The award is presented to an out media professional who has made a significant difference in promoting equality.
Previous Vito Russo Award honorees include Anderson Cooper, Ricky Martin, Rosie O'Donnell, Alan Cumming, Cynthia Nixon, Nathan Lane, Cherry Jones, Elton John, k.d. lang, and Tom Ford.
The award was presented to Takei by Broadway director Stafford Arima who is directing Allegiance, a new Broadway musical starring Takei, Telly Leung, and Lea Salonga.
One degree of separation here - I'm staging a production of A Chorus Line with Stafford Arima next month in Sacramento :)
In his acceptance speech Takei said: "I am so glad to be with all you GLAAD people to receive this important recognition. The Vito Russo Award is charged with meaning and potency.
"In the twenty-five years since its founding, GLAAD has dramatically changed American society for gays, lesbians, bisexuals and transgender people. I know, because as a closeted kid growing up in Los Angeles… all I saw of gays and lesbians in movies and television or heard on radio were caricatures of people who were mocked and laughed at, or pitied, or hated.
"The media stripped us of all humanity and made us into pathetic stereotypes. The media then was a soul-crushing monster.
"GLAAD took on this formidable beast with its media savvy, political acumen and the power of its advocacy and transformed the media into a powerful force for change. GLAAD inspired and galvanized others into action to join with in the great 21st century civil rights movement."
Inspired by The Ellen DeGeneres Show. From the GLAAD Media Awards with Kylie Minogue, Kacey Musgraves and Team Al... pic.twitter.com/TT2S1DDULC
— George Takei (@GeorgeTakei) May 4, 2014
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