BEVERLY HILLS, Calif. (AP) 鈥� The 34th GLAAD Media Awards featured a surprise Jennifer Coolidge appearance, honors for Bad Bunny and Christina Aguilera and, of course, jokes about 鈥� the news of which broke just hours before Thursday's show.
Coolidge was greeted with a standing ovation as she opened the show at the Beverly Hilton in Beverly Hills, California. The was later surprised herself when her 鈥淏est in Show鈥� co-star appeared onstage beside her.
The GLAAD Media Awards show, intended to honor 鈥渇air, accurate and inclusive representation of LGBTQ individuals and issues," will land on Hulu on April 12. The host, comedian Margaret Cho, cheered the former president's indictment.
鈥淲hat a wonderful way to celebrate that," Cho said on the red carpet before the event. "I think it鈥檚 just so incredible. I never thought I would see it happen. I鈥檓 so glad, too. And I can鈥檛 wait to see how it goes down.鈥�
Christina Aguilera was presented with the Advocate for Change award by Club Q survivor Michael Anderson, a bartender at the popular Colorado Springs nightclub the night of the He later made headlines after quoting Aguilera鈥檚 lyrics before the U.S. House Oversight Committee on violence against the LGBTQ+ community.
On Thursday, Anderson quoted Aguilera鈥檚 lyrics once again during his introduction of the pop star.
The show also paid tribute to with a performance from country music star Orville Peck. Peck鈥檚 performance was introduced by actor Cheyenne Jackson, who reminisced about Jordan鈥檚 time on the set of 鈥淎merican Horror Story.鈥�
Cheers erupted when Ricky Martin took the stage to present with the Vanguard Award for his LGBTQ+ allyship. The reggaeton artist asked the crowd in English if he could give his acceptance speech in Spanish, which was met with an enthusiastic 鈥測es鈥� from the crowd.
Bad Bunny thanked the LGBTQ+ community for embracing and inspiring him.
鈥淚 believe that following my heart is what has led me to where I am, and following my heart is what has led me to be here receiving this award, being surrounded by so many beautiful people,鈥� he said in Spanish.
Gabrielle Union presented her with the Stephen F. Kolzak award for promoting LGBTQ+ visibility and acceptance.
鈥淚 played Jeremy鈥檚 mom in the movie, and we developed an incredibly close bond,鈥� Union said. 鈥淎nd, you know, I know a little something about raising a Black queer child in this world and all I wanted to do was advocate for Jeremy in every way that I could. I mean, his undeniable talents, his innocence, his peace, his peace and his very soul. I wanted to protect it."
Leslie Ambriz, The Associated Press
