Singer Ricky Martin, HBO's vampire
drama True Blood and CNN's Anderson Cooper were honored at
Saturday's 22nd annual GLAAD Media Awards.
The Gay & Lesbian Alliance Against
Defamation (GLAAD) held its first of three shows in New
York.
Martin won the group's Vito Russo Award
for his courageous coming out on the Oprah Winfrey Show.
Martin, who came out last March, has
gone on to talk openly about his sexuality.
“Ricky coming out was a game changer
for many gay and transgender Latino children, who for too long, did
not have many out gay people to look up to,” GLAAD President
Jarrett Barrios said in a statement. “Through his music, videos,
and interviews, Ricky has sent an important message that our
community wants the same things all people do: an equal chance to
raise our families and take care of our loved ones.”
NBC comedy 30 Rock and HBO's
vampire drama True Blood were honored for their fair and
inclusive representation of gay characters on television. True
Blood won the outstanding drama award and the 30 Rock
episode Klaus & Greta won the group's outstanding
individual episode award.
Hip-hop mogul Russell Simmons took home
the group's Excellence in Media Award, while CNN's Anderson Cooper
360 was honored for its reporting on gay teen suicides.