Sean Hayes to Receive Stephen F. Kolzak Award at 30th Annual GLAAD Media Awards!

GLAAD will be honoring Sean Hayes with the Stephen F. Kolzak Award at the 30th Annual GLAAD Media Awards in Los Angeles.

GLAAD’s Stephen F. Kolzak Award is presented to a LGBTQ media professional who has made a significant difference in promoting LGBTQ acceptance. The award is named after a legendary casting director, who devoted his life to raising awareness in the entertainment industry about the discrimination faced by LGBTQ people as well as people living with HIV. Previous Stephen F. Kolzak honorees include Jim Parsons, Laverne Cox, Ellen DeGeneres, Troye Sivan, Ruby Rose, Chaz Bono, Wanda Sykes, Melissa Etheridge, Pedro Zamora, Robert Greenblatt, Paris Barclay and Sir Ian McKellen. Sean Hayes will be joined in Los Angeles by stage and screen stars including the cast of Queer Eye, Jameela Jamil (The Good Place), Imagine Dragons front man and LGBTQ ally Dan Reynolds, and Nico Santos (Crazy Rich Asians, Superstore).

“For many Americans, the TV character of Jack McFarland was one of the first out and proud gay men who they met and cheered for. Sean’s portrayal of Jack changed countless hearts and minds, and increased LGBTQ visibility at a time in history when representation and inclusion were low,” said GLAAD President and CEO Sarah Kate Ellis. “On screen and off screen, Sean uses his platforms to advance stories and messages that make the world laugh, make the world think, and further acceptance of all.”

Sean Hayes returned to his iconic role as Jack McFarland on NBC’s “Will & Grace,” which was revived on the network in 2017 after originating in 1998. The show has received an Emmy Award, six Emmy Award nominations, four Screen Actors Guild Awards, two TV Guide Awards, an American Comedy Award and seven Golden Globe nominations. 
Hayes starred in the 1998 LGBTQ fan favorite film Billy’s Hollywood Screen Kiss and also starred as a gay dad in the NBC sitcom Sean Saves the World. He has appeared on television projects including Scrubs, 30 Rock, as well as Martin & Lewis.
He married his partner Scott Icenogle in 2014 and the two produce videos on their YouTube Channel The Kitchen Sync. They performed a viral lip sync in response to the passage of marriage equality and also penned ‘Plum,’ a children’s book about the sugar plum fairy together. Hayes previously presented GLAAD’s Vanguard Award to LGBTQ ally Kristin Chenoweth at the 22^nd Annual GLAAD Media Awards. He recently worked with GLAAD to promote the Together Movement, calling on marginalized communities to support and take part in LGBTQ Pride Month. He also has participated in Spirit Day alongside the cast of Will & Grace by sending video messages of support of LGBTQ youth.