By Betsy Finklea
Latta Police Chief Crystal Moore and MSNBC news anchor Craig Melvin won an award at the 26th Annual GLAAD (Gay & Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation) Media Awards on May 9th.
The awards took place at the Waldorf Astoria in New York.
“The GLAAD Media Awards recognize and honor media for their fair, accurate and inclusive representations of the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender community and the issues that affect (their) lives. They also fund GLAAD’s work to amplify stories from the LGBT community that build support for equality. The GLAAD Media Awards have been held every year since 1990,” according to the www.glaad.org website.
The story about Moore, “Fired For Being Gay?,” was among five stories nominated for the “Outstanding TV Journalism Segment” award. Other stories nominated included “License to Discriminate” by Anderson Cooper of CNN, “Change Is Coming to the South” by Melissa Harris-Perry of MSNBC “A Model with a Mission” by Alicia Manendez Tonight/Fusion, and “Transgender Tipping Point” on This Week/ABC.
In accepting the award with Craig Melvin, Moore said it was such an honor to receive the award and thanked Melvin, MSNBC, GLAAD, the Latta Town Council, her friends and family, and the people of Latta.
Accompanying Moore to the event were Kristi Isgett, Derrick Cartwright, Tammy Taylor, Patrick Simpson, and Janette Dupree, who were on hand to show their support.
Moore said it was an “amazing” experience. She received an all-expenses paid trip for two to the event while her supporters paid their own expenses. She walked a red carpet and attended the awards/dinner show. The table of 12 that she and her group sat at would have cost $30,000, but they were all able to attend free. Sitting at their table was country music singer, Ty Herndon. Moore met stars such as Judith Light of “Who’s the Boss?” fame and actor Jeffrey Tambor, an actor who recently won a Golden Globe award. Several stars were in attendance. They also attended an afterevent.
While in New York, Moore and her group were able to do some sightseeing while the Town of Latta was in the hands of her capable senior officers.
One member of her group, Derrick Cartwright, won an all-expenses paid trip from Delta Airlines during the awards.
Moore said she is thankful that they were able to bring positive publicity to a negative situation.