The award goes
to an LGBTQ+ professional who has made a difference in promoting queer
acceptance, according to a press release. It’s named after the legendary
casting director who worked during his career to bring awareness to the
discrimination faced by LGBTQ+ people and those living with HIV.
Previous
Stephen F. Kolzak award winners include Laverne Cox, Jim Parsons, Wanda Sykes,
Troye Sivan, Ruby Rose, Chaz Bono, Stephen Warren, Melissa Etheridge, and Sir
Ian McKellen.
In its
announcement, GLAAD said, “A Black and Latinx trans woman, who with her
critical acclaim and visibility alone has moved the needle for acceptance,
Rodriguez stands boldly in the many intersections of her identity.”
Rodriguez is
best known for her critically acclaimed performance as Blanca Evangelista in
FX’s Pose. Portraying the young house mother living with HIV
earned Rodriguez a Golden Globe and an Emmy nomination. She is the first trans
woman to win a Golden Globe and the first to be nominated for an Emmy in a
leading or supporting acting category.
Before her
time on Pose, Rodriguez worked in theater and in Off-Broadway
productions at the New Ohio Theatre, New World Stages, and Encores! Off Center.
The Pose star
was named The Advocate’s Person of the Year 2021 for her
history-making, trailblazing career.
“Michaela Jaé
Rodriguez is an undeniable talent who is changing the way audiences understand
trans people while breaking down barriers for the trans community and LGBTQ
people of color within the entertainment industry,” said GLAAD president and
CEO Sarah Kate Ellis. “Her performance as Blanca on Pose was
one of the most important and impactful roles in the history of LGBTQ
representation on television, and she continues to spearhead the future of
trans visibility and inclusion in entertainment through her talent on screen,
in music, and as a passionate activist.”
Last month,
GLAAD announced 246 nominees in 30 categories for the 33rd Annual GLAAD Media
Awards. A full list of nominees can be found here.
SOURCE: ADVOCATE
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