Clay Aiken, T.R. Knight to present at the GLAAD Media Awards

Talent and guests are shaping up for the 20th Annual GLAAD Media Awards, with the news being just announced that Clay Aiken will be on-hand to present the Excellence in Media Award to Tyra Banks, while TR Knight will present Suze Orman with the Vito Russo Award.

It's nice to see Aiken so prominently involved with a group focused on gay visibility, as in the past most of his exposure has revolved around his being closeted or tainted with scandal. I for one am glad to see him out and proud and involved in something that's a positive for himself and for gay visibility.

You can read the full press release detailing presenters and guests below, and there's more at GLAAD's website.

New York, NY, March 12, 2009 – The Gay & Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation (GLAAD) announced today that Clay Aiken will present the Excellence in Media Award to Tyra Banks at the 20th Annual GLAAD Media Awards Presented by IBM and New York presenting partner Prudential. T.R. Knight will present the Vito Russo Award to Suze Orman. Special Recognition awards will be presented to Phil Donahue and The Laramie Project, 10 Years Later - The Lasting Legacy of Matthew Shepard, a two-hour documentary broadcast on Sirius XM Radio.

The GLAAD Media Awards recognize and honor media for their fair, accurate and inclusive representations of the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) community and the issues that affect their lives and will be held in New York on March 28, 2009 at the Marriott Marquis.

Comedian Kate Clinton will host the event. Other guests and presenters scheduled to attend include: Jonathan Adler and Simon Doonan (Top Design), Clay Aiken (American Idol), former NBA player John Amaechi, Jensen Atwood and Patrik-Ian Polk (Noah’s Arc: Jumping the Broom), Michelle Clunie (Queer as Folk), Tim Gunn (Project Runway), Van Hansis and Jake Silberman (As the World Turns), Cherry Jones (24), T.R. Knight (Grey’s Anatomy), Jay Manuel (America’s Next Top Model), S. Epatha Merkerson (Law & Order), Jasika Nicole (Fringe), Chris Noth (Sex & the City), Keith Olbermann (MSNBC), Ana Ortiz, Michael Urie and Vanessa Williams (Ugly Betty), Jenny Shimizu (Make Me a Supermodel), Hannah Storm (ESPN), Jane Velez-Mitchell (CNN) and GLAAD President Neil G. Giuliano. Junior Vasquez will be the guest DJ at the after-party. More names to be announced.