GLAAD's decision to honor singer Adam
Lambert for his gay rights advocacy is being criticized by Norm Kent,
the publisher of gay weekly South Florida Gay News.
Lambert is set to receive the group's
Davidson/Valentini Award at the 24th Annual GLAAD Media
Awards set to take place Saturday, May 11 at the Hilton San Francisco
– Union Square.
The award, which is named after Craig
Davidson, GLAAD's first executive director, and his partner Michael
Valentini, is presented to an openly LGBT media professional who has
made a significant difference in promoting gay rights.
In
an op-ed posted Wednesday, Kent said he was furious at a decision
to feature Lambert on his paper's cover during his absence.
“[S]eeing him on the cover of our
newspaper a few weeks ago made my partner and me puke,” Kent wrote.
“Other than feature new makeup every day, what has this kid done
to warrant a cover story?”
“Adam Lambert may be a Grammy
nominee, a Billboard 200 artist, and he may sleep with other men, but
he has not made a career promoting gay rights. He has made a career
promoting himself, his music, and his albums.”
“GLAAD is sucking off that publicity
and fame to line their own pockets, instead of choosing someone
worthy of that award. GLAAD needs to get its priorities straight.
Stop awarding celebrities and acknowledge the unheralded champions of
justice that fight the good fight for LGBT justice everyday. There
are many out there.”