Chaz Bono, Josh Hutcherson win GLAAD awards
Chaz Bono, Josh Hutcherson, and the US show ‘Modern Family’ emerged as winners of the 23rd annual Media Awards by the Gay and Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation (GLAAD).
The awards are meant to honour fair, accurate and inclusive representation of the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender community in the media, and the issues that affect their lives.
Mr Bono, 43, was born to Cher and Sonny Bono female, and underwent gender reassignment surgery. He was honoured with the trophies for outstanding documentary programme, and the Stephen F. Kolzak award at the ceremony in Los Angeles.
The documentary, ‘Becoming Chaz,’ was directed by Fenton Bailey and Randy Barbato, who were also honoured for the film which chronicled the gender transition. The award was presented by his mother, who said during the presentation: “Chaz has the most courage of almost anyone I know.”
Mr Bono was also the first-ever transgender contestant on ABC’s “Dancing with the Stars,” last year, for which he was given the Stephen F. Kolzak Award, given to any outstanding LGBT member of the entertainment world. Other winners of this category have included Ellen DeGeneres, John Waters and Melissa Etheridge.
Josh Hutcherson, star of ‘The Hunger Games,’ won the Vanguard Award, which honours efforts to increase visibility and understanding of the LGBT community. He was praised for the anti-bullying campaign, ‘Straight But Not Narrow.’ Mr Hutcherson, 19, is the youngest ever recipient of the award.
Other winners of the night included ABC’s ‘Modern Family,’ the Oscar-winning ‘Beginners’ with Ewan McGregor and Christopher Plummer, and ‘Hot in Cleveland.’
The ceremony happens in three stages, with the first in New York, which occurred in March, and the final ceremony in San Fransisco, in June.
