GLSEN, the leading national non-profit organization working to create safe and inclusive learning and school experiences for LGBTQ+ youth, is thrilled to announce that Antoni Porowski will host this year's Respect Awards.
The virtual event will honor outgoing GLSEN Executive Director Eliza Byard for her 20 years of service to the organization, celebrating the accomplishments made during her tenure and look towards the future of GLSEN.
The special evening will feature past GLSEN honorees, music performances and highlight some of the amazing LGBTQ+ student honorees from past Respect Awards celebrations. This year's festivities take place on October 14, 2021 at 5PM PT/8PM ET at glsen.org/respect.
“I'm thrilled to be joining GLSEN for the annual Respect Awards once again and honored to be able to host this year's special event," said Antoni Porowski. “GLSEN is an organization that is near and dear to my heart. I've been fortunate enough to work with them for several years now, and I've witnessed firsthand the incredible impact their work has on the lives of LGBTQ+ students."
“Antoni is an amazing friend and supporter of GLSEN, and we are so happy he is hosting our biggest night," said Melanie Willingham-Jaggers, Interim Executive Director, GLSEN. “We look forward to a special evening celebrating Eliza, LGBTQ+ youth and looking to the work ahead."
The GLSEN Respect Awards, introduced in 2004 and held annually in Los Angeles and New York, showcases the work of students, educators, community leaders, and corporations who serve as exemplary role models and have made a significant impact on the lives of LGBTQ+ youth. Past honorees included Kerry Washington, Tim Cook, Yara Shahidi, Marilyn & Jeffrey Katzenberg, Jim Parsons & Todd Spiewak, Julia Roberts & Danny Moder, Matt Bomer & Simon Halls, Ellen Pompeo, Octavia Spencer, and Rosario Dawson.
Event Co-Chairs for the 2021 Respect Awards are Andrew Graham, Michel Mercure, Patrick Moran, Ryan Pedlow, Jeannette Perez, Ben Roy, Elizabeth Stribling-Kivlan, Chip Sullivan, Alicin Reidy Williamson and Chely Wright. Honorary Co-Chairs include Kalen Allen, Jennifer Beals, Greg Berlanti & Robbie Rogers, Matt Bomer & Simon Halls, Jess Cagle & Matt Whitney, Charlie Carver, Jason Collins & Brunson Green, Tim Cook, Wilson Cruz, Rosario Dawson, Connor Franta, Bob Greenblatt & Stephen Loguidice, Carla Gugino, Marilyn & Jeffrey Katzenberg, Jim Parsons & Todd Spiewak, Billy Porter, Zachary Quinto, Julia Roberts & Danny Moder, Mj Rodriguez, and Octavia Spencer.
Antoni Porowski is a New York Times Bestselling Author and Award-winning Queer Eye star. As Queer Eye's food and wine expert, the self-taught cook brings with him a lifelong passion for food. Antoni's first cookbook, Antoni in the Kitchen, was released in Fall 2019, debuting at #2 on the New York Times' Best Seller List. His follow up cookbook Antoni: Let's Do Dinner was released this past September.
Antoni can currently be seen in Netflix's Emmy Award-winning series Queer Eye, which has won “Outstanding Structured Reality Program" for four consecutive years. In 2020, Antoni and his fellow Fab Five received their first Emmy nominations for “Outstanding Hosts For A Reality Or Competition Program." Coming up, Antoni is developing a feature film for Netflix with Black-ish creator Kenya Barris loosely based on Antoni's real-life dating experiences as a sexually fluid man entitled Girls and Boys.
Born in Canada to Polish emigrants, Antoni is an outspoken advocate for LGBTQ+ rights everywhere, especially his family's native Poland where he serves on the board of the Equaversity Foundation which was established to organize international fundraising to support the LGBT+ community in Poland.
For three decades, GLSEN has led the way on LGBTQ+ issues in K-12 education through ground-breaking original research, innovative program development, educator training, student organizing, and targeted state and federal advocacy. With the development of educational resources, direct engagement of youth and educators, and GLSEN national programs like GLSEN Day of Silenceand Solidarity Week. GLSEN has seen the impact of its work in measurable improvements in the lives of LGBTQ+ students in the United States.
For additional information, please visit https://www.glsen.org/2021-respect-awards.