Apr 11, 2011 at 2:20 pm

Kristin Chenoweth: 2011 GLAAD Awards

Kristin Chenoweth is honored at the 2011 GLAAD Media Awards held at the Westin Bonaventure Hotel on Sunday (April 10) in Los Angeles.

In 2010, the 42-year-old singer publically challenged a controversial Newsweek article which incorrectly asserted that gay actors cannot play straight roles. The Vanguard Award is presented to individuals who, through their work, have increased the visibility and understanding of the LGBT community in the media.

“I want to encourage many people of all faiths to come forward and stand with me,” Kristin said in her remarks. “Even if you don’t believe in Jesus the way I do, he did teach love — not just tolerance, but acceptance. I’m lucky I had parents who adopted me at birth, conservative Southern Baptists who said, ‘You will love everyone the same’…Mostly I would like to thank GLAAD for this amazing, amazing honor. This is the biggest honor I have ever received.”

In other Kristin news, she exclusively told JustJared.com, “I’m working on my country album, which is something I’ve been wanting to make happen for 15 years. I wrote two songs on the album and I’m so excited about it. One of the songs I did is a tribute to one of my favorite ladies in country.”

FYI: Kristin is wearing Sutra jewelry.