Dan Savage’s social media campaign, “It Gets Better,” has sparked thousands of supportive videos in an effort to eradicate bullying of gay teenagers. The effort has now won Savage a prestigious Webby Award, with the sex advice columnist at The Stranger honored last night in New York.
“What Dan Savage has done is redefine the very notion of what it means to be an activist journalist,” said radio host Ira Glass in his opening remarks about Savage.
As is customary in the Webby Awards, winners are limited to 5-word acceptance speeches.
Savage took direct aim at comedian Tracy Morgan whose anti-gay remarks during a stand-up routine in Nashville recently sparked outrage and led to the Saturday Night Live actor issuing a public apology.
In his appearance on stage, Savage also targeted former U.S. Senator and presidential hopeful Rick Santorum by wearing a shirt with the message “Google Santorum.” That’s a Web joke, devised to ridicule the beliefs of the conservative politician.
Previously on GeekWire: Dan Savage, Starbucks honored for ‘digital disruption’ by UW program