Bill Clinton To Receive GLAAD Award For Gay Marriage Support

Former U.S. President Bill Clinton will be honored by GLAAD, a lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) advocacy media group, with the first-ever “Advocate for Change” award at the organization’s 24th Annual GLAAD Media Awards on April 20 in Los Angeles.

"President Clinton's support of the LGBT community and recognition that DOMA, the so-called Defense of Marriage Act, is unconstitutional and should be struck down shows that the political landscape continues to change in favor of LGBT equality," said GLAAD official Wilson Cruz. “Leaders and allies like President Clinton are critical to moving our march for equality forward."

Clinton -- who signed DOMA into law in 1996 -- wrote a passionate op-ed piece that ran in the Washington Post last month, saying: "When I signed the bill, I included a statement with the admonition that 'enactment of this legislation should not, despite the fierce and at times divisive rhetoric surrounding it, be understood to provide an excuse for discrimination.' Reading those words today, I know now that, even worse than providing an excuse for discrimination, the law is itself discriminatory. It should be overturned."

GLAAD also cites Clinton’s advocacy for gay marriage in New York and North Carolina in its announcement. The former president first announced his support for same-sex marriage in 2011. His wife, Hilary Clinton, also announced her support for the issue in a nearly six-minute video last month.