Mariah stuns at GLAAD Media Awards. Honored with Ally Award.
Carey is receiving the LGBT media organization's Ally Award, which is presented to "a media figure who has consistently used their platform to support and advance LGBT equality and acceptance." Previous GLAAD Media Award honorees include Janet Jackson, Cher, Russell Simmons, Elizabeth Taylor and Patti LaBelle.
She is quoted in 1997 talking about "Outside," a song she wrote about being biracial, and mentioning how she has heard from fans in the gay community that it has been a song that resonates with them and she wrote it for all people who don't feel like they fit in, including her LGBT friends and family. A big part of her Rainbow tour in 2000 was bringing out her longtime make-up artist, Kristopher Buckle, who is openly gay and was dressed in drag and to show her mainstream audience that she accepts and loves him (and flash forward to 2009 when the country was still against gay marriage and Mariah did a speech about her support in Vegas and then brought a same sex couple on stage for a super sweet proposal -- this was during a time the country was still passing, quite often, same sex marriage bans). And FINALLY, since the BEGINNING of her career, Mariah often tells the story of a gay couple that housed her and her family when she was growing up, and how they were the staple to her for what a relationship should be. She said it was the most stable environment she had ever been in, and the most loving relationship she had ever seen. Mariah has ALWAYS stood up for the LGBT community, and has dedicated songs such as "Hero," and "Outside," and "I am Free" to her gay fans. She performed in 2005 for the Elton John AIDS Foundation in Paris, performed for the Human Rights Campaign, participated in LOGO and GLAAD events. She has always been a supporter. Read her Advocate article from 5 or so years back -- she says some pretty profound things and is really supportive.
