Glee’s Chris Colfer Comes Out
December 4, 2009
Appearing on last night’s Chelsea Lately, Glee star Chris Colfer publicly acknowledged that he, like his character, is gay. On Glee, Colfer plays Kurt Hummel, the young fashionista who recently came out to his dad and classmates.
Chelsea Handler: “Your character on the show’s gay. We know that you’re gay. That’s good for you. Congratulations. Don’t be shy about that. Seriously. You shouldn’t be shy about that because everytime…an actor like you is helping a zillion other people that are scared to talk about their sexuality so good for you.”
Chris Colfer: “Thank you. You know what my answer to that question was prior to coming out — was that I was straight as every other actor in Hollywood.”
At only 19-years-old, Colfer’s announcement makes him one of the youngest openly gay actors currently working in Hollywood. The cast of Glee has been touring the country lately in a huge promotional push for the hit show. Colfer and his castmates recently sang the National Anthem during the World Series playoffs and Colfer also appeared on The Tonight Show with Conan O’Brien earlier this week. GLAAD applauds Chris Colfer for sharing his story.
Related Posts:Network Responsibility Index Continues to be Covered on TV and Blogs
August 4, 2009
Since the release of GLAAD’s third annual Network Responsibility Index (NRI) last week, the blogosphere has been abuzz with responses to the report. CBS and SyFy have promised big changes and Chelsea Handler comedically pointed out a few things she thinks we missed.
Video courtesy of E! Online:
We at GLAAD always appreciate Chelsea’s humor. A strong and hilarious ally to the gay community, she hosted the 20th Annual GLAAD Media Awards in San Francisco earlier this year, so despite what some blogs would have you believe, there is no feud between GLAAD and Chelsea Handler. We thank her for bringing attention to the NRI on her Chelsea Lately!
The NRI analyzes programming on the five broadcast networks, the eight highest rated non-children’s/news/sports cable networks plus HBO and Showtime which, as subscription networks, do not receive as many viewers but are considered to be among the major cable networks.
Paul James as gay frat boy Calvin Owens on ABC Family's Greek
E! was not among those networks this year. However, because ratings change from year to year, the ten cable networks counted this year are not necessarily the ten that will be counted in next year’s NRI. Case in point: the second annual NRI counted Spike, which was replaced this year by Sci Fi (now SyFy). This may change again in next year’s report. Several cable networks that did not crack our top ten but air significant LGBT content, such as ABC Family, Bravo and BBC America, were included in the “Additional Cable Overview” found in the rear of the NRI.
Bloggers also wondered why daytime television was not included in the report. There is little question that the daytime TV landscape for LGBT characters is better today than it has ever been. We commend the writers of daily dramas such as As the World Turns, The Young & The Restless, Guiding Light and One Life to Live for seamlessly incorporating LGBT characters into their stories. However, tracking 6,113.5 hours of primetime network and cable television is a big task.
While right now we do not have the staff capacity to include daytime in the NRI, we do monitor storylines and recognize outstanding representations in the Daily Drama category at the GLAAD Media Awards.
Related Posts:20th Annual GLAAD Media Awards Hold Final Event in San Francisco
April 30, 2009
The 20th Annual GLAAD Media Awards season will come to a close on Saturday, May 9 at the Hilton San Francisco in California. The always hysterical comedian Chelsea Handler will be on hand to host the show and announce winners!
Chelsea Handler
After a fantastic line-up of celebrities and special guests joined GLAAD to show their support for LGBT-inclusive media images, in New York City on March 28 and Los Angeles on April 18, we have more famous faces that will help us celebrate the 20th anniversary of the culture-changing Awards.
You can be part of this extraordinary night by purchasing your tickets to the silent auction, Awards dinner, and after party. And this year, we’ve announced special $100 show only tickets!
Special guests and presenters scheduled to attend, include:
Calpernia Addams
Megan Cavanagh
Gabrielle Christian
Michelle Clunie
Laverne Cox
Wilson Cruz
Robert Gant
Dan Jinks
Jason Lewis
Mandy Musgrave
Suze Orman
Simon Rex
Eduardo Xol
Judge David Young
Awards will be presented onstage in the following categories: Outstanding Television Movie, Outstanding Reality Program and Outstanding TV Journalism – Newsmagazine.
Chad Allen
Actor and producer Chad Allen will receive the Davidson/Valentini Award, which is named after Craig Davidson, GLAAD’s first executive director, and his partner Michael Valentini. The award is presented to an openly LGBT media professional who has made a significant difference in promoting equal rights for our community. Through his acting roles and film projects, Allen has amplified the voices of LGBT community.
Just in 2008, in addition to appearing as openly gay detective Donald Strachey in here! Networks’ The Donald Strachey Mystery Series, Allen served as a producer on the film Save Me, which offered audiences a look into the world of so-called “ex gay ministries.” The Donald Strachey Mystery Series is nominated for Outstanding Television Movie this year and Save Me is a nominee for Outstanding Film – Limited Release.
Not only is Chad Allen an advocate as an actor and producer but he has been a vocal supporter for marriage equality in interviews with news outlets including CNN’s Larry King Live.
Dustin Lance Black
Dustin Lance Black will receive a Special Recognition Award for his work to raise visibility of our community as a screenwriter on the films Milk and Pedro. And who could forget his moving acceptance speech calling for marriage equality at the Academy Awards this year while wearing a white knot.
Geoff Callan & Mike Shaw, the filmmakers responsible for the documentary Pursuit of Equality will take home the San Francisco Local Hero Award. The film is an emotionally charged documentary that puts a face on American citizens who strive for marriage equality and gives viewers an inside look at Mayor Gavin Newsom’s decision to allow the first same-sex couple to exchange their vows. This past year, Callan and Shaw took the film across California to fight the anti-gay Proposition 8.
The San Francisco Awards will also include two very special performances by out pop music phenomenon Matt Alber and extraordinary violinist Nadja Salerno-Sonnenberg with the New Century Chamber Orchestra.
The GLAAD Media Awards wouldn’t be where we are today without the help of our corporate partners. More than 100 corporate sponsors are showing their support, including National Presenting Partner IBM and Local Presenting Partners ABSOLUT® VODKA and Prudential. GLAAD is also grateful to the event’s Platinum Underwriters Comcast, TimeWarner and University of Phoenix. Allstate Insurance Company, American Airlines, Barefoot Wine, Disney/ABC Television Group, HMS Media, Herb Ritts Foundation, New York City Marriott & Renaissance Hotels, Renaissance New York Hotel, MillerCoors, NBC Universal, PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP, Southwest Airlines, The Terry Watanabe Charitable Trust and Wyndham Hotel Group support the 20th Annual GLAAD Media Awards as Underwriter Partners.
Don’t miss out… Click here and purchase your tickets today!
