Chely Wright – the country music star
who recently came out lesbian – will perform at the 21st
Annual Gay & Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation (GLAAD) Media
Awards in San Francisco, the group announced Wednesday.
Wright came out gay in an interview
with People magazine
earlier in the month.
In the interview, Wright called her
coming out “magical” and revealed that she once believed she
could alter her sexual orientation by praying it away. The
39-year-old singer-songwriter was named Best New Female Vocalist by
the Academy of Country Music in 1994.
The June 5 show will be hosted by
openly gay comedian Bruce Vilanch.
Also performing will be Australian
recording artist Sam Sparro. Sparro announced he is gay on the cover
of Australian gay glossy Attitude in 2008.
The group will honor Cybill Shepard and
Lee Daniels for their gay advocacy.
Shepard, who played lesbian for three
seasons on Showtime's groundbreaking drama The L Word,
is being presented with the Golden Gate Award, while Lee Daniels,
director of Precious, will receive the Davidson Valenti Award.
The GLAAD Media Awards recognize
positive portrayals of the lives of gay, lesbian, bisexual and
transgender people in 41 categories, including television, film, web
and print media.