GLAAD, founded as The Gay & Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation, will honor Cynthia Erivo at the 36th Annual GLAAD Media Awards, held March 27 in Los Angeles.
Erivo will receive the Stephen F. Kolzak Award, which is presented to an LGBTQ+ media professional who has made a significant difference in raising visibility and promoting acceptance of LGBTQ+ people and issues. The award is named in honor of late Los Angeles casting director Stephen F. Kolzak, who was devoted to fighting homophobia and stigma surrounding HIV within the entertainment industry.
Previous recipients of the award include Niecy Nash-Betts, Jeremy Pope, Laverne Cox, Wanda Sykes, Jim Parsons, Ruby Rose, Chaz Bono, Melissa Etheridge, Ellen DeGeneres, and Michaela Jae Rodriguez.
"From an outspoken ally to a trailblazing member of the community, Cynthia Erivo's one-of-a-kind voice has been an integral part of accelerating acceptance for LGBTQ people since she came on the scene over a decade ago," GLAAD President and CEO Sarah Kate Ellis said in a statement. "Her legacy is defined not by her numerous accolades and honors but by how with each new platform and milestone, she continues to show up for Black, queer, and other marginalized peoples amid her well-deserved success. As she continues to shatter glass ceilings, I am certain her commitment to showing up as the intersectional and authentic person she is will never falter, and it is a privilege to present her with the Stephen F. Kolzak Award at this year's GLAAD Media Awards.”
Prior to her star turn as Elphaba in Jon M. Chu's Wicked film adaptation, for which she is currently Oscar-nominated, Erivo received widespread recognition for her performance as Celie in the 2015 revival of The Color Purple. Erivo made her Broadway debut transferring with the production from London's Menier Chocolate Factory, earning the 2016 Tony Award for Best Performance by a Leading Actress in a Musical, a Grammy Award as a principal soloist when the production's cast recording took home the Best Musical Theater Album in 2017, and a Daytime Emmy for the cast's performance on NBC's Today.
Visit GLAAD.org for a full list of Media Award nominees.
