By B&TF
Well, it’s that time of the year again when I attend GLAAD Media Awards in Los Angeles to cover Red Carpet, have a delicious dinner with friends, and enjoy the Awards show. I have a fabulous time every time I go and this year was no exception, even with no L Word ladies in attendance.
Red Carpet
Red Carpet is always fun. Even though we all get press releases with the names of the attendees, I never know who is going to show up and who is going to stop by me, pose for the photos and talk to me. I had a list of people I wanted to interview but some of them showed up fashionably late and had to hurry through the lines of photographers and reporters to make it on time to dinner and the show.
As a result, I only had a handful of interviews but I really enjoyed my time, taking photos and chatting with people.
My first interviewee on the Red Carpet was the new GLAAD President, Jarrett Barrios.
B&TF: As a new President of GLAAD what changes are you planning to implement? What’s going to happen with you at the wheel?
JB: GLAAD works for the full equality of gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender Americans and we’ll win our full equality. We don’t do our work in court rooms. We don’t do our work in halls of Congress. We do it by media advocacy. We want to make sure that images of gay and lesbian people, storylines of gay, lesbian, bisexual, and transgender people are fair, accurate and impactful. We do that because we know when they reach people in their living rooms, or in the movie theaters or at their breakfast tables when they are reading the newspaper, they are persuading people to introduce some people who may not think they know somebody who’s gay. They are introducing us to them and opening them up to what equality should look like. It’s not such a big deal. We are just their neighbors, we are their friends, we are their family members and when they get to know us and we are more visible, they respect us. And when they respect us they support our equality and our legal rights will follow. That’s GLAAD’s work and that’s what I’m proud to do every day.
B&TF: How do you think gay, lesbian and transgender people are represented on TV today?
JB: Representations are improving in entertainment. We still have issues in the news. Just within last week with CNN, they showed an ex-gay therapist talking about curing homosexuality. This is stuff, which went out of fashion 40 years ago but still there’re many new to us who didn’t realize that, there’re still too many people who don’t believe we should be treated equally and there’s a lot of work we have in front of us. That’s why GLAAD is still as necessary today as it was 25 years ago when we were founded.
B&TF: So when GLAAD send emails to people and say, write to this station or protest this, does this really work?
JB: It’s really important and it has an impact. When we did this with CNN last week, tens of thousands of people responded to our call for action and it’s why in 24 hours CNN turned around, apologized and corrected their mistake.
As you can see, GLAAD is such an inspirational organization that works all year long to “elevate and promote fair, accurate and inclusive stories of lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) issues”. Every voice counts, especially when thousands of people send their emails at the GLAAD’s urge to make sure that the mistakes are corrected and apologies are issued.
The next person who stopped to talk to me was Johnny Weir, a figure skater who finished sixth in the recent Olympic Winter Games in Vancouver. I talked to him about his fascination with Russian culture and his Olympic experience.
B&TF: How did you become so fascinated with Russian culture and language?
JW: It was born in me. There’s something so special about Russia from the first time I ever heard the name Russia. Of course it was USSR when I was born. Everything that I’ve heard fascinated me. I had a book, it was called, “Russia and her states”, because here they called them states, not republics. I was so interested in learning about the tsars, and the alphabet. I started to draw the characters from the alphabet and it was something that was so special to me. Really, Russia lives in my heart.
B&TF: I’ve read that during the Olympics you got underscored because you were too flamboyant. Do you personally think that your score was fair?
JW: I don’t think the score was fair but when I took the ice there was an American, Evan Lysacek that was already short of medal so it’s hard to have two Americans on the same podium. Of course, I think Plushenko should’ve won. I mean, there’re lots of politics in figure skating and of course, I think I should’ve done better than sixth place. For me sixth is kind of nothing but through that experience so many people thought I should’ve had a medal and that gives me a lot of power and a lot of passion to skate more and be stronger.
B&TF: As you can see I work for l-word.com. Have you watched the show when it aired?
JW: I watched a few episodes but I haven’t gotten into it. I need to buy the DVD’s and really sit and watch everything. I think it’s amazing that there’s a show like “The L Word” on television. It was like “Queer as Folk” and different shows before but I think it’s so special.
B&TF: I asked because I read an interview with Jennifer Beals who plays Bette on the show, where she said that she watched you perform in Vancouver and she thought you were fabulous. She really liked how authentic you were. Why do you think the authenticity is so important?
JW: I think being an original is important. I don’t think you should be judged on what you are but who you are. I think that’s the most important thing in this life and if you’re gay or straight it doesn’t matter. As long as you are an interesting individual person that has a clear image of who you are that’s what important.
B&TF: Are you going to continue competing in the Olympics?
