Lesbian financial wizard Suze Orman accepted the GLAAD Media Award's Vito Russo Award at the Marriott Marquis in New York City Sunday to a wave of support, whoops and hollers. And she managed to get a few barbs in about where the lesbian and gay community spends its dollars.
Responding to her win for the Vito Russo Award, which is handed out to an openly gay or lesbian media figure for outstanding contributions toward eliminating homophobia, Orman said, "I was never in the closet!"
But Orman also put her two cents in about where the LGBT community spends its money, according to
Towleroad.
"I want every single one of you in this room to take note of what corporations put their time and money behind gays, behind lesbians - behind you," Orman said. "Do you want to continue to give your money to people in corporations that oppress us, that keep us down? Or do you want to give your money to the corporations who can help us rise and change what needs to be changed in the United States of America today?"
Orman also thanked her partner Kathy Travis, whom she referred to as, "the love of my life."
GLAAD also honored talk show host and America's Next Top Model mastermind Tyra Banks, according to
Advocate.com."You embraced me and now I embrace you in front of millions to show how beautiful you are, how absolutely amazing you are, how giving you are. And I will continue to do that as long as I have a platform. I will continue to get the message out about gays, lesbians, bisexuals and transgender people."
Stand-up comic Kate Clinton hosted the event, which also honored Keith Olbermann with an award for outstanding television journalism for his "special comment" on Prop. 8 on his MSNBC show.
GLAAD Media Awards will also host ceremonies in Los Angeles on April 18 and in San Francisco on May 9.
