CNN's getting more love from the Gay and Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation (GLAAD) as prime-time host Anderson Cooper will be honored [1] at the organization's upcoming Media Awards for his work as an "openly gay media professional" in "promoting equality."
Cooper's not being honored as a journalist, but as an advocate.
"Anderson Cooper has long been an advocate for the LGBT community," the
group stated [2].
GLAAD continues: "His wide range of subjects includes the bullying of
LGBT youth, families supporting their transgender children, and the
dangers of so-called 'ex-gay conversion therapy.'" The Huffington Post says [3] the award is GLAAD's "most prestigious honor."
Cooper publicly admitted he was gay this past summer, a year after CNN colleague Don Lemon came out. GLAAD's Atlanta chapter praised [4] Lemon as an "Outstanding Citizen" back in 2011.
CNN and GLAAD have a special relationship; as the MRC's Matt Philbin noted [4], the network featured GLAAD in gay-related stories at least 41 times in two years. GLAAD in turn recently honored [5] CNN with eight nominations for media awards, including Cooper winning the "Vito Russo Award."
GLAAD states that the award "is presented to an openly lesbian, gay,
bisexual or transgender media professional who has made a significant
difference in promoting equality."
On its webpage, GLAAD notes that it "has worked with news,
entertainment and social media to bring culture-changing stories of
LGBT people into millions of homes and workplaces every day." CNN is
certainly helping this organization get the news out that it wants
reported.
(H/T Media Bistro [1])
-- Matt Hadro is a News Analyst at the Media Research Center