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 22nd 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.