The 34th annual GLAAD Media Awards in New York served as a show of solidarity for the ongoing Writers Guild of America strike on Saturday night when Jon Stewart, fire island Star author Joel Kim Booster, GLAAD CEO Sarah Kate Ellis and White House Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre delivered messages of support before and during the show.
Stewart, who won Best Variety or Talk Show Episode with Apple TV+ The problem with Jon StewartHe was among the first winners of the night to make a statement. The writer, producer and actor did not show up during the show to accept his award, but Alex Schmider, GLAAD’s director of transgender advocacy, took the stage to accept it on Stewart’s behalf.
Jon is a member of the WGA. Otherwise he would be here,” said Schmider. “GLAAD naturally stands with Jon and all of the WGA writers. Fair pay, fair working conditions and representation of queer people in writing rooms are urgent and necessary issues facing this industry.”
The statement was met with loud applause, as were many other expressions of solidarity during the nearly three-hour event at the Hilton Midtown. Before Stewart’s testimony, show host and What we do in the shadows Star Harvey Guillén issued a statement on behalf of GLAAD, clarifying that the event was “not a WGA show.”
“This is a fundraiser for GLAAD, a non-profit organization that is funded by your donations,” he continued. “But we stand in solidarity with the Guild’s writers, particularly those who bring LGBTQ shows and characters to the airwaves.”
Later in the evening, White House Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre took a moment in her speech, which broadly aimed to raise the importance of LGBTQ representation across all industries and support for the country’s trans youth discuss to indicate the importance of showing support for writers.
“I want to say something really important. Nights like this are reminders of stories and the importance of treating storytellers with dignity, respect and the worth they deserve. I sincerely hope that the writers’ strike is resolved and the writers get the fair deal they deserve as soon as possible.”
She added, “We need all writers and workers and everyone involved to tell the stories of our nation and the stories of all of us.”
In accepting the award for Best Streaming/TV Movie on behalf of the fire island Actor, author and star Joel Kim Booster shared that he’s “so proud to be a member of the Writers Guild of America,” to a thunderous round of applause before adding that writing isn’t “just a hobby, it’s life-changing.” be for me.”
“I hope that you will stand in solidarity with us as we move forward,” he continued. “Work issues are queer issues.”
On the red carpet of the event fire island Director Andrew Ahn also showed his support for the WGA strike and boosters, according to the statement The Hollywood Reporter that the walkout is about finding ways to support marginalized voices that “were hit first, so let’s find a way to prevent that.”
“I think America is built on capitalism and systemic racism, and I think the writers’ strike is trying to make it about artists and people, about creating a livelihood so we can thrive and thrive, and not just about that “It’s about dollars and cents,” he said. “So for me I’m not part of the WGA, but I think it’s so important that we support the WGA. WGA strong for me.”
Bob the drag queen offered a long-term perspective ahead of her stellar win on the reality series Were hereHe said: “It’s one of those things where people might take a pay cut now or lose money, but in the long run we’re going to benefit and that’s really important.”
Before a stirring speech that addressed The New York Times Reporting on the trans community and Bob Iger and Disney’s ongoing battle with the Florida governor. Ron DeSantis, CEO and President of GLAAD Sarah Kate Ellis also spoke The Hollywood Reporter about the importance of the strike for LGBTQ writers and stories.
“Until we all have a fair and equal seat at the table, we need to see more,” she explained. “Hollywood is always looking for the next great story – the new way of telling a story – and yet stays with the same, the same. These people bring new stories and new ways of telling stories, and I think an industry would invite that, not exclude it.”
The evening saw various artists from the Hollywood writing community trying to raise awareness of the WGA strike. While Stewart drew attention to himself by his absence, fire islandsaid Matt Rogers thr While standing at a picket line on the second day of the strike in New York, he said the decision to multiple disconnects with other platforms that do not conflict with WGA strike rules was “a delicate move”.
But that he at least wanted to use platforms like the GLAAD Awards to speak on behalf of other writers. “I think if you can be somewhere that you can use your platform to push our agenda here and get everyone to listen to what we need, then that’s fine,” he said.
And just like that… Star and executive producer Cynthia Nixon agreed. “I definitely feel like I’m going to be making statements of support for writers everywhere and everywhere I go,” she said thr Before sharing that, she planned to interview HBO Max series writer Samantha Irby at Symphony Space and talk about the strike.
The WGA shutdown — the second in 15 years — began May 2 after the Guild and the Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers failed to reach agreement on a new contract by May 1. Topics on the table include pay rises, staffing minimums, AI, remaining balances and shorter exclusivity deals.
The 2023 GLAAD Media Awards in New York honored Maren Morris and Jonathan Van Ness with special awards and featured a performance by Idina Menzel singing her new single “Move”.
