Jennifer Hudson Wins, Jennifer Lawrence Throws Shade at GLAAD Media Awards

Variety reports that "The Jennifer Hudson Show," "Rustin" and "Red White & Royal Blue" earned top prizes at the New York GLAAD Media Awards, which this year celebrates the 35th year of the annual awards show in two ceremonies months apart.

The awards were presented Saturday night at the Hilton Midtown in New York City. The show was hosted by television personality Ross Mathews.

The awards were divided into two ceremonies. An earlier one in Los Angeles was held on March 14.

Nor were the awards without political incident. Billboard writes: "A small group of protestors accusing Israel of genocide against the Palestinian people picketed outside the hotel's entrance during the 35th annual GLAAD Media Awards; more notably, at the top of the show itself, one attendee interrupted the opening monologue by host Ross Mathews to repeatedly declare "GLAAD is complicit in genocide" before being escorted out. "That was uncomfy for everybody," Mathews said after a pause. "But you know what? We have to fight for everyone's rights – and that's one of them."

Amongst the winners on Saturday are Jennifer Hudson, who received the excellence in media award, and Orville Peck, who was honored with the Vito Russo award presented by Jennifer Lawrence.

The Oscar-winner also took the moment to shade a former Trump administration official known for their homophobic views. "I love seeing so many humans who can top their field while still being power bottoms," Lawrence cracked. Talking about her love for the gay community, Lawrence said she once fell in love with a gay man, but soon realized her advances were for naught. "Conversion therapy doesn't work," she said. "Did you hear me, Mike Pence? I said conversion therapy is not real – even though you think it worked on you."

"Accepting the award," Billboard writes, "Peck talked about being a singer-songwriter in a genre that's not always been the most open to the LGBTQ community. 'I'm one of many of us here who have felt excluded or held back because of who we are,' Peck said, adding that queer people nevertheless manage to 'turn tragedy into art, humor and culture.' Peck also spoke on the 'responsibility for visibility"' when it comes to all minority communities and what it means to the next generation 'to allow some kid in a small town who loves country music to see themselves in me or Mickey Guyton or T.J. Osborne.'

The night featured special performances from Loren Allred and Scott Hoying and presenters including Uma Thurman, Beanie Feldstein, Don Lemon and the cast of "We're Here."

The Hollywood Reporter writes amongst the winners at the May 11/New York ceremony included "Red, White & Royal Blue," "The Last of Us," "Rustin," "Heartstopper" and Bowen Yang and Matt Rogers' "Las Culturistas" podcast were among the projects recognized at the 35th annual awards show, which honors media for fair, accurate and inclusive representations of LGBTQ people and issues.

At the earlier ceremony, THR reported, Showtime's steamy political drama "Fellow Travelers" starring Matt Bomer and Jonathan Bailey from creator Ron Nyswaner took the top prize as outstanding limited or anthology series. The Apple TV+ series "Ted Lasso," which introduced a gay soccer star this past season, bested the competition in the outstanding comedy series category. The Trace Lysette-starrer "Monica" from IFC Films was honored as outstanding film in limited release, and Showtime's "Yellowjackets" won for outstanding drama series. Perennial Emmy favorite "RuPaul's Drag Race "also picked up yet another GLAAD Award for outstanding reality competition program. Rising music star Reneé Rapp also went home a winner thanks to picking up the trophy for outstanding music artist presented by rock icon Billie Joe Armstrong of Green Day. In addition, Oprah Winfrey took home a Vanguard Award presented by Chilli Pepper and Paolo Presta, and Niecy Nash-Betts was honored with a Stephen F. Kolzak Award for LGBTQ visibility from pal Sharon Stone.

According to the GLAAD Media Awards website, the honorees are "those in the media who have shown exemplary achievements for fair, accurate, and inclusive representation of the LGBTQ community and the issues that affect our lives, the 35th Annual GLAAD Media Awards promises to deliver a sparkly mix of red carpet arrivals, iconic main stage moments, and an impactful message that demonstrates the value of representation and inclusion of LGBTQ people within all forms of media.

"Since its inception in 1990, the GLAAD Media Awards have grown to be the most visible annual LGBTQ awards show in the world, sending powerful messages of acceptance to audiences globally."

Below are the winners from the second ceremony:

A full list of winners announced at the New York ceremony follows.

Outstanding TV Journalism – Long-Form: "Our America: Who I'm Meant to Be "– Episode 3
Outstanding Variety or Talk Show Episode: "The Jennifer Hudson Show," "Jennifer Hudson Surprises HIV Activist with $10,000"
Outstanding Broadway Production: "Melissa Etheridge: My Window"
Outstanding Reality Program: "Family Karma"
Queer Fan Favorite: "Red, White & Royal Blue"
Outstanding Podcast: "Las Culturistas" (iHeart)
Outstanding Film – Streaming Or TV: "Rustin" (Netflix)
Outstanding Documentary: "Beyond the Aggressives: 25 Years Later" (MTV Documentary Films), "Kokomo City" (Magnolia Pictures) and "The Stroll"m(HBO | Max Documentary Films)
Outstanding New Series: "The Last of Us" (HBO)
Outstanding Kids & Family Programming or Film – Live Action: "Heartstopper" (Netflix)
Outstanding TV Journalism Segment: "New York City Gay Bar Deaths Classified as Homicides" (NBC News Now)
Outstanding Live TV Journalism – Segment or Special: "Indiana Students Put on LGBTQ-Themed Play Themselves After it's Canceled By the School" Yasmin Vossoughian Reports (MSNBC)
Outstanding Print Article: "As Drag Bans Proliferate, Maren Morris Goes Deep With Drag's Biggest Stars on Why the Show Must Go On" by Stephen Daw (Billboard)
Outstanding Online Journalism Article: "The AP Interview: Pope Francis Says Homosexuality Not a Crime" by Nicole Winfield (AP.com)
Outstanding Online Journalism – Video or Multimedia: "7 Remarkable Trans Elders Share Lessons for the Next Generation" (them.us)
Outstanding Blog: Erin Reed – "Erin in the Morning"
Spanish Language – Outstanding Online Journalism Article: "Personas mayores LGBTQIA+ 'tienen que regresar a un clóset para poder buscar vivienda'" por David Cordero Mercado y Joaquín A. Rosado Lebrón (PeriodismoInvestigativo.com and ElNuevoDia.com)
Spanish Language – Outstanding Online Journalism – Video or Multimedia: "Conoce a la primera diputada negra y trans de Brasil" por Natalia Barrera Francis, Joyce García, David von Blohn, Paula Daibert y Claudia Escobar (Descoloniza – AJ+ Español)
GLAAD previously announced Special Recognition awards for The Dads (Netflix), Love in Gravity, Relighting Candles (Hulu), Renaissance: A Film by Beyonce (AMC Theatres), The Tennessee Holler, Yes I Am: The Ric Weiland Story, Drag Latina (Revry / LATV), Enamorándonos (UniMás), El sabor de la navidad (ViX) and Wendy, perdida pero famosa (ViX). GLAAD also previously announced that +Life Media received the Barbara Gittings Award for Excellence in LGBTQ Media