[Picture: Cynthia Erivo/Instagram]
Cynthia Erivo, star of the musical Wicked, will receive the prestigious Stephen F. Kolzak Award at the 36th Annual GLAAD Media Awards, set to take place in Los Angeles on March 27. The award, presented by the LGBTQ+ media advocacy organisation GLAAD, recognises an individual from the LGBTQ community who has played a significant role in promoting acceptance and visibility for LGBTQ individuals and issues.
Erivo is also in the spotlight for her nomination for the Academy Award for Best Actress, which she garnered for her portrayal of Elphaba in Wicked. During the GLAAD ceremony, she is scheduled to perform alongside her co-star, Ariana Grande, who is nominated for Best Supporting Actress for her role in the same production.
The Stephen F. Kolzak Award is named after the late casting director Stephen F. Kolzak, who dedicated his later years to fighting against homophobia and HIV stigma within the entertainment industry. Previous laureates of the award include notable figures such as Niecy Nash-Betts, Laverne Cox, and Ellen DeGeneres, each of whom has made significant contributions to LGBTQ representation in media.
In a statement announcing the honour, GLAAD’s President and CEO, Sarah Kate Ellis, highlighted Erivo’s influential role: “From an outspoken ally to a trailblazing member of the community, Cynthia Erivo’s one-of-a-kind voice has been an integral part of accelerating acceptance for LGBTQ people since she came on the scene over a decade ago… She continues to show up for Black, queer, and other marginalized peoples amid her well-deserved success.”
The GLAAD Media Awards celebrate outstanding representations of LGBTQ individuals across various media platforms and support GLAAD’s ongoing initiatives to foster acceptance and inclusivity. This year’s ceremony will be produced by Ellis, alongside Rich Ferraro and Anthony Allen Ramos. Tony Morrison will serve as supervising producer, while Jose Useche takes on producer responsibilities, in partnership with STAMP Event Co.
Source: Noah Wire Services
- https://glaad.org/releases/glaad-announces-cynthia-erivo-to-be-honored-at-36th-glaad-media-awards-in-los-angeles-on-march-27th/ – This URL corroborates Cynthia Erivo receiving the Stephen F. Kolzak Award at the 36th Annual GLAAD Media Awards in Los Angeles on March 27. It also provides details about the award and Erivo’s contributions to LGBTQ visibility.
- https://www.out.com/media/cynthia-erivo-glaad-award-2025 – This URL supports the information about Cynthia Erivo being honored with the Stephen F. Kolzak Award for raising visibility and promoting acceptance of LGBTQ people.
- https://www.amnewscurtainraiser.com/2025/02/cynthia-erivo-to-receive-stephen-f.html – This URL confirms that Cynthia Erivo will receive the Stephen F. Kolzak Award at the 36th Annual GLAAD Media Awards, highlighting her impact on LGBTQ representation.
- https://www.glaad.org/ – This URL provides additional information about GLAAD and its initiatives, including the GLAAD Media Awards, which celebrate LGBTQ representation across media platforms.
Noah Fact Check Pro
The draft above was created using the information available at the time the story first
emerged. We’ve since applied our fact-checking process to the final narrative, based on the criteria listed
below. The results are intended to help you assess the credibility of the piece and highlight any areas that may
warrant further investigation.
Freshness check
Score:
10
Notes:
The narrative is current, referencing an upcoming event in March 2025 and recent Academy Award nominations.
Quotes check
Score:
8
Notes:
The quote from Sarah Kate Ellis is attributed but lacks an earliest known reference online. It appears original to this context.
Source reliability
Score:
6
Notes:
The narrative originates from a lesser-known publication, The Pride LA, which may not be as widely recognized as major news outlets.
Plausability check
Score:
9
Notes:
The claims are plausible, aligning with GLAAD’s mission and previous award recipients. However, specific details about the ceremony’s production team could be verified further.
Overall assessment
Verdict (FAIL, OPEN, PASS): OPEN
Confidence (LOW, MEDIUM, HIGH): MEDIUM
Summary:
The narrative appears fresh and plausible, but its reliability is somewhat uncertain due to the source. The quote’s originality is noted, but lacks external verification.
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