Ellen DeGeneres will present Kerry Washington with the Vanguard Award at the 26th Annual GLAAD Media Awards in Los Angeles, it was announced today. Ellen, who received GLAAD's Stephen F. Kolzak Award at the 9th Annual GLAAD Media Awards, has also received 12 GLAAD Media Award nominations for her work on "Ellen," "The Ellen Show," and "The Ellen DeGeneres Show."
"Throughout her illustrious career, Kerry Washington has consistently brought life to characters that encourage acceptance of LGBT people,” said GLAAD President & CEO Sarah Kate Ellis. “Her outspoken support for equality, both here at home and abroad, has sent messages of hope and empowerment to fans all over the world, fostering dialogue that builds understanding and helps move hearts and minds.”
GLAAD's Vanguard Award is presented to media professionals who have made a significant difference in promoting LGBT equality and acceptance. Previous Vanguard Award honorees include Jennifer Lopez, Kristin Chenoweth, Charlize Theron, Elizabeth Taylor, Antonio Banderas, Drew Barrymore, Janet Jackson, and Sharon Stone.
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 previously announced that Channing Tatum will present the Stephen F. Kolzak Award to out director Roland Emmerich at the Los Angeles event: http://glaad.org/mediaawards
To receive the latest updates on the GLAAD Media Awards, follow @glaad on Twitter and use the hashtag #glaadawards. The New York GLAAD Media Awards ceremony will take place on May 9 at the Waldorf Astoria New York.