Date: Mon, 5 Feb 1996 14:27:09 +0100 From: glaad@glaad.org (GLAAD) Subject: GLAAD ANNOUNCES NOMINEES AND WINNERS OF 1996 MEDIA AWARDS FROM: MARK JOHNSON/GLAAD TAMRA KING/GLAAD 212-807-1700 213-658-6775 SUSAN DUBOW/BRAGMAN NYMAN CAFARELLI 310-274-7800 FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE GLAAD ANNOUNCES NOMINEES AND WINNERS OF 1996 MEDIA AWARDS "BOYS ON THE SIDE," "CARRINGTON," "FRIENDS," AND "NYPD BLUE" AMONG NOMINEES IN BI-COASTAL CEREMONIES New York, NY and Los Angeles, CA -- February 5, 1996 -- The Gay & Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation (GLAAD) is proud to announce the nominees and recipients of its 7th Annual GLAAD Media Awards, which will take place in bi-coastal ceremonies to be held in Los Angeles and New York. The 1996 Media Awards will be held on March 7, 1996 at the Waldorf-Astoria in New York and on March 10, 1996 at the Century Plaza Hotel in Los Angeles. In the past, winners were announced in all categories prior to the Awards' ceremonies, but this year, for the first time, nominees only are being announced in the "Outstanding Studio Film" and "Outstanding Television Series" categories, with winners being announced at a later date. The nominees for OUTSTANDING STUDIO FILM are: BOYS ON THE SIDE CARRINGTON HOME FOR THE HOLIDAYS TO WONG FOO, THANKS FOR EVERYTHING, JULIE NEWMAR For OUTSTANDING TELEVISION SERIES, the nominees are: COURTHOUSE FRIENDS NYPD BLUE PARTY OF FIVE SISTERS Three special awards will be given. The VANGUARD AWARD will be presented to SID SHEINBERG, former president of MCA, who will be honored for his personal and professional leadership towards lesbian and gay equal rights. BARBARA WALTERS of ABC News and "20/20," will be given The EXCELLENCE IN MEDIA AWARD for her commitment to covering gay and lesbian issues, culminating with the interview of Olympic Gold-medalist Greg Louganis. The VITO RUSSO FILM AWARD will be given to "THE CELLULOID CLOSET," the film based on Mr. Russo's landmark book which examines images of lesbians and gay men throughout the history of film. M.A.C. COSMETICS will be honored with a SPECIAL AWARD for its affirmative advertisements using transgender images and supermodel RuPaul. In New York, the event will be held on Thursday, March 7 at the Waldorf-Astoria (Park Avenue at 50th Street). The evening begins with cocktails and Silent Auction at 6:00 p.m., followed by Dinner and Awards Presentation at 7:15 p.m. For further information and to purchase tickets, contact David O'Connell at (212) 213-2438. In Los Angeles, the 1996 GLAAD Media Awards and Dinner will be held on Sunday, March 10, at the Century Plaza Hotel, located at 2025 Avenue of the Stars in Century City. The event begins with cocktails and Silent Auction at 5:30 p.m., followed by Dinner and Awards Presentation at 7:00 p.m. For further information and to purchase tickets, contact Events Unlimited at (310) 996-1188. Founded in 1985, GLAAD works for fair, accurate and inclusive representation in all media as a means of challenging discrimination based on sexual orientation or identity. The Los Angeles and New York chapters of GLAAD recently merged to form a national organization. By challenging defamation and promoting understanding, GLAAD seeks to overcome the homophobia that is at the root of stereotyping, discrimination and violence against members of the lesbian and gay communities. The GLAAD Media Awards were created in 1989 to celebrate the organization's successes and to congratulate those whose work exemplifies the tremendous improvements that have been made in media coverage of the communities GLAAD represents. General event and ticket information for this year's GLAAD Media Awards along with a photo gallery from last year's event can be found on GLAAD's home page on the World Wide Web at http://www.glaad.org/glaad/media-awards. Also go to http://www.glaad.org for general information on GLAAD. Past recipients of GLAAD Media Awards include The New York Times, "Roseanne," "Philadelphia," Phil Donahue and ABC World News Tonight. 