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# GLAAD Media Awards pay tribute to the late Naya Rivera
- URL: https://www.scenemag.co.uk/glaad-media-awards-pay-tribute-to-the-late-naya-rivera/
- Published: 2021-04-10T09:00:22.000Z
- Updated: 2021-04-09T19:14:27.000Z
- Description: GLAAD’s 32nd annual Media Awards saw a tribute to late LGBTQ+ icon Naya Rivera.
- Author: Rachel Badham
- Tags: Arts, News, Queer Corner, Television, Glaad, GLAAD Media Awards, LGBTQ, LGBTQ+ REPRESENTATION, Sam Smith

![](https://www.scenemag.co.uk/content/images/wp-content/uploads/2020/01/glaad-social-share.jpg)

**GLAAD’s** 32nd annual **Media Awards** saw a [tribute](https://www.youtube.com/watch?time%5Fcontinue=3&v=XBNLM2sDtv4&feature=emb%5Ftitle&ref=scenemag.co.uk) to the late LGBTQ+ icon **[Naya Rivera](https://www.scenemag.co.uk/remembering-naya-rivera-why-santana-lopez-will-always-be-treasured/),** who passed away last year, with singer and actor **Demi Lovato**, who played Rivera’s girlfriend on hit TV show *Glee*, introducing the segment dedicated to her. Lovato described Rivera’s out gay character on *Glee*, Santana Lopez, as *“groundbreaking for closeted queer girls”,* adding: *“It’s been 10 years since Santana Lopez came out. Look at what LGBTQ+ teens have done in a decade. Imagine what we can do in the next one.”*

![](https://www.scenemag.co.uk/content/images/wp-content/uploads/2021/04/naya-rivera6400.jpg)

Naya Rivera

Rivera’s fellow *Glee* cast members including **Chris Colfer** and **Jane Lynch** also shared tributes to Rivera, with Lynch describing her as *“really something”*. Rivera’s mother, **Yolanda Previtire**, also wrote a statement to be shared at the awards, saying: *“Her desire was always to be an advocate for those who did not have a voice…Thank you GLAAD for keeping my daughter’s legacy alive.”*

The GLAAD Media Awards saw a handful of other LGBTQ+ celebrities and allies come together to celebrate queer representation, with **Sam Smith** winning the Outstanding Music Artist award for their recent album *Love Goes* *.* Lesbian Christmas rom-com, *Happiest Season* *,* took home the award for Outstanding Film, while *Schitt’s Creek* was awarded Outstanding Comedy Series.

![](https://www.scenemag.co.uk/content/images/wp-content/uploads/2021/04/santana-lopez-600-400.jpg)

Rivera’s character on Glee, Santana Lopez