As the leading LGBT media advocacy organization, GLAAD recognizes individuals who through their work positively impact the LGBT movement. Along with recognizing national activists, GLAAD also acknowledges individuals who make an impact on a global scale. Anton Krasovsky, is one of those individuals. Krasovsky is a Russian political journalist and television personality who came out while live on Russia's KrontrTV. He chose to come out at a very difficult time for LGBT Russians which took place during the controversial new anti-gay "propaganda" law. Immediately following his announcement, Krasovsky lost his job.
"I'm gay and I'm just the same as you, my dear audience, as president Putin, as prime minister Medvedev, and the deputies of our Duma," said Krasovsky while on air.
"They immediately blocked all my corporate accounts, my email. Literally immediately, overnight," stated Krasovsky. "They deleted not only my face from the website, but also all of my TV shows, as if I’d never really existed. The next day I wrote that I was totally shocked. Because it takes them half a day to put up a banner when I ask them to, and here we had such efficiency."
"GLAAD supports Anton Krasovsky's decision to be open about his identity. With the environment as it is in Russia today, Anton is incredibly brave to put his life and livelihood on the line like this. I believe he's making an enormous difference by speaking out," said Omar Sharif Jr., GLAAD's national spokesperson, after Krasovsky came out.
Later that fall, MSNBC anchor Thomas Roberts spoke to Krasovsky while he was reporting from Moscow. You can see that video clip below:
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.
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.
GLAAD is proud to recognize individuals such as Anton Krasovsky who through their work help promote the international conversation about the inclusion of the LGBT community.