1996 GLAAD MEDIA AWARDS' NOMINEES AND WINNERS OUTSTANDING STUDIO FILM NOMINEES (Winner to be announced later) BOYS ON THE SIDE This film dealt in a matter-of-fact manner with Whoopi Goldberg's sexual identity and how it contributed to create a multi-dimensional character. CARRINGTON This film focuses on the unusual true-to-life relationship between painter Dora Carrington and gay writer Lytton Strachey, which lead the two into an ever-intricate web of sexual entanglements. HOME FOR THE HOLIDAYS Director Jodie Foster put together an ensemble cast which prominently featured gay brother Tommy and deals with issues of his coming out in both comedic and dramatic terms. TO WONG FOO, THANKS FOR EVERYTHING, JULIE NEWMAR Two drag queens and a "drag-queen-in-training" turn Middle America fabulously upside down in this film. -MORE- OUTSTANDING TELEVISION SERIES NOMINEES (Winner to be announced later) COURTHOUSE This CBS series broke new ground with and African-American lesbian judge shown in a loving relationship with her female life-partner and their daughter. FRIENDS A recipient of last year's GLAAD Media Award for comedy series, this hit NBC sitcom continued the story line of Ross' ex-wife Carol who raises a child with her partner Susan. NYPD BLUE In early 1995, the show introduced John, the gay receptionist, who later was a bias crime victim along with his cop boyfriend. This season also features the "coming out" of officer Adrienne Lesniak. PARTY OF FIVE Violin teacher Ross (Mitchell Anderson) "came out" in the Fox award-winning show's first season and served as a role model to his young students. The show scored a television first this past year with the character being the first gay man on television to adopt a child. SISTERS Nora Dunn of "Saturday Night Live" fame, continued her stint as Alex's lesbian friend who decides to have a child on her own. -MORE- The WINNERS of the 1996 GLAAD Media Awards are: OUTSTANDING INDEPENDENT FILM THE INCREDIBLY TRUE ADVENTURES OF TWO GIRLS IN LOVE An endearing tale of coming-of-age which touches on many issues gays and lesbians deal with when first "coming out." OUTSTANDING TELEVISION FILM SERVING IN SILENCE: THE MARGARETHE CAMMERMEYER STORY A multiple Emmy-winner which told Greta Cammermeyer's story with honesty and integrity. OUTSTANDING DAYTIME TELEVISION ALL MY CHILDREN The show continues to honestly portray gay history teacher Michael Delaney. OUTSTANDING FILM DOCUMENTARY BALLOT MEASURE 9 This film powerfully and deeply looks at the Oregon voters' initiative of 1992 that would have stripped gays and lesbians of basic civil rights. OUTSTANDING TELEVISION DOCUMENTARY THE QUESTION OF EQUALITY This four-part, very comprehensive PBS documentary of the lesbian and gay movement features rare footage of the landmark moments in our history. OUTSTANDING MAGAZINE GLAMOUR The magazine featured two award-worthy articles. In the October issue, Hannah Feldman shared memories from her childhood up to the present in My Lesbian Mom. Patricia O'Toole's The Contagion of Prejudice follows three women who fought against the anti-gay resolution in Cobb County, Georgia. OUTSTANDING ALBUM BOY GEORGE, "CHEAPNESS AND BEAUTY" After years of gender bending with Culture Club, Boy George seemed to fall into oblivion. With this release, he is back with a vengeance clearly and pointedly addressing homosexuality throughout this release. OUTSTANDING SONG JILL SOBULE, "I KISSED A GIRL" "I kissed a girl, her lips were sweet...I'm so glad I kissed a girl" sings Jill Sobule in this song which was on the lips of almost everyone in the spring of 1995. OUTSTANDING COMIC STRIP MAGGIE SAWYER, SPECIAL CRIMES UNIT A four-part series, Maggie Sawyer is the first by a major comic book publisher (DC Comics) to feature a heroine who is an out lesbian. The series follows Sawyer's exploits as Captain of the Metropolitan Special Crimes Unit as well as her personal life with her lover and her son. OUTSTANDING NEW YORK THEATER (To be presented in New York) A LANGUAGE OF THEIR OWN The depiction of the relationships between gay Caucasian and Asian males has been largely unexplored in any media. OUTSTANDING LOS ANGELES THEATER (To be presented in Los Angeles) END OF THE WORLD PARTY This distinguished play features excellent and witty writing focusing on real people, uniformly fine acting, exceptional directing and a superb set, easily establishing itself as the outstanding narrative lesbian or gay production in Los Angeles this year. SPECIAL AWARDS VANGUARD AWARD: SID SHEINBERG EXCELLENCE IN MEDIA AWARD: BARBARA WALTERS VITO RUSSO FILM AWARD: THE CELLULOID CLOSET SPECIAL AWARD: M.A.C. COSMETICS # # # ****************************************************************************** Gay & Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation (GLAAD) glaad@glaad.org http://www.glaad.org The Gay & Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation, GLAAD, is a national organization that promotes fair, accurate and inclusive representation of individuals and events in the media as a means of combatting homophobia and all forms of discrimination based on sexual orientation or identity. **************************************************************************** **