Global superstar Jennifer Lopez was honored with GLAAD's Vanguard Award tonight at the 25th Annual GLAAD Media Awards in Los Angeles. Emmy, Grammy, Oscar, and Tony Award-recipient Rita Moreno presented Lopez with the award. Check out the video below.
"Tonight, I thank GLAAD not only for giving me the Vanguard Award, but for honoring 'The Fosters' as the Outstanding Drama of the Year. We are so proud of this show, because our biggest hope is that it's outstanding because it is doing the same for young people - helping them feel loved, understood, included - as Rita did for me, and as GLAAD does today," said Lopez.
"I have to give it up for my lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender fans because they be loyal," Lopez continued. "Finally, I really want to thank GLAAD for all of the important, daring, powerful work that you do, not only in mainstream media, but in Spanish-language media too. You all need to know that GLAAD is spreading the message of love and acceptance in English and en Espanol. El amor es el amor."
Musician, actress, entrepreneur and television personality, Lopez also serves as Executive Producer of ABC Family's hit drama The Fosters which received the GLAAD Media Award for Outstanding Drama Series at the event. The series follows the lives of a lesbian couple raising a family of biological, adopted and foster children. Lopez can be seen now as a judge on American Idol, which for the first time this season featured an out competitor.
Special guests included: Rita Moreno who presented the Vanguard Award to Jennifer Lopez. Ellen Page who presented the Stephen F. Kolzak Award to Laverne Cox. Norman Lear received the Pioneer Award. Manny de Guerre, LGBT advocate from Russia, received the International Advocate for Change Award. Other guests included: Lupita Nyong'o (12 Years a Slave); Johnny Galecki (The Big Bang Theory); Naomi Campbell (The Face); TatianaMaslany, Jordan Gavaris (Orphan Black); Tom Cullen (Downton Abbey); Eric Dane, Rebecca Gayheart; Natasha Henstridge (The Secret Circle); James Frain (Intruders); Alex Newell (Glee); Kat Graham (The Vampire Diaries); Ross Mathews (Hello Ross); Maria Menounos (Chasing Maria Menounos); SherriSaum, Teri Polo, Peter Paige, Bradley Bredeweg (The Fosters); Lucas Neff (Raising Hope); Meghan McCain (Take Part Live); singer Debby Boone; Caitlin Stasey (Please Like Me); Luke Newberry (In the Flesh); author and transgender advocate Chaz Bono; Shane Bitney Crone, Linda Bloodworth-Thomason (Bridegroom); Katherine Fairfax Wright, Malika Zouhali-Worrall, John "Longjones" Abdallah Wambere (Call Me Kuchu); Charlie Condou (Coronation Street); Sophie Ward (Jane Eyre); Pratibha Parmar (Nina's Heavenly Delights); Jill Soloway, Amy Landecker, Ian Harvie (Transparent); Kate Mansi, Guy Wilson (Days of Our Lives); trans advocates Calpernia Addams, Andrea James; Husbands creators Brad Bell, Jane Espenson; comedian Suzanne Westenhoefer; trans model Carmen Carrera; trans singer Our Lady J; GLAAD National Spokespersons, Wilson Cruz and Omar Sharif, Jr., and GLAAD CEO & President Sarah Kate Ellis. DJ Tracy Young was the guest DJ at the after-party.
Photos and videos are available here.
The 25th Annual GLAAD Media Awards are presented nationally by Ketel One Vodka, Wells Fargo, and Hilton Worldwide. The Los Angeles event is presented locally by Delta Air Lines and Bud Light.
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