Rufus Wainwright Wins GLAAD Award And Composes Opera

04/28/08 5:00pm

by Keith Powell (CHARTattack)

Singer/songwriter Rufus Wainwright's position as a role-model in the gay and lesbian community was reinforced on Saturday when he was honoured for combating homophobia in the entertainment industry at the Gay And Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation (GLAAD) Media Awards in Los Angeles.

Wainwright received the Stephen F. Kolzak Award, which was named after a Los Angeles director known for devoting the last part of his life to fighting AIDS-phobia and homophobia. The GLAAD awards were originally conceived to recognize creators and media outlets that give a positive image to gay and lesbian people. Wainwright received a GLAAD music award last month for his Release The Stars album.

Wainwright, the son of Canadian singer/songwriter Kate McGarrigle and American singer/songwriter Loudon Wainwright III, has been open and outspoken about his sexual orientation since he was a teenager.

Wainwright has been commissioned by New York City's Metropolitan Opera to compose an opera titled Prima Donna, which will focus on the day in the life of an opera singer. It's not yet known when the production will hit the stage, but Wainwright has said that he's wanted to write an opera since he was a teenager.