“Being here means so much to me, especially right now when the LGBTQ community is facing so many challenges,” Demi Lovato told Vogue on Thursday evening. Backstage ahead of the 37th annual GLAAD Media Awards, the star was readying to both perform and present. “This is my community. For me, it’s about showing up and celebrating the progress we’ve made—while also recognizing there’s still work to do.”
Every year, GLAAD—the world’s largest lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer media advocacy organization—hosts a glitzy bash to honor fair, accurate, and inclusive representation in film, television, gaming, music, podcasting and journalism. A longtime advocate, the chance to be involved in the occasion once more was one that Lovato jumped at: “Spaces like this remind us that our stories matter and that our voices deserve to be heard and celebrated, GLAAD has always been about visibility and truth in storytelling, and that’s incredibly powerful,” the Magda Butrym-clad chart-topper said.
This year’s ceremony, hosted by Mean Girls actor Jonathan Bennett at the Beverly Hilton, recognized 291 nominees across 32 categories. Lovato kicked things off with a crowd-pleasing and sultry performance of Kiss from her latest album It’s Not That Deep; which set the tone for an electric evening filled with humor, camaraderie, and impassioned speeches focused on cultural change.
Unsurprisingly, the global phenomenon that is Heated Rivalry was in the spotlight. It was also, far and away, the most referenced pop culture moment during the ceremony—with no shortage of nods to the show’s infamous cottage episode. Cast members Connor Storrie, François Arnaud, Robbie G.K., Christina Chang, and Nadine Bhabha reunited on stage to accept the trophy for best new TV series, alongside co-creator Brendan Brady and Jacob Tierney, the show’s creator, writer and director.
“The global reach of the show still surprises me,” Robbie G.K., who plays Kip, told Vogue. “Being from Canada and having worked there my entire life, I understand when things are a big deal at home, but everyday, I’m learning that more people in different countries are watching. It’s crazy, and it’s been hugely fulfilling. I hope fans will learn from my character that being patient with the people that you care about is very important. Try to meet them where they are at. But also, having respect for yourself and knowing your self worth is just as important.”
Lovato returned to the podium later on to present Bowen Yang and Matt Rogers, co-hosts of the popular podcast Las Culturistas, with the Stephen F. Kolzak Award. “They came together as closeted comedy nerds when they were students at NYU. Since then, these two besties have grown into creative powerhouses at the cornerstones of pop culture,” she praised.
Stranger Things star Noah Schnapp received rapturous applause when he accepted the outstanding television drama series award—recognizing his character Will Byers’s emotional struggles with his sexuality. “To anyone out there who has ever felt they didn’t belong or weren’t loved; there’s nothing wrong with you and you’re not behind,” he said. “You’re exactly where you’re supposed to be. You’re exactly the person that you were meant to become—be proud of every piece of yourself cause there’s no one else in the world that can be you.”