04/16/2007
GLAAD Media Awards Honor Jennifer Aniston, Grey's Anatomy
The 18th Annual GLAAD Media Awards took place Saturday in Los Angeles, honoring Martina Navratilova, Little Miss Sunshine, Jennifer Aniston, Ugly Betty, Brothers & Sister, La Opinion, and Grey's Anatomy. The GLAAD awards honor "mainstream" media for their representations of LGBT people and issues. They've also come under scrutiny recently for their exclusion of gay media organizations from the awards. Here are a few notes from around the web:
Jake Gyllenhaal reportedly made a last-minute surprise appearance: "...he took the stage to thunderous applause and a whole lot of hooting and hollering, which only barely quieted when he admonished the crowd, 'Settle down, cowboys.' That naturally did nothing to help people chill out, though they eventually hushed up long enough for him to award [Jennifer Aniston] the coolest straight chick prize.
Grey's Anatomy took the award for "Best Individual Episode" for a show entitled "Where the Boys Are". And no, they aren't referring to that episode wherein Isaiah Washington called T.R. Knight a "faggot" and escaped the media gauntlet unscathed.
Access Hollywood talked to TR Knight at the GLAAD awards and asked him about how the cast has been doing since Isaiah Washington's homophobic outburst. Said Knight: "I don't know. We're showing up and doing our work…There's a lot of work to be done so that's my focus." Asked directly about his relationship with Washington, Knight replied: "I just focus on doing the work. That's my job; that's what I'm paid for; and I think that's enough."
Reichen Lehmkuhl smooched up the red carpet with his new boyfriend again while Lance Bass flew solo, later presenting Martina Navratilova with the Stephen F. Kolzak Award. That award is offered to a celebrity who has made a significant difference in promoting equal rights for the LGBT community.
The awards didn't go by without receiving some criticism. Longtime activist Michelangelo Signorile slammed the organization on his new blog, The Gist, calling the awards shows a "hand job" for Hollywood. Signorile: "The GLAAD Media Awards need to be halted, or at the very least, radically pared down, immediately, while the gay movement still has some integrity left. A group that began in the 80s as a fiery organization committed to direct action against media bias has turned into a high-priced masseuse for Hollywood and media titans alike, offering full ejaculatory release. The last thing that my gay media colleagues should be demanding is some of that masturbatory pleasure for themselves."
Posted 8:25 AM EST by Andy Towle in Film, GLAAD, Jake Gyllenhaal, Lance Bass, News, T.R. Knight, Television | Permalink
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How tacky and uneducated does GLAAD seem when THAT is the watermark they use on their pictures? It's terrible! It's like they just had Mirna the office clerk open Paint Shop Pro and slap that on there.
Crap awards anyway.
Posted by: Mike | Apr 16, 2007 8:33:44 AM
em, wtf? what has jennifer aniston done for the gay community that they gave her an award, was it that crappy kiss on her friend show or what? or for marrying pitt. i do not get it.
Posted by: johnosahon | Apr 16, 2007 8:47:31 AM
Is there a gay character on Grey's Anatomy? Oh yes, the uninteresting bartender with the uninteresting boyfriend written so uninterestingly as to not offend anyone in the slightest.
Award-worthy, for sure.
Posted by: Marco | Apr 16, 2007 9:00:11 AM
What is it with TR Knight?
After the Isaiah remarks, he appeared on Ellen DeGeneres' show and shed virtually no light on his feelings. Instead, he mostly stuttered and yammered. Add to that a boatload of "Ya' knows...". There wasn't much, if any, of a substantive dialogue.
Now, asked about how things are going behind the scenes at Grey's Anatomy and his reply is, "I don't know..."
He appears to be totally spineless.
Posted by: Stephen | Apr 16, 2007 9:46:02 AM
"while the gay movement still has some integrity left." Thank you for the first big, belly laugh of the week. Hilarious.
Posted by: mepaul | Apr 16, 2007 9:50:45 AM
Mike, calm down. That's not a watermark. It's the GLAAD logo affixed to the microphone stand.
Posted by: the other jeff | Apr 16, 2007 10:12:40 AM
Who is this Michelangelo Signorile? That commentary was absolutely bril and hillarious!! I'm still giggling..to be honest I don't understand GLAAD or Neil Giuliano either, it's like they're so star strucked they actually forget they got a job to do.
This said I got fuzzy inside hearing about TR Knight. There's something about this guy I truly enjoy.
Posted by: Anon | Apr 16, 2007 10:28:30 AM
GLAAD has a very short memory. Doen't anybody remember that Jennifer Aniston told Brad Pitt not to take the gay role in Alexander? First that was out there as gossip but then confirmed by Brad himself.
