An Honor To Be Nominated

To Be Nominated

I have always loved movies and television shows. Dramas, comedies, adventures. I simply loved seeing stories told on screen. That led to my fascination with Hollywood. I live for the glitz and glamor. And my guilty pleasure are award shows. I know we are not supposed to admit that, but I am not alone.

The Academy Awards, sometimes known as "the Oscars," on ABC, had approximately 20 million viewers in 2023, making it the awards event with the most viewers in the United States alone, according to statista.com. I tune in to the Golden Globes, Emmys, Grammys, and Oscars religiously every year.

To watch the actors, producers, directors, and yes, even writers, walk the red carpet as their elegant, best selves, then to realize the dream of walking onstage to receive their award and deliver their acceptance speech became a delight of mine, taking pleasure in the joy and accomplishments of others. It was something to fantasize about. The fantasy of the extravagant lives of others that could surely never happen to me.

I had my rst taste of the award ceremony allure in 2007 when I won my rst Charlie Awards — two second place and one third — bestowed by the Florida Magazine Association (FMA). I was hooked instantly. Over the years I have entered three di erent Florida journalism organization competitions and three national ones. In total, as a writer and publisher, I have earned 249 awards, including (in chronological order): Minority Business of the Year (for Sotomayor Media Creations LLC, the parent company of Embrace by the Ocala/Marion County Chamber of Commerce now known as the Chamber and Economic Partnership of Metro Ocala), Journalist of the Year, New Business of the Year (for Embrace Magazine by the Pride Chamber located in Orlando, Fla.), and Magazine of the Year, twice, by the FMA. I’m not going to lie, for me, the feeling of winning and walking to the podium while hearing the applause is intoxicating. Like my euphoric drug. Imagine my astonishment when I received the news on January 17, 2024, from the GLAAD Media Awards via an email, “We are pleased to inform you that the nominees for the 35th Annual GLAAD Media Awards have been announced and your project has been nominated. Congratulations!”

That was everything.

I have submitted entries to the GLAAD Media Awards before, the most visible and prestigious media awards for LGBTQ+ media be it lm, television, print medium or other, but never received a nomination. It seemed too lofty. Entries came from major media, from major cities. Not from a startup like mine, based out of smalltown Ocala, Fla. Then it happened. The email continued. “The GLAAD Media Awards ceremonies, which fund GLAAD’s work to accelerate LGBTQ acceptance, will be held in Los Angeles at the Beverly Hilton on Thursday, March 14, 2024, and in New York at the Hilton Midtown on Saturday, May 11, 2024.” This was an experience I never thought would happen to me, yet here it is!

I am nominated for Outstanding Print Article. My feature, “Heroism Overpowers Hate,” published in Embrace Magazine’s Heroes Issue in February 2023, chronicles how Rich Fierro, who is straight and an Army vet, and Thomas James, who is gay and a Navy vet, united together to take down the gunman at the LGBTQ+ nightclub, Club Q, in Colorado Springs, CO. Five people were killed and 17 others were wounded, but the quick-thinking heroic actions by Fierro and James prevented further loss. Their intervention, placing their own lives at risk, prevented numbers reaching those of the Pulse nightclub shooting in Orlando, Fla. where 49 people died and 53 were injured.

This is the greatest honor in my media career. My thanks to the GLAAD Media Awards, to all our contributors, my family, friends, and LGBTQ+ community and colleagues who support me; but most of all, to Rich Fierro who granted me the interview and allowed me to share his story.

My in-depth, deep-dive report reached the level it has in large part thanks to Rich Fierro, who did not hold back. I asked for more details, and he delivered.

Four criteria are used to evaluate the honorees: "Fair, Accurate and Inclusive Representations" of the LGBT community; "Boldness and Originality" of the project; significant "Cultural Impact" on mainstream culture; and "Overall Quality" of the project. The selection process involves over 700 volunteers and voters for the GLAAD Media Awards. After that, the "Review Panel" certifies the results and determines the nal recipient list using both their own "expert opinions" and the results of the vote.

The 35th GLAAD Media Awards will be presented by GLAAD in 2024. It will reward 2023 movies, TV series, video games, musicians, and journalistic projects that inclusively, honestly, and truthfully portray the LGBTQ+ community and topics that are important to the community.

On February 5, 2024, GLAAD Media Awards followed up with the announcement on which categories would be awarded at which date and venue. It turns out my category will be awarded on May 11, 2024, in my native New York City. I started my writing career in NYC. This will be a full-circle moment. If I win, it will be my 250th media-related award. That would be pretty cool.

I am headed to the GMAs. Me. As a nominee, not a guest or spectator. I cannot wait.

Win or not, it is an honor to be nominated.