The thirty fourth annual GLAAD Media Awards in New York doubled as a present of solidarity for the continued Writers Guild of America strike on Saturday evening, as Jon Stewart, Fireplace Island writer-star Joel Kim Booster, GLAAD CEO Sarah Kate Ellis and White Home Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre all shared messages of assist earlier than and throughout the present.
Stewart, who received for finest selection or speak present episode with Apple TV+’s The Drawback With Jon Stewart, was among the many evening’s first winners to make a press release. The author, producer and actor didn’t seem throughout the present to simply accept his award, with Alex Schmider, GLAAD’s director of transgender illustration, taking to the stage to simply accept on Stewart’s behalf.
“Jon is a member of the WGA. He would be here otherwise,” Schmider stated. “GLAAD, of course, stands with Jon and all the WGA writers. Fair pay, fair working conditions and queer representation in writers rooms are urgent and necessary issues facing this industry.”
The assertion was met with loud applause, like most of the exhibits of solidarity throughout the almost three-hour occasion held on the Hilton Midtown. Forward of Stewart’s assertion, present host and What We Do within the Shadows star Harvey Guillén made a press release on behalf of GLAAD, clarifying that the occasion was “not a WGA show.”
“It is a fundraiser for GLAAD, which is a nonprofit organization powered by your contributions,” he continued. “But we stand in solidarity with the guild writers, especially those who get LGBTQ shows and characters on the air.”
Later within the night, White Home Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre took a second out of her speech, which was extra broadly aimed toward discussing the significance of LGBTQ illustration throughout industries and assist for the nation’s trans youth, to notice the importance of displaying assist for writers.
“I want to say one other really important thing. Nights like these are the reminder of stories and the importance of treating storytellers with dignity, respect and the value they deserve. I sincerely hope the writers strike gets resolved and the writers are given a fair deal they deserve as soon as possible.”
She added, “We need all writers and workers and everyone involved to tell the stories of our nation and the stories of all of us.”
Whereas accepting the award for finest streaming/TV movie on behalf of the Fireplace Island solid, author and star Joel Kim Booster shared that he was “so proud to be a member of the Writers Guild of America,” which earned a roar of applause, earlier than including that writing has not solely been “just a hobby, but life changing for me.”
“I hope that you’ll stand in solidarity with us as we move forward in this,” he continued. “Labor issues are queer issues.”
On the occasion’s pink carpet, Fireplace Island director Andrew Ahn additionally confirmed assist for the WGA strike and Booster, telling The Hollywood Reporter that the work stoppage is about discovering methods to assist voices which might be marginalized and “were the first ones to get hit, so let’s find a way to stop that from happening.”
“I think the U.S. has been built on capitalism and systemic racism and I think what the writers strike is trying to do is make this about artists, make this about people, about creating a livelihood for us to thrive and succeed and not have it just be about dollars and cents,” he stated. “So for me, I’m not a part of the WGA, but I think it’s so important that we support the WGA. WGA strong for me.”
Bob the Drag Queen provided a long-term perspective forward of their excellent actuality sequence win for We’re Right here, saying, “This is one of those things where people now may be taking a pay cut or losing money, but down the line we’ll reap the benefits, and that’s really important.”
Forward of a rousing speech that addressed The New York Instances protection of the trans group and Bob Iger and Disney’s ongoing battle with Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis, GLAAD’s CEO and president Sarah Kate Ellis additionally spoke to The Hollywood Reporter in regards to the significance of the strike for LGBTQ writers and tales.
“Until we all have a fair and equal seat at the table, we need to see more,” she defined. “Hollywood’s always looking for the next great story — the new way of telling a story — yet they still stay with the same old, same old. These folks are bringing new stories and new ways of telling stories and I think an industry would invite that in, not shut it out.”
The evening showcased how varied artists inside Hollywood’s writing group are approaching bringing consideration to the WGA strike. Whereas Stewart drew consideration for his abscence, Fireplace Island‘s Matt Rogers told THR while on a picket line in New York on the second day of the strike that the decision for multi-hyphenates with other platforms that don’t conflict with WGA strike guidelines was “a delicate walk.”
However that he, at the least, wished to make use of platforms just like the GLAAD Awards to talk on behalf of fellow writers. “I think if you can be somewhere where you can use your platform to push our agenda here and get everyone listening to what we need, that’s fine,” he stated.
And Simply Like That… star and govt producer Cynthia Nixon agreed. “I certainly feel like I’m going to make statements about supporting writers anywhere and everywhere I go,” she informed THR earlier than sharing she deliberate to interview the HBO Max sequence’ author Samantha Irby at Symphony House and talk about the strike.
The WGA work stoppage — the second in 15 years — started on Might 2 after the guild and The Alliance of Movement Image and Tv Producers failed to succeed in an settlement on a brand new contract by the Might 1 deadline. Among the many points on the desk are pay will increase, minimal staffing, AI, residuals and shorter exclusivity offers.
The 2023 GLAAD Media Awards in New York honored Maren Morris and Jonathan Van Ness with particular awards and featured a efficiency from Idina Menzel singing her new single “Move.”