JW: I hope so. It’s a dream for me to compete in Sochi and I’m really looking forward to seeing where my skating career goes. I’m still training, I’m still on the ice and I also enjoying my life a little bit in doing things like this.
B&TF: I saw your performance to Lady Gaga and I also thought you were fabulous. Good luck in Sochi.
Johnny was really cute and all smiles, no wonder Jennifer Beals has a little crush on him.
My next guest was a professional chef Cat Cora, who was featured in Iron Chef America. I have to admit that I don’t watch Food Network a lot because I love to eat. I get hungry every time I see food, read about food or talk about food. I’m also one of those people who have to work hard to keep their weight down so that’s why I don’t watch a lot of Food Network programs. I did watch a few Iron Chef’s segments though, and it was always exciting to know that one of the contestants is an out lesbian and also the only female Iron Chef in its franchise history.
CC: I’m Cat Cora and I’m here to present the Vanguard Award to Drew Barrymore.
B&TF: It’s great. What made you to become a professional chef?
CC: It’s always kind of been in my blood. My family was in restaurant business and I’ve always wanted to have a restaurant and be involved in a food industry.
B&TF: What’s your favorite cuisine?
CC: Definitely Greek and Mediterranean because my family is Greek American.
B&TF: I’m Russian and Greek and Russian food is similar. It’s one of my favorites too. Where are you based?
CC: We are in Santa Barbara and L.A., Southern California.
B&TF: Was it hard for you to come out?
CC: I think it’s always challenging but I have a very understanding family, though even with an understanding family it’s a challenge to come out. I’ve been out since I was 19 with my family and they’ve been nothing but supportive. My wife is here and her family is also supportive so we are very lucky and blessed.
Cat and her wife posed for a few photos for me but then they had to go, so our interview was cut short.
I had some time to spare until I saw a group of three familiar-looking women approaching me. It took me awhile to realize that they were the three participants of the new Showtime reality series, “The Real L Word,” produced by Ilene Chaiken. The press release was given to me by the Showtime representative that said, “The Real L Word will follow a group of real-life, high-profile, left coast lesbians as they go about their daily life, at work and play. Viewers will see they can be every bit as glamorous, fashionable, fabulous and even as cutthroat as those hetero housewives. And as it’s on premium cable, so nothing will be held back.”
Three “Real L Word” participants were Rose Garcia, Mikey Koffman and Tracy Ryerson and they were standing next to me, giving interview to another reporter. I heard them mentioning that the viewers will see everything that happens in their lives, including sex. “Hmm…” I thought. “Interesting…I guess Showtime didn’t exaggerate when it said that nothing will be held back.”
The girls were finally free to pose for some photos and then talk to me, as well.
Tracy: Before you ask, we are all gay (laughing).
B&TF: Yeah, I know. That’s one of the questions that the L Word ladies never liked, “Are you gay?” Anyway, you are following the legacy of “The L Word”, how do you think your show will be received by the viewers, lesbians or straight?
Rose: We have to build an audience, built some fan base. Everyone obviously missed the show and it was kind of a big let down when the show ended and our community was waiting for something else to come along. This just fits the bill so I think we are picking up where they left off with real stories. Real stories, real women and it’s going to be amazing.
B&TF: Some people don’t like to watch reality shows because they think it’s all scripted and nothing is really real. What are we going to get with “The Real L Word”?
Tracy: You know “The L Word” and its six seasons, these are big shoes to fill but the difference is that this is a docudrama series that wasn’t scripted program. This is us living our real lives and kind of going through heartbreak, going through getting together, happy times, sad times, everything. It shows that we are all equal and it’s something that I think that needs to be seen and the fact that it’s not produced at all is amazing. The only thing in this process that something I was a little nervous about, being sort of in the business … couple of us are in the business … is that nobody told us what to do. We just lived our lives and cameras happened to follow us.
B&TF: You know, some of “The L Word” viewers complained that it didn’t represented all different varieties of lesbians, and then I saw the picture of you six and you all look glamorous and beautiful…do you think people will complain again?
Rose: Here’s the thing. You’re going to see us at homes, sick in bed, with family and we are not always dressed up walking the red carpet. You’re going to see real life aspects of us at work, us at play, us with families. You’re going to see everything. Does it mean do we cover the whole gamut of everyone and everything? We do, you know, you’re going to see a big vast depiction of L.A. lesbians.
B&TF: So how far the show will go? I heard you mentioned showing sex…
Tracy: It’s going to run the gamut. You’re going to see us waking up and no make-up and then you are going to see us probably having sex or walking the red carpet or modeling, what not. You are going to see a little bit of everything. Beauty comes in all different shapes, sizes and colors so I think you’re going to see all of that. You can’t judge by one picture that you see.
