GLAAD Honors Tyra

On March 28th, Tyra Banks was presented with the 'Excellence in Media Award' at the 20th Annual GLAAD Media Awards in NYC. Her good friend, Clay Aiken, had the honor of introducing her.

Here is the video of both the speech Clay wrote for presentation of the award to Tyra and Tyra's acceptance speech.



Transcript of Clay's Speech:

Very few women in media ever reach the level of single-name recognition: Madonna, Celine, Dolly, Cher -- all also gay icons. Tonight we honor with the Excellence in Media Award a woman who fits into both categories, Tyra. [inaudible] breaking down barriers from the very start of her career. She made history on the covers of some of the fashion industry's most influential magazines. Who among us didn't want to be with her or ... be her (laughter) when she graced the cover of Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Issue as the very first African American in that position. Her model portfolio has been surpassed only by her extensive multi-media portfolio. Her transition from runway and print to broadcast brought some of America's favorite guilty pleasures in the form of America's Next Top Model -- which has a very good episode next week [points at self] (laughter). It's a show that she both created and executive produces, and she uses it as a platform, not only to help young women achieve their dreams, but also to reinforce the value and importance of hard work and determination in achieving success all the while celebrating outer and inner beauty.

That show is nominated tonight in the category for outstanding reality programing in large part due to Tyra’s refusal to shy away from including diverse models and judges in its cast. Her emmy award wining talk show The Tyra Banks Show has expanded her opportunity to speak to a large an influential audience about self-image and self-worth and countless other causes important to society.

This year that talk show has won 3 out of 5 nominations for outstanding talk show this year bringing the total nominations to 7 in the just 3 years. Nobody would expect less from someone who has been a trailblazer from the start: model, tv host, creator, executive producer. She's one of the hardest working people in the entertainment industry and (something) recognized for it. She was honored by the Hollywood Rreporter as one of the 100 most powerful women in entertainment. Entertainment Weekly called her one of their 25 Smartest in Television and Glamour magazine named her one 2008's Women of the Year alongside Hillary Clinton. And tonight the GLAAD Excellence in Media Award.

This award is given each year to a media professional who increases visibility and understanding of the LGBT community, folks like Glenn Close, Billy Crystal, Diane Sawyer and Phil Donahue. Knowing Tyra, I know that she probably doesn’t think she deserves a recognition like this. Her American’s Next Top Model showcases people like Miss Jay, Jay Manuel, Isis King -- or that guy on next week's show. Yes, her talk show gives air time to some of the issues that our community cares about most, like marriage equality, gay and lesbian people of faith, and transgender people, but Tyra doesn’t necessarily do these things just to make a statement. She doesn’t just address these issue for the impact. She includes, embraces and celebrates because that’s just how she is. Cause she knows it’s right. She doesn’t marginalize, she normalizes. She never sensationalizes or exploits, she just cherishes the value of every human being. Because the only thing bigger than her influence is her heart. Her deep respect for the value of all people has led her to make it part her mission to educate the mainstream public about the lives of gay and transgender people, reaching millions of young people nationwide with her message of inclusion and acceptance.

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Clay Aiken Honored by Family Equality Council

Night at the Tavern, Family Equality Council’s annual New York City event will be held Tuesday, April 21, 2009 at Tavern on the Green in New York City. The event brings together LGBT parents, friends and allies to celebrate the progress we have made as a community of loving families towards full equality. In 2009, Night at the Tavern will feature a cocktail reception, a full-course seated dinner, live entertainment, a silent auction and the opportunity to mingle with old friends and meet new ones. At the event they will be honoring Platinum Recording Artist Clay Aiken and Director of Center Kids at the LGBT Center in New York Terry Boggis and will have a special guest performance by Linda Eder.

Family Equality Council/Purchase Tickets

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Clay and Tyra: Together Again!

"To laugh often and love much; to win the respect of intellingent persons and the affection of children; to earn the approbation of honest citizens and endure the betrayal of false friends; to appreciate beauty; to find the best in others; to give of one's self; to leave the world a bit better, whether by a healthy child, a garden patch or a redeemed social condition; to have played and laughed with enthusiasm and sung with exultation; to know even one life has breathed easier because you have lived - this is to have succeeded." ~~Ralph Waldo Emerson

Clay will be presenting the Excellence in Media Award to Tyra Banks at the 20th Annual GLAAD Media Awards on March 28th in New York City. It is usually broadcast on Bravo or Logo at a later date (after the LA (April) and San Francisco (May) events are held), so keep your fingers crossed.

From BroadwayWorld.com

Actor and singer Clay Aiken will present the Excellence in Media Award to Tyra Banks. The Excellence in Media Award is presented to media professionals who, through their work, have increased the visibility and understanding of the LGBT community. As a long-time ally of the LGBT community, Banks has shown a strong commitment to educating the public about the lives of gay and transgender people. She has consistently featured LGBT people on The Tyra Banks Show and continues to increase the visibility of the community through the diversity of her co-hosts and contestants on America's Next Top Model, including her inclusion of Isis King, the show's first transgender contestant, on the most recently completed cycle. Past recipients include Billy Crystal, Julianne Moore, Diane Sawyer, Glenn Close, Patti LaBelle, Vanessa Redgrave, and Phil Donahue.

