The 36th GLAAD Media Awards now have a host.
Shrinking star Michael Urie has been tapped to host the Los Angeles awards event on March 27. And he said he’s “honored” to get the gig. “Our queer siblings across the country who are being unfairly persecuted and villainized deserve a night that reminds them that they’re not alone,” said the multi-hyphenate talent. “Media is one of the strongest tools we have to fight against stereotypes and hate. I am inspired by the power that art and media can have on society and proud to honor and celebrate our nominees.”
Urie will be joined at the event by a list of confirmed attendees including Maren Morris, Jay Shetty, Doechii, Cooper Koch, Nava Mau, Abby Wambach, Glennon Doyle, Rodrigo Reyes, Racquel Chevremont, Brandon Scott Jones, Jonathan Bennett, viral “holding space” journalist Tracy E. Gilchrist, the cast of RuPaul’s Drag Race, Khalen Saunders and more. As previously announced, Wicked star Cynthia Erivo will receive the Stephen F. Kolzak Award for “raising visibility and promoting acceptance of LGBTQ people and issues.”
Urie had a breakout turn on ABC’s Ugly Betty and went on to appear on Modern Family, The Good Wife, The Good Fight, Younger, Workaholics and Hot In Cleveland among other projects. He currently stars on Shrinking opposite Jason Segel, Harrison Ford, Jessica Williams and Christa Miller. On the big screen, he’s been seen in Goodrich, Swan Song, Summoning Sylvia, Single All The Way and Bradley Cooper’s Maestro.
On stage, he recently starred opposite Sutton Foster on Broadway’s Once Upon A Mattress. Other stage credits include Spamalot, Jane Anger, Chicken and Biscuits, Buyer & Cellar, Torch Song, Grand Horizons and How To Succeed In Business Without Really Trying. Urie is co-founder of NYC’s Pride Plays, which celebrates and elevates LGBTQIA+ voices in the theater, and he’s directed multiple projects for the screen. The Juilliard-trained talent recently teamed with former co-star Becki Newton to launch Still Ugly, an Ugly Betty re-watch podcast, which premiered on Feb. 19.
GLAAD president and CEO Sarah Kate Ellis is executive producing the 36th GLAAD Media Awards with GLAAD’s Rich Ferraro and Anthony Allen Ramos, while the org’s Tony Morrison is serving as supervising producer and Jose Useche is producing. The ceremony is produced in partnership with STAMP Event Co. The 36th GLAAD Media Awards are supported by Hyundai, Hornitos Tequila, Gilead Sciences and Delta Air Lines.
The full list of this year’s nominees can be found here.