GLAAD to Honor NBC Entertainment Chairman Robert Greenblatt

NEW YORK – The Gay & Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation will honor new NBC entertainment chairman Robert Greenblatt and music Russell Simmons at the 22nd Annual GLAAD Media Awards.

Greenblatt will receive the Stephen F. Kolzak Award at the oraganization’s LA event on April 10. The award is presented to an openly LGBT media professional who has made “a significant difference in promoting equality for our community,” according to GLAAD.

“From Keith & David’s family on Six Feet Under, Bette & Tina’s romance on The L Word to Marshall and Ian’s coming out stories on United States of Tara and Shameless, Robert Greenblatt has brought groundbreaking stories about gay and transgender people to Americans that have shattered stereotypes,” said GLAAD president Jarrett Barrios. “By including stories of our community on some of America’s most talked-about shows, he has been instrumental in opening the door for so many of the current gay and transgender storylines that are continuing to advance equality.”

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Previous Stephen F. Kolzak Award honorees include Wanda Sykes, Rufus Wainwright, Melissa Etheridge, Bill Condon, Todd Haynes, Alan Ball, Ellen DeGeneres and Sir Ian McKellen.

Simmons will receive the Excellence in Media Award,  presented to media professionals who have increased the visibility and understanding of the LGBT community, at the New York award ceremony on March 19.

“Whether speaking out against the unfair nature of California’s anti-gay Proposition 8 or advocating for the repeal of ‘Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell,’ Russell Simmons has become a critical ally who inspires diverse communities across the country to support equality,” said Barrios.

GLAAD previously announced that Ricky Martin would receive the Vito Russo Award in New York and Kristin Chenoweth would receive the Vanguard Award in LA.

Andy Cohen, Bravo’s executive vp of original programming and host of Watch What Happens: Live, will host the New York event. Special guests for that event include Tina Fey, Wilson Cruz, Josh Kilmer-Purcell, Brent Ridge and Jane Velez-Mitchell.

Special guests for the LA event include Chris Colfer, Kirsten Dunst, Omar Epps, Colin Farrell, Jesse Tyler Ferguson and Sean Hayes.