From GLAAD:

Since establishing her celebrated modeling career in the 1990's, Tyra Banks has become an international media icon. A trailblazer from the start, she has broken down barriers in modeling and entertainment media. In the fashion industry, Banks became the first African American model to grace the covers of GQ and the Sports Illustrated swimsuit issue, following these achievements with a Michael Award for "Supermodel of the Year," the modeling industry equivalent of the Oscar. After an illustrious modeling career, Banks moved onto television – creating, executive producing and hosting the tremendously successful reality show America's Next Top Model. She also produces and hosts her own Emmy Award-winning talk show, The Tyra Banks Show, which has received seven GLAAD Media Award nominations for Outstanding Talk Show Episode. In spring 2008, Banks appeared on the cover of The New York Times Magazine in a piece titled "Martha, Oprah, Tyra; Is She the Next Big Female Branded Self?" and Entertainment Weekly featured her on the cover saying "America's Next Top Mogul." In the same year, she was honored in Hollywood Reporter's "100 Most Powerful Women in Entertainment," Entertainment Weekly's "25 Smartest in Television," Glamour magazine's coveted "Women of the Year," and came in at #1 on Forbes "Primetime TV's Top Earning Women" report.

As a long-time ally of the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) community, Banks has shown a strong commitment to educating the public about the lives of gay and transgender people. She has consistently featured LGBT people on her talk show, and continues to increase the visibility of the community through the diversity of her co-hosts and contestants on America's Next Top Model, including her inclusion of Isis King, the show's first transgender contestant, on the most recent cycle.

The Excellence in Media Award is presented to media professionals who, through their work, have increased the visibility and understanding of the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender community. Past recipients include Billy Crystal, Julianne Moore, Diane Sawyer, Glenn Close, Patti LaBelle, Vanessa Redgrave, and Phil Donahue.

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A New Joint Venture in Summer Learning Programs

From The Bubel/Aiken Foundation Website:

3/06/2009
MEAF Awards $40,000 Grant to Support Partnership with The Bubel/Aiken Foundation and Johns Hopkins University’s National Center for Summer Learning

RALEIGH, NC – The Mitsubishi Electric America Foundation (MEAF) has announced $360,000 in new and continuing grants, raising the total investment in the Foundation’s five-year Inclusion Initiative to $3.2 million. The newest inclusion project is a joint venture between The Bubel/Aiken Foundation (TBAF) and the National Center for Summer Learning at Johns Hopkins University.

Building on a three-year partnership, The Bubel/Aiken Foundation and the National Center for Summer Learning will create a distinct and powerful new force for change in the field of summer learning for all children, especially those with disabilities. The partners will expand access to high-quality, inclusive summer learning opportunities for young people by developing a summer learning curriculum to help summer camps fully include youth with disabilities.

Research suggests that inclusive summer learning programs can prevent summer learning loss and promote academic achievement for all children and youth, foster positive relationships between children with and without disabilities and adults, and promote improved peer relationships and acceptance of diversity.

“We are very pleased to incorporate this project into our Inclusion Initiative, expanding inclusion outreach to the critical area of summer learning,” said Rayna Aylward, MEAF’s executive director. “The Bubel/Aiken Foundation and the National Center for Summer Learning add valuable experience and focus to the inclusion mix, and their collaboration will enrich the lives of many thousands of youth with and without disabilities.”


About MEAF: Established in 1991, Mitsubishi Electric America Foundation is the corporate foundation of the Mitsubishi Electric companies in the US, which makes grants to support national nonprofit organizations and works to engage company employees in philanthropy and volunteerism in Mitsubishi Electric communities through its matching grants program. The Foundation’s mission is to help young people with disabilities maximize their potential and participation in society. For more information about the foundation visit www.meaf.org.

About TBAF: The Bubel/Aiken Foundation serves to bridge the gap that exists between young people with special needs and the world around them. By providing services and financial assistance, TBAF supports communities and programs in creating awareness and opportunities for full inclusion where barriers break and doors open. It is their goal to create an environment for children where inclusion is embraced. To learn more about The Bubel/Aiken Foundation or ways to get involved visit their website at www.bubelaiken.org.

About the National Center for Summer Learning at Johns Hopkins University: The vision of the National Center for Summer Learning is for every young person to experience enriching, memorable summers. Based at the Johns Hopkins University School of Education, the Center engages in research, develops policy, and delivers professional development to improve program quality, increase funding for programs for young people living in poverty, and make summer learning a public policy priority. The Center focuses national attention on how high-quality summer learning programs help close the achievement gap, lead to higher graduation rates, and promote healthy development. For more information, visit www.summerlearning.org.

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A Wildcard To Remember

After four seasons without a wildcard show, American Idol is bringing it back in Season 8 tomorrow night. It will be slightly different than Seasons 2 and 3, with no America's Choice wildcard voted through by viewers this year.(Note: Clay Aiken was America's Choice in Season 2, and Jon-Peter Lewis was America's Choice in Season 3.) It's a shame the producers eliminated America's Choice because that was the best part of the Wild Card show. Now it's just a judges' choice show, and does anyone really think that American Idol is anything but a big judges' choice show anyhow with the pre-competition screen time, singing order, and manipulated judges' comments. Of course, when the best America's Choice was already chosen, why bother with more. *g*


~Graphic by fountaindawg~


Here is Clay capturing the heart of America with his powerful version of "Don't Let The Sun Go Down on Me" on the Wildcard Show.



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