Delta continued its 8-year partnership with GLAAD by sponsoring the 28th annual GLAAD Media Awards in New York last weekend.

The event is GLAAD’s bi-coastal signature event which honors media for their fair, accurate and inclusive representations of the LGBTQ community, while celebrating its members and allies.

The star-studded awards ceremony honored actress Debra Messing and Tony award winner Billy Porter. “I absolutely love Delta,” Messing said before accepting GLAAD’s Excellence in Media award. The evening also included special appearances by Trevor Noah, Whoopi Goldberg, Rosie O’Donnell, Don Lemon and Christian Slater with a performance by DNCE singing their hit song “Cake By The Ocean.” 

This year, Delta expanded its partnership with GLAAD by sponsoring the inaugural New York Rising Stars Luncheon. This event recognized participants in GLAAD’s Rising Stars Program, which empowers and invests in the next generation of LGBTQ change makers. Delta presented one of three grants to Aisha Bibbs, a senior majoring in Communications at the University of Louisville in Louisville, Ky. She currently serves as the marketing director for the university’s LGBT Center and plans to continue her studies in an MBA program this fall.

“Delta is committed to supporting and uplifting our next generation of leaders,” said Greg Tahvonen, Delta’s Vice President – Total Rewards & IT Human Resources and Executive Sponsor of Delta’s Employee Equality Network (DEEN). “Aisha’s commitment to equality corresponds with Delta’s goal to support our employees and the communities we serve. We are proud to affirm her endeavors by investing in the important resources that GLAAD provides for young people through the Rising Stars Program.”

At the luncheon, Kyle Hassell, Sales Account Executive – New York, shared remarks and presented Aisha with her award alongside Survivor’s Zeke Smith. Delta also sponsored the inaugural Los Angeles Rising Stars Luncheon in conjunction with the west coast GLAAD Media Awards last month.

Delta’s sponsorship included life-sized signage and interactive displays promoting Delta’s routes from New York – including our newest destinations, Lisbon, Portugal and Berlin, Germany. Attendees also had the opportunity to win round trip flights with Delta through a sponsorship onsite, and bid on exclusive Delta vacation packages during the pre-show auction with proceeds benefitting GLAAD. Members of DEEN attended the event representing the airline, in addition to team members from New York Sales and Community Engagement.

Delta is New York’s largest carrier and has invested billions in New York City’s airports during the past six years, leading the way in improving the traveler experience for a growing number of New York passengers – more than 27 million in 2015. The airline offers more than 500 peak-day departures to more than 130 destinations worldwide from its hubs at New York’s LaGuardia Airport and John F. Kennedy International Airport. And Delta is deeply embedded in the New York community, acting as the official airline of the Yankees, Mets, Knicks, Rangers, Madison Square Garden, Chelsea Piers, Food Bank for New York City and the Whitney Museum, with partnerships with more than 40 community organizations.

Photo Caption: Main image: Pictured L-R: Greg Tahvonen, Vice President- Total Rewards & IT Human Resources, actress Debra Messing, and Letty Ashworth, Director – Community Engagement at the 28^th annual GLAAD Media Awards in New York at The New York Hilton on May 6. Second image: Pictured L-R: Kyle Hassell, Sales Account Executive – New York, Aisha Bibbs, GLAAD Rising Star grant recipient, and Survivor’s Zeke Smith at the inaugural GLAAD Rising Stars Luncheon in New York at The New York Hilton on May 5. Third image: Delta crew members pose with interactive displays at the 28^th annual GLAAD Media Awards in New York.