With a multifaceted career that has spanned two decades and an unwavering commitment to AIDS-related charities and awareness, it is difficult to determine what is most compelling about Janet Jackson. Known around the world for her musical talents, Jackson is not only famous for her multiple chart-topping albums, but also her acting roles and her ability to reinvent herself. In addition to her Best Original Song Academy Award® nomination for “Again” from her film Poetic Justice, Jackson is the only performer, male or female, to be nominated for GRAMMY® Awards in Pop, Rock, Dance, Rap and R&B, and the first female recording artist of color to be nominated for a Producer of the Year GRAMMY. Jackson is now ranked by Billboard magazine as the second most successful female artist in pop music history, selling over 100 million records worldwide. Jackson’s deep commitment to AIDS-related work began after she lost close friends to the disease in the 1990s. As a tribute to her friends, Jackson performed the chart-topping single “Together Again.” The song went on to become Jackson’s top-selling international single, and she generously donated a large portion of the proceeds from “Together Again” to the American Foundation for AIDS Research. Her work around HIV/AIDS awareness has been recognized by AIDS Project Los Angeles and the Human Rights Campaign.
The Vanguard Award is presented to media professionals who, through their work, have increased the visibility and understanding of the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender community. Past recipients nclude Charlize Theron, Antonio Banderas, Eric McCormack, Elizabeth Taylor, Liza Minnelli and Whoopi Goldberg.