work as an ambassador in the Stonewall Inn Gives Back Initiative. Earlier this year, Cohen became father to his son Benjamin, and is publicly documenting his journey and experience as a gay<\/a>, single dad.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Cohen received an Emmy award when season six of \u201cTop Chef\u201d won Outstanding Reality Competition Program at the 2010 primetime Emmy Awards \u00a0and \u00a0has been nominated for 18 additional \u00a0Emmy Awards and multiple GLAAD Media Awards as Executive Producer of \u201c \u201cProject Runway,\u201d \u201cTop Chef\u201d and \u201cQueer Eye For The Straight Guy.\u201d In 2005, Cohen was awarded a Peabody Award for his role as Executive Producer of the TRIO documentary \u201cThe N Word\u201d and another in 2008 as an Executive Producer of \u201cProject Runway.\u201d\u00a0Cohen ran Original Programming and Development for the pop culture and arts cable channel TRIO, beginning in July 2000. He was responsible for developing and supervising all of TRIO’s original productions including the critically acclaimed original documentaries \u201cGay Republicans,\u201d \u201cEasy Riders\/Raging Bulls,\u201d and \u201cBrilliant, But Cancelled.\u201d \u00a0He spent ten years (1990-2000) as a producer at CBS News, working on \u201cCBS This Morning\u201d and \u201c48 Hours.\u201d<\/p>\n

For the first time, the New York ceremony will be broadcast on Logo on Sunday, May 12, 2019 at 8pm ET\/PT. For more information visit glaad.org\/mediaawards<\/a>. \u00a0Cast members from FX\u2019s \u201cPose,\u201d Samantha Bee and CNN journalist Don Lemon will also appear at the New York event.<\/p>\n

The 30th Annual GLAAD Media Awards honor media for fair, accurate, and inclusive representations of LGBTQ people and issues.\u00a0 Events will be held in Los Angeles on Thursday, March 28 and continue in New York City on Saturday, May 4. The 30th Annual GLAAD Media Awards are presented by Delta Air Lines, Gilead, Hyundai, Ketel One Family-Made Vodka, and Wells Fargo. GLAAD previously announced that Beyonc\u00e9 and JAY-Z will receive the Vanguard Award and that Sean Hayes will receive the Stephen F. Kolzak Award when the 30th<\/sup> Annual GLAAD Media Awards kick off in Los Angeles on Thursday, March 28. Ross Mathews will host the Los Angeles event with additional special guests including Gigi Gorgeous, Allison Janney, Nico Santos, Shangela, Jameela Jamil, Dan Reynolds, and the cast of \u2018Queer Eye.\u2019<\/p>\n

Nominees include Pose, Love Simon<\/em>, Crazy Rich Asians<\/em>, Will & Grace<\/em>, The Favourite<\/em>, Schitt’s Creek<\/em>, The Handmaid’s Tale<\/em>, Nanette<\/em>, Janelle Mon\u00e1e, Hayley Kiyoko, Troye Sivan, American Idol<\/em>, RuPaul\u2019s Drag Race, She-Ra, Law & Order: SVU<\/em>, Don Lemon, Stephen Colbert, Samantha Bee, Univision, MSNBC, Ebony<\/em>, GQ<\/em>, CNN, and The New York Times.<\/em>\u00a0<\/p>\n

For a full list of nominees: glaad.org\/mediaawards\/nominees<\/a><\/strong> \u00a0<\/p>\n

On socials please follow @GLAAD and #glaadawards<\/p>\n

The 30th<\/sup> Annual GLAAD Media Awards are supported by Presenting Partners Delta Air Lines, Gilead, Hyundai, Ketel One Family-Made Vodka, and Wells Fargo. GLAAD is also grateful to: Official Partners Bud Light and Google; Titanium Partner AT&T and WEN; Platinum Partners Comcast NBCUniversal-Telemundo, Creative Artists Agency, Disney ABC Television Group, HBO, Hulu, Kaiser Permanente, MetLife, NBA & WNBA, Netflix, Omnicom Group, PRG, Turner; Gold Partners CBS\/Showtime, Nielsen, PWC, UM, Univision, and VER; and Silver Partners Allstate, Coca-Cola, Morgan Stanley, and Warner Bros.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

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March 20, 2019<\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
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Issues:\u00a0<\/div>\n