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 The stars were shining in Hollywood Saturday night, Hollywood, Florida, that is! South Florida played host to the 19th Annual GLAAD Media Awards, honoring Latino media personalities for their work in supporting and promoting causes of the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender community (LGBT).
 Jai Rodriguez, Teresa Rodriguez, Ivy Queen and Frank Cairo were among the guests who joined the Gay & Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation (GLAAD) as it honored actor Wilson Cruz and the best in Spanish-language media April 12th at the 19th Annual GLAAD Media Awards in South Florida.
The GLAAD Media Awards recognize and honor media for their fair, accurate and inclusive representations of the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) community and the issues that affect their lives. GLAAD Media Award nominees were published, released or broadcast between January 1, 2007 and December 31, 2007.
 At the ceremony held at the Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino in Hollywood, Fla., Jai Rodriguez, host of Groomer Has It, presented Wilson Cruz with GLAAD's Visibilidad Award, honoring openly lesbian, gay, bisexual or transgender media professionals who have made a significant difference in promoting equal rights for our community.
In an exclusive interview with Gaysofla.com, the openly gay Latino actor told Geo Bustamante, the online magazine’s associate editor, that the honor of being recognized with the Visibilidad Award was overwhelming.
 “What makes it even more meaningful to me is that I get to receive this award for my visibility in the Latino community, which is incredibly important to me. It’s an opportunity for me to celebrate both parts of my identity,” Wilson explained. “I have great respect for GLAAD and all they do
Miami music impresario Joe Granda presented reggaeton star, Ivy Queen, with a Special Recognition Award. Ivy is the first reggaeton singer to openly support and acknowledge the gay community in her shows and with her presence in gay events. Being one of the few female artists in the reggaeton genre, Queen is commonly referred to as “La Reina del Reggaeton” (The Queen of Reggaeton).
 During her acceptance, Ivy Queen spoke of her many gay friends and fans. “Most of them are still trapped in the closet and they ask me for advice. First I say, ‘I got your back. I love you. I always love you, no matter how you look, who you are, who you love.”
Also at the ceremony, Christine Chavez, granddaughter of Cesar Chavez, presented a Special Recognition Award to The Intelligence Report, a publication of the Southern Poverty Law Center. Editor in Chief Mark Potok and staff writer Casey Sanchez accepted the award.
 In his speech Potok called attention to the biased coverage of the LGBT community often found in the media, stating, “It is that kind of incredible prejudice that is so common in the media and that really is making this world a worse place.”
 Comedian and singer Jade Esteban Estrada hosted the event, and platinum selling R&B singer Deborah Cox performed four songs. Other guests and presenters included: Craig Stevens (WSVN-TV); Pablo Portillo, Alonso Espeleta (Pecados Ajenos); Derek Hartley (Sirius OUTQ); Judge David Young; Gremys Jardines, (In Fraganti); DJ Abel; Gilberto Reyes, Miguel González (WXDJ-95.7 FM); Ileana García (WRMA-106.7 FM); and Dan Renzi (The Real World: Miami).
Click here to view Gaysofla.com’s GLAAD Photo Galleries
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