The Hunger Games' Josh
Hutcherson was presented with an award for his gay advocacy by
Benicio Del Toro on Saturday night at the Gay and Lesbian Alliance
Against Defamation's (GLAAD) 23rd annual Media Awards in
Los Angeles.
The 19-year-old actor is an outspoken
ally of the gay community, recording several videos aimed at gay
teens with Straight But Not Narrow (SBNN) founder Avan Jogia.
“Every year, GLAAD presents the
Vanguard Award to a member of the entertainment community who is
making a significant difference in promoting equal rights for LGBT
people,” Del Toro said in presenting the award. “This year,
there is no one more deserving than my friend Josh,”
“I can honestly say that I have never
been more proud in my entire life or more nervous, actually,”
Hutcherson said as he made his way to the podium.
Hutcherson, the youngest recipient of
the award, said he was influenced greatly by his mother and the death
of two uncles who happened to be gay and died of AIDS.
“Being honored with this award goes
to them 100 percent and goes to my family and everything they've
raised me to believe in,” he said.
Hutcherson added that he was sick of
saying the words gay and lesbian because “they're just people.”
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