Neil Partick and "Straight Acting" Lance Bass have both stated, in the press, that they do not want to be gay activists or a spokesperson for the gay community. Why give them the honor of appearing on the GLAAD awards? There are a lot of gay actors that are small time in Hollywood that could use the exposure.
Posted by: Tanner | Apr 16, 2007 10:48:37 AM
Lay off TR Knight, Stephen. He's clearly a gentle man who was overwhelmed by his sexuality being thrown into the spotlight by a schizoid like Washington—one minute caring actor/next minute violent, lying homophobe—and the pass their mutual boss gave Washington. Are YOU out at work? To everyone in your family? Would you discuss your sexuality with "People" and before millions of people on "Ellen." If you did, would you be eloquent? As for his comments at the SAAD shindig, it's clear that the show's creator's failure to deal with the chain of events adequately has left the behind-the-scenes reality of the set a field of emotional landmines.
As for the latest Coors-sponsored [read "bought their souls"] SAAD circle jerk, Signorile is right. Period. I was shocked to see that Lance Crazy Gay Activists Make Me Sick Bass was chosen to give the award to Martina until I read that they've become friendly. Luv and respect Martina, but I guess she's been too busy promoting gay rights herself to notice that Bass hasn't done a damn thing beyond coming out [only, thanks, yes, to Perez], not even after promising the Human Rights Champagne fund suckers last Oct. that he would work every day to deserve their award to him. His presence at the SAAD awards would have best been served by pulling aside the current link in the chain of fools of his AOD [Attention Obsessed Disorder] ex and explaining to him that to Mr. Fly Naked men are like potato chips—he can never eat just one.
Posted by: Leland | Apr 16, 2007 10:52:57 AM
GLAAD is such a joke. I can't imagine any scene in Animal Farm being funnier than the GLAAD staff meeting where they discussed giving an award to Grey's Anatomy!
Hand job... haha!!
Posted by: BeeDee | Apr 16, 2007 11:03:28 AM
LELAND,
I certainly wouldn't describe TR Knight's comments as eloquent. As I said, not much definitiveness or substance said by this guy.
Posted by: Stephen | Apr 16, 2007 11:13:11 AM
Stephan,
I totally agree - what with his ums, his soft almost inaudible voice and the total lack of anything significant said - eloquent is the last thing I would call his talk.
But then again Leland is always right about everything so who are we to have our own opinions?
Posted by: Jorge | Apr 16, 2007 11:19:20 AM
I cosign with MEPAUL and Stephen.
The so-called "integrity of the gay movement" will forever be overshadowed by their racism, hypocrisy and shallowness.
And to my knowledge, there has not been one 'thank you' or sign of appreciation from TR Knight toward the gay community for their 'bloodlust' support, during or after the incident. And Leland, if it was so traumatic for him to be outed, why go on ANY talk show in the midst of the storm, when you KNOW you are going to be asked about it?! Publicity maybe? Sympathy? If so, I guess he fits right in, huh?
Puh-leeze!
Posted by: soulbrotha | Apr 16, 2007 11:29:43 AM
I'm thrilled they've bought PCs for the inmates of the Gay Cretins Home, but I never wrote that TR was eloquent. I only asked you, Stephan Who Can't Read, if you would be eloquent. In addition to failing to answer that, you also didn't indicate your degree of being out versus TR whom you so easily malign from the safety of your anonymity. And, Jorge, if you can't stand the heat of someone disagreeing with you, stay out of Towleroad's kitchen.
Posted by: Leland | Apr 16, 2007 11:30:47 AM
GLAAD used to be a very credible organization with an admirable agenda doing respectable work.
They were a media watchdog that challenged negative portrayals of GLBT people in print, television and on the big screen.
Unfortunately, they have become nothing more than a gross caricature that combines all of the least desirable qualities of Entertainment Tonight, the Grammys/Emmys/Oscars/Tonys, and the National Enquirer. It seems that NOTHING whatsoever remains of their original agenda. Just TRY to get them to respond to the factually challenged, anti-gay rhetoric of Peter Labarbara, Tony Perkins and James Dobson, spewed every day on every major media outlet in America. Just try to get them to take a stand on those same media outlets refusing to air a gay positive ad by the United Church of Christ.
They've gone from FIGHTING negative gay stereotypes to BECOMING one.
Posted by: Zeke | Apr 16, 2007 11:38:33 AM
My comments where not caused by anyone disagreeing with me and this is the perfect place for debate and opposing opinions.
But Leland I ask you, why are you so damn angry all of the time - and what is with the constant barrage of insults (retard, tard, cretin, fool, etc...) that you like to label anyone who might have an opinion that differs from your own?
Maybe you need to take a look at that - you might be better for it. Your constant angry negative postings on Towleroad clearly indicate that you are extremely bitter and a very unhappy person. It is sad really to go through life so clearly unlikable and caustic.
