Anderson Cooper presented Emmy Award-winning talk show host Kelly Ripa with GLAAD's Excellence in Media Award at the 26th Annual GLAAD Media Awards in New York City on Saturday night. The Excellence in Media Award is presented to media professionals who have made a significant difference in promoting equality. On LIVE with Kelly and Michael on Monday, Kelly discussed receiving the award. Watch the video:
"For over a decade, Kelly Ripa has greeted millions of viewers with messages of acceptance and inclusion," said GLAAD President & CEO Sarah Kate Ellis. "By sharing inclusive stories with her audience and loudly voicing support for her LGBT friends and fans, Kelly is helping to drive acceptance forward."
As the co-host of LIVE with Kelly and Michael, Ripa has shared the daily lives of LGBT Americans with morning audiences across the country for years. By simply talking about her friends' daily lives and sharing her experiences with viewers, Ripa has become an outspoken ally to the LGBT community. Through her daily discussions with co-host Michael Strahan and interviews of LGBT guests and allies, she has voiced, her support of marriage equality, sent messages of hope to LGBT youth, and spoken about the importance of LGBT representations in entertainment media.
Ripa has also participated in GLAAD's Spirit Day campaign to support LGBT youth and hosted the Point Foundation's Point Honors event alongside friend and out TV personality Andy Cohen. She and husband Mark Consuelos also executive produce Logo's Secret Guide to Fabulous, in which gay co-hosts Rob Younkers, John Gidding, and Theodore Leaf, help everyday people enhance their daily lives. The show’s second season premieres this summer.
Lynda Carter presented the Vito Russo Award to journalist Thomas Roberts. ComedianRoss Mathews hosted the event. Out country singer Ty Herndon performed with Antigone Rising's Kristen Henderson and guitarist Anita Cochran. Other guests included: Jeffrey Tambor, Judith Light, Trace Lysette (Transparent); Rupert Friend (Homeland) and fiancéAimee Mullins; Jonathan Groff (Looking); Laverne Cox, Dascha Polanco, Jackie Cruz(Orange Is the New Black); Janet Mock (So Popular!); Tituss Burgess (Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt); Mark Consuelos (Alpha House); Rachael Harris (Suits) and her fiancé Christian Hebel; Karla Mosley, Scott T. Schofield, Crystal Chappell (The Bold and the Beautiful); out NBA player Jason Collins; out football player Michael Sam and fiancé Vito Cammisano;Craig Melvin (MSNBC Live) and wife Lindsay Czarniak (SportsCenter); Alicia Menendez(Alicia Menendez Tonight); models Andreja Pejić, Carmen Carrera, Rain Dove, Josephine Skriver, Cory Wade; Monifah Carter and her wife Terez Thorpe (R&B Divas: Atlanta); recording artist Maya Vik; Terry Artis, Jonathan Bodrick, Brandon Hood, JJ Langan, Devin Stokes, Kristen Brown (B.O.R.N. to Style); Josh Canfield, Reed Kelly (Survivor); Louise Sorel(Days of Our Lives); Sam Champion (The Weather Channel); out WWE wrestler Darren Young; designer Mitchell Gold; John Gidding, Theodore Leaf, Rob Younkers (Secret Guide to Fabulous); and GLAAD President & CEO Sarah Kate Ellis.
The Los Angeles GLAAD Media Awards were held on March 21 at the Beverly Hilton. For video, photos, and more, visit: http://glaad.org/mediaawards/recap. The 26th Annual GLAAD Media Awards are presented by Delta Air Lines, Hilton, Ketel One Vodka, and Wells Fargo; and Official Presenting Partners Amazon and Bud Light.
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