B&TF: You know, some people will be comparing you with the actresses who played Shane, Bette or Tina. Are you associate yourself with any of “The L Word” characters?
Tracy: I’m Max (they are all laughing).
Mikey: Boy, you look different.
Tracy: Right? I shaved today (laughing). No, probably I’d say a little bit of Helena and a lot of Dana.
Mikey: You know what, I’m still waiting for somebody to tell me. I really don’t know where I fit in but I can tell you that this one is Papi, for sure (pointing at Rose).
B&TF: I actually read that Papi was sort of based on you.
Rose: It was actually loosely based on me and my shenanigans good time when I was a little bit of a womanizer.
Mikey: Loosely? Loosely?
Rose: Yeah, loosely (laughing). You know, you’ll see a little bit of me trying to transform and get out of that whole Papi-ness and the multiple girls and see if I can settle down with one.
Mikey: Are you ready to settle down?
Rose: No, no.
Mikey: So what about me?
B&TF (to Mikey): I’d say that you might be Shane judging by the way you dress, the way you look.
Mikey: I actually have to give that one completely to Whitney. Whitney is 100% Shane.
B&TF: Okay.
Mikey: And you can count Nikki and Jill being Bette and Tina, as well.
(At this time Showtime representative that was with them mentioned that I only had time for one more question).
B&TF: How was it working with Ilene Chaiken?
Mikey: That was actually the most amazing experience. I wish we all had an opportunity to work with her a little bit more one-on-one. She is, for me, one of the most amazing role models. She is a really successful woman. She knows exactly what she wants and she does it in such a poise and amazing way that it really is amazing to have had met her and be able to work on this with her.
Rose: I think just her mastermind in getting us all six together in itself was just brilliant because we are just so different but a lot alike in a sense. You’ll see us blend in together.
After that they were gone and I began waiting for my next celebrity.
An older couple approached our line-up and while they were talking with a radio host next to me who knew them, I took a few photos and then had a short interview with them. The couple was Jim and Elke Kennedy who were at GLAAD, representing ‘Sean’s Last Wish Foundation’. Elke reminded me a lot of Judy Shepard. Just like Matthew, Elke’s son, Sean was murdered and the Foundation in his name was established to raise awareness to the fact that in the State of South Carolina and many others, law enforcement officials don’t have tools or resources to investigate hate crimes. You can learn more about this Foundation here http://www.seanslastwish.org
B&TF: Tell me a little bit about the Foundation and what you are doing.
JK: We are an awareness group to help educate people about legislation, like the hate crime bill. We’ve been invited to the FBI in South Carolina to help them educate the public in South Carolina but we also working on anti-violence programs in bullying, hatred and violence, and how religion is being used to knock people’s human rights. And that’s what we are about. We got to stop this madness of kids committing suicides because they are misunderstood or nobody cares about them and show that we love all our children and all were created equal and should be treated equal. That’s what we work on.
B&TF: I’ve met Judy Shepard and she’s doing the same thing with Mathew Shepard Foundation. Have you guys met her and talk to her about what happened to your children?
EK: Yes, we’ve met Judy Shepard on several occasions. We were at the White House together when the Hate Crime Bill was passed. Judy works a lot more at the national level when we work more at the regional and local level because we have so much work to do in the South. And there are other parents out there that are talking so we just need to get everybody together and make a really loud voice.
B&TF: And I hope it works. It’s a 21st century, things like that shouldn’t be even happening.
EK: This is 21st century. We should be equal. We should not have to worry about bullying and hatred and violence anymore but it seems like it’s getting worse instead of getting better. We just have to work on it.
B&TF: Do you think the Hate Crime Bill will help?
EK: I think it will help because it will allow in places, like South Carolina, if the Sheriff’s Department doesn’t want to call the FBI in, I, as a mother, have the opportunity now to call the FBI and say, “Look, I need somebody to come in here and investigate this because this is a hate crime.”
B&TF: So it will mean the federal government involvement, not just the local.
EK: Exactly, because the local people deny that there are hate crimes so this gives people at least an opportunity to have the FBI come in. As a matter of fact, we are meeting with the FBI this Thursday because they want our help in how to educate South Carolina on how to implement the hate crime law. We are making little progress.
I wished them good luck in their endeavors and then had my next interview with Michael Sucsy, the director of “Grey Gardens”. He was there to support Drew Barrymore who starred in that movie and we had a short cat about Drew and her role as Little Edie.
B&TF: Was Drew your first choice for the role?
