GLAAD, the nation's lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) media advocacy organization, today announced it will honor MSNBC's Thomas Roberts at the 26th Annual GLAAD Media Awards in New York on May 9th.

Roberts will receive GLAAD's Vito Russo Award, which is named after one of GLAAD's co-founders and the author of The Celluloid Closet. The award is presented to an out LGBT media professional who has made a significant difference in promoting equality for the LGBT community. Previous Vito Russo Award honorees include George Takei, Anderson Cooper, Ricky Martin, Rosie O'Donnell, Craig Zadan and Neil Meron, Alan Cumming, Tom Ford, and Cynthia Nixon.

GLADD says that through his reporting, Roberts has highlighted stories of LGBT people in the South, LGBT athletes, marriage equality, and discrimination within the Boy Scouts of America. He has given a voice to many transgender advocates and dedicated several segments to the bullying faced by LGBT youth.