The 32nd annual GLAAD Media Awards haven’t started but winners are already claiming their prize.
Rapper and songwriter Chika was named this year’s winner for Outstanding Breakthrough Music Artist — for her album “Industry Games” — in a Twitter announcement on Thursday. In a humorous acceptance speech, which was included in the Tweet, Chika said, “What can I say? I deserve it. I work hard. Me, and only me,” before thanking her “mom and dad, my girl, all that good stuff.”
@oranicuhh just won a GLAAD Award 🏆 congratulations 🥳 https://t.co/nexHIxIxPT
— Chika’s World (@ChikasWorld1) April 8, 2021
Other winners (so far) include Talibah Newman, whose film “Stop Killing Us: Black Transgender Women’s Lived Experiences” took the prize for Outstanding Online Journalism — Video or Multimedia, and the late Monica Roberts, whose blog, “Transgriot” snagged best prize in that category.
The #GLAADawards for Outstanding Online Journalism – Video or Multimedia goes to…
“Stop Killing Us: Black Transgender Women’s Lived Experiences” @Complex @TalibahLNewman pic.twitter.com/AZ9RWQeXNl
— GLAAD (@glaad) April 8, 2021
The awards go virtual tonight in a star-studded ceremony hosted by Niecy Nash. Performers include Chika, Rebecca Stone, and Nash’s wife Jessica Betts. There will also be appearances by Clea Duvall, Ashlyn Harris and Ali Krieger, Gigi Gorgeous Getty and Nats Getty, Lilly Singh, and Demi Lovato. The cast of “Glee” will unite to pay tribute to Naya Rivera, who played out character Santana on the show; Rivera died tragically last summer.
The GLAAD awards honor media for inclusive representations of the LGBTQ+ community. In a statement to the press, GLAAD President and CEO Sarah Kate Ellis said that, “During an unprecedented year of crises and isolation, the nominees for the 32nd Annual GLAAD Media Awards reached LGBTQ people with powerful stories and inspired countless others around the world with bold looks at LGBTQ people and issues.”
The ceremony streams on GLAAD’s YouTube on 4/8 at 8 p.m. E.T, followed by an encore presentation on Hulu (which will be available through the end of June). A full list of nominees is available here.
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