As the leading LGBT media advocacy organization, GLAAD recognizes individuals who positively impact the LGBT movement through their work. Along with recognizing national activists, GLAAD also acknowledges individuals who make an impact on a global scale. One of these individuals is Brazilian singer Daniela Mercury.
Daniela Mercury is a Brazilian singer and advocate who has sold over 20 million albums worldwide. She came out last year via Instagram, sharing photos of her and her wife. She also participated in São Paulo LGBT Pride.
Daniela is one of the official celebrity supporters of Free & Equal, a UN initiative designed to help LGBT people worldwide. In addition to LGBT advocacy, Mercury has worked with UNICEF for almost two decades on issues such as HIV/ AIDS, fighting racism in childhood, and the exploitation of children. She created and runs the Instituto Sol de Liberdade (Sun of Liberty Institute), a non-profit whose mission is "to contribute to the education and development of children and teenagers living in socially vulnerable regions." Instituto Sol de Liberdade's biggest project is Caravana de Música. Carried out in collaboration with UNICEF and ESPN, Caravana de Música has brought arts education to thousands of students and teachers in public schools.
Through her advocacy and proud visibility, Daniela Mercury has contributed immensely to advancing the equality movement around the world and particularly in Brazil.
The GLAAD Media Awards ceremonies will be held in Los Angeles on April 12, 2014 at The Beverly Hilton and in New York on May 3 at the Waldorf Astoria New York. The GLAAD Media Awards recognize and honor media for their fair, accurate and inclusive representations of the LGBT community and the issues that affect their lives. The GLAAD Media Awards also fund GLAAD's work to amplify stories from the LGBT community and issues that build support for equality.
In conjunction with the inaugural International Advocate for Change Award to be presented at the25th Annual GLAAD Media Awards, GLAAD is highlighting international advocates working through the media to advance equality across the globe. Earlier this year GLAAD launched the GLAAD Global Voices program, which aims to build support for LGBT equality across the globe by sharing culture-changing stories of LGBT people and families in national and international media.
GLAAD is proud to recognize individuals such as Daniela Mercury who through their work help promote the international conversation about the inclusion of the LGBT community.