Singer Taylor Swift made an unexpected
appearance during Saturday's 27th annual GLAAD Media
Awards to present Ruby Rose with the group's Stephen F. Kolzak Award,
which is presented to an openly lesbian, gay, bisexual or transgender
media professional who has made a significant difference in promoting
equality.
“She tells the world that no one can
judge us and no one can stop us,” Swift said in presenting Rose.
“She is a woman with many talents.”
Rose, a 30-year-old Australian model
and former MTV VJ, currently co-stars on Netflix's Orange is the
New Black.
She told the AP on the red carpet that
she felt as if she should be honoring GLAAD.
“You know, for helping people like me
when I was young,” she said. “At twelve I came out. I couldn't
see anybody on the screen that was anything like me. I couldn't find
anyone gay. It was before the L Word. It was before I could
relate. And I felt so alone and I thought I was the only gay person
in the world. And so because of GLAAD, there were more people on the
screen that represented me.”
“We have gone so far forward, and we
have a long way to go, but we are definitely getting there. And
tonight means that I'm doing something right,” she added.
Singer
Demi Lovato was also honored at Saturday's event, while Caitlyn
Jenner and Jazz Jennings shared an award, and director
Lilly Wachowski made her first public appearance.
Logo on Monday will broadcast a
one-hour special on Saturday's event.