And your are the last person to speak about hiding behind the safety of your anonymity because I doubt very highly that any teeth would remain in your mouth if you spoke to people in person like you do here.
Posted by: Jorge | Apr 16, 2007 11:46:32 AM
I just want to step in and say that I agree with the criticism of Leland's general posts. You often adopt a bullying tone with other posters and stoop to really nasty, often personal insults and generally lower the tone of the comments board on here (not that it's really high to begin with, but still). You really do seem to level angry and unprovoked attacks on other posters and maybe you should cut back on it a bit.
Posted by: Charles | Apr 16, 2007 12:17:44 PM
LELAND,
I trust you're getting the message that you are, more than anything else an angry, bitter man who lashes out at anyone who disgrees with you.
You more often than not exemplify the shallowness of the gay culture, environment or whatever you would like to refer to it as.
As for the TR Knight discussion: By asking if I would be eloquent, you INFER that the other person of conversation (TR Knight, in this case) was also speaking eloquently.
Posted by: Stephen | Apr 16, 2007 12:32:11 PM
I think the general consensus is that for the low-low price of $4.95 a month, Leland could get his own blog. He could also vlog on YouTube. Has anyone else here seen the "What the Buck!" commentaries on YouTube? Ah, the future...
Posted by: anon | Apr 16, 2007 12:36:35 PM
The question is why are trolls like Stephen concerned about the personal attacks only when they are directed at THEM? after all he was attacking TR Knight in his post!
I think they're the ones who are the angriest on Towleroad. And I question why if you feel that much venim towards gay men 1)why you're on here? 2) why you care so much about TR Knight and his costars are doing? lots of uber straight hangouts you could go to..
Posted by: Bill | Apr 16, 2007 12:40:35 PM
Maybe Leland should just go away period.....but we know that will never happen.
And for the record and here is my take on things (putting on my psychiatry hat)- Leland has been bullied in childhood, adulthood and geriatrichood so often that what remains now is a searing anger towards people and life in general. The anonymity of the internet provides him with the perfect outlet to vent that anger and achieve some sort of retribution for what has been done to him all of these years. He chooses to belittle, insult, malign and dismiss so many others because it makes him feel better, it makes him feel superior – because he desperately needs to feel those things.
We should all look at him with pity and thankfulness that we are not like him. But who I am to preach to anyone? I look at him like the bitter, old, know-it-all, troll (sans the bridge) that he is that has not gotten laid for free in eons who really should just shut the fuck up.
Posted by: Jorge | Apr 16, 2007 12:44:27 PM
Tell him, Jorge! For months now I've been saying on here that although Leland is clearly one of the most intelligent men posting on this site, he is not one of the most spiritually or emotionally evolved. Name-calling has no place in our community. I would respect and admire Leland's intellect so much more if he would refrain from the juvenile antics and just eloquently and maturely make his point.
Posted by: Charlie | Apr 16, 2007 12:53:51 PM
They've gone from FIGHTING negative gay stereotypes to BECOMING one.
Zeke:
I'm being led to believe more and more that the organizations like GLAAD and HRC that are supposed to be fighting for and defending our rights have been taken over by sleeper-cell type leadership. They've long stopped caring about the communities they were given stewardship over and yet purport that they are the only ones who can protect us.
The majority of people I see funding events here for HRC, etc., in Chicago are older, gay Republicans who don't really seem to be too concerned with advancing or even addressing the issues facing our community. All they seem to be having are lavish, over-priced dinners at which they can glad-hand each other and say "See you at the next dinner!"
It may sound a bit paranoid, but I really feel as a community we need to take back these organizations from the people who have become ingrained in their structure. They have become bloated behemoths that only generate money to feed themselves.
Posted by: Tread | Apr 16, 2007 1:00:29 PM
Dear Leland,
All I can say hun is OUCH! - but never has anyone deserved the beating you are taking online today so badly.
Sometimes the truth hurts but often it is so deserved.
Posted by: Derek | Apr 16, 2007 1:03:45 PM
Andy, a significant part of the appeal for me of Towleroad is the intelligence, wit and fairness of your postings.
Unfortunately, with increasing frequency the same cannot be said of the comments area.
Calling folk "cretins", telling posters to "shut the fuck up" etc, etc is not discourse. It is abuse plain and simple that hurts all of us either enganging in it or reading it.
I would hate to see you Andy spending your time moderating or removing the comments area altogether, but it is getting to a point where this section of your blog is becoming overtaken by the very bigotry and slandering you speak out against constantly.
As I write this I have in mind the potential vindictiveness that will be hurled my way, and understandbly that is not an environment I believe you would want your readers to have to take into account for contributing to your fantastic blog.
Posted by: Stewart | Apr 16, 2007 1:15:31 PM