If you’re the kind of person who fast-forwards past the commercials, then you’d probably miss the whole point of GLAAD’s Amplifier Awards. The third-annual ceremony, held last night at Manhattan’s Altman Room, recognizes print and online advertising and marketing that presents fair and accurate representations of the LGBT community. And unlike the Oscars, there’s more than one winner in some of the categories!
Appropriate to the subject matter, a wide variety of TV stars were on hand: Real Housewives of New York‘s Ramona Singer and Sonja Morgan; Tabitha’s Salon Takeover Tabitha Coffey; RuPaul’s Drag Race contestants Sahara Davenport, Carmen Cerrera and Manila Luzon (who hosted the event); actor Wilson Cruz; The Voice‘s Frenchie Davis; The Fabulous Beekman Boys‘ Josh Kilmer Purcell and Brent Ridge; and TV newsman Thomas Roberts—plus theater stars Anthony Rapp and Christine Ebersole, singer Wynter Gordon and New York City Councilmember Christine Quinn.
And As guests networked and nibbled on a menu of global appetizers, they had the chance to bid on a variety of amazing travel vacations, sponsored by GayCities (shameless plug confession) Oh and did we mention the bare-chested Rokk vodka Vikings that were making the rounds?
Marketing masterminds Bob Witeck and Wes Combs received special honors.
How about we take this to the next level?
Our newsletter is like a refreshing cocktail (or mocktail) of LGBTQ+ entertainment and pop culture, served up with a side of eye-candy.
Photography by Jeffrey James Keyes
WillBFair
I swear. I am so tired of our do nothing leadership. They should be producing massive pr campaigns featuring gay historical giants and our strongest arguments.
Unfortunately, this crowd is too stupid to come up with a winning argument. They’re chosen for their looks, not brains. Let’s remember that the next time we feel like bit—-g about their incompetence.
elaine comstock-leirer
is there a filter to weed out those of the main stream who use the gay community to advance themselves rather than the community itself, showing up at this and other events.
BubbasBack
Dont get GLAAD, get MAD! Burp.
CBRad
Why are they posing in front of a wall all covered with labels ( looks like Tyvek insulation )?
James
@WillBFair: You are so right. Everything gay is about looks. It’s for young people, not people with brains or ability. Any Jed Clampett-level imbecile will be presented as a ‘gay leader’ if he’s a hunk.
RickStrandlof
Those Rokk Vodka Kings need to spend more time on their caf muscles!
Michael
@James:
I know id rather them have brains then looks.Looks fade as time goes by intelligence lasts though .
QM
@CBRad: It’s called a Ste and Repeat, dumb ass. It’s at all red carpet events! The companies who cover the expenses of the event do it for advertising visibility. That’s why it’s there. You’ve honestly never seen that before?
Ashton cruz
What wait, no one from the A-List cast was there? Lol A list my ass.
CBRad
@QM: Of course I’ve seen it before. And I always refuse to stand in front of the ad wall/Tyvek insulation.
CBRad
@QM: ( ya dumbass )
Tom F
The gladiators are hot, but only one of them looks happy to be there. Seems more appropriate for a circuit party than a GLAAD award gala