MS: I didn’t think that Drew was going to be right for the role but I heard that she was insistent on having a meeting so I said, “Of course I meet with her.” I told her agent about all the things I was concerned about. The fact she hasn’t done a lot of period films before, that she’s more known for a comedy than for a strict drama, that she has kind if contemporary way of speaking and that Little Edie had such a peculiar, specific way of speaking. She addressed all of those in the meeting and I knew that if she was going to be aware of them then we can tackle them together. Also she really understood the complexities of the character and I knew she would be dedicated to the project and all those things came together and she blew me away. She won the job in one meeting. She won me over.
B&TF: Sometimes actors have to go through a few auditions so the director would be sure that they were right for the role…
MS: No, we had a meeting together, she walked away and I turned to the producer and I said, “We just found our Little Edie.” I couldn’t believe it.
B&TF: And it was all just from that meeting, she didn’t do any reading or action?
MS: No, no. It took months to train for the accent so had we done that it just would’ve been a parody of the whole thing. It was all a process. I didn’t audition anybody for that because it was too specific.
B&TF: And of course, Jessica Lange was playing Big Edie. How was it working with her? She’s such a legend.
MS: Oh, she’s fantastic. Jessica is one of the most incredible actresses. She’s like a beautiful musical instrument of the highest quality.
B&TF: I heard one actress say once that she grew up watching actors like Jessica Lange and she wanted to be just like her because acting for them is not to be famous but to speak through their work. Did you see this while working with Jessica?
MS: I did and you know, Jessica started as a model and then she couple of jobs early on. I don’t know all of the background of her training but I know that she has done theater and it’s a different kind of training. It’s not that theater actors are better than film actors but it’s a different kind of acting. To be able to do both, to be able to do the same piece over and over and over again does something to your craft and you could see that in her performance, how she approaches her characters. It was beautiful to watch her work.
After Michael moved to talk to another reporter I took more photos, including some of the “Glee” cast members. Unfortunately, the Red Carpet appearances were running late and Jane Lynch didn’t have time to talk to me, neither was Wanda Sykes. By the time Wanda was finishing her last video interviews, most of the photographers and reporters had already left.
I was starving and hoped that my dinner was served and waiting for me. I took a few more photos of Wanda while she was talking, said goodbye to a few new friends I made on the Red Carpet and went to the theater where the tables and stage was set for the show.
Awards Show and Dinner
Luckily, my salad plate was waiting for me untouched and I could finally relax a little and eat something before the Award show would begin and I had to resume my role as a photographer. The dinner was delicious and they even served champagne for the celebration. The dessert looked pretty and it also turned out to be very delicious.
After the food was devoured and few drinks were shared, the Award show finally started. It was hosted by Wilson Cruz and Candis Cayne. They were fabulous as hosts, singing, dancing and performing hilarious intermissions.
GLAAD’s annual Media Awards are presented to honor individuals, LGBT and straight allies that have increased awareness, understanding and respect for the lives of LGBT people. This year GLAAD presented following awards:
– Actress Drew Barrymore received the Vanguard Award which is presented to media professionals who have increased the visibility and understanding of the LGBT community. The award was presented to her by openly lesbian star of Iron Chef America Cat Cora.
Drew Barrymore acceptance speech
– Comedian Wanda Sykes received the Stephen F. Kolzak Award which is presented to an openly LGBT media professional who has made a significant difference in promoting equal rights for our community. It was presented to her by Constance McMillen, the Mississippi teenager whose high school cancelled prom because she asked to attend with her girlfriend. Wanda Sykes attended the event with her wife Alex, making their first press appearance as a couple.
In addition to these special awards, GLAAD also presented an award for Outstanding Film-Wide Release to “A Single Man”, which was accepted by Richard Buckley, partner of the film director Tom Ford.
The Outstanding Comedy Series was awarded to “Glee” and was accepted by the cast, including Jane Lynch who also proudly announced her engagement and even showed her engagement ring to the audience.
The Outstanding Reality Program was awarded to “RuPaul’s Drag Race”, which is shown on Logo/VH1 channels and was accepted by RuPaul. I had to admit, I didn’t recognize him without the drag.
There were a few more awards given and the program ended with Adam Lambert singing two of his songs. He was fabulous and very entertaining, less constrained than he was while performing on “American Idol”. Audience loved him and so did I.
Adam Lambert performs “Music Again”
You can find the official GLAAD photos from the event here: http://www.glaad.org/mediaawards/21/la/photos and videos of the speeches and performances here: http://www.glaad.org/mediaawards/21/la/videos.
Don’t forget, GLAAD holds three annual Award shows and the additional Awards will be announced during an event in San Francisco on June 5. You can find more information about it here http://www.glaad.org/mediaawards/21/sf.
Leave a Reply
You must be logged in to post a comment.