By Karu F. Daniels, AOL Black Voices

On March 26, The GLAAD Media Awards will take place at New York City's Marriott Marquis, and Grammy Award winning R&B diva Patti LaBelle is among the honorees.

The annual ceremony aims to recognize and honor mainstream media for their fair, accurate and inclusive representations of the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender community and the issues that affect their lives.

"I feel honored that after more than 45 years in this business, the gay and lesbian community still respects and supports me and that they haven't lost faith in me," LaBelle, who will receive the Excellence in Media Award, told The BV Newswire this afternoon. "This community has always been there for me and been a major part of my fan base. I appreciate the fact that after all of these years, they still embrace me and would recognize me in this way. It's a big honor and I don't take it for granted."

Julianne Moore will present the Vito Russo Award to fashion design icon Tom Ford, and confirmed guests include Whoopi Goldberg, Rosie O'Donnell, Hilary Duff, Rev. Jay Bakker, and former NBA player John Amaechi.

According to GLAAD media strategist Katina Parker, Academy Award winner Jennifer Hudson will be on hand to present the special honors to LaBelle.

According to its mission statement, GLAAD -- an acronym for the Gay & Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation -- is dedicated to promoting and ensuring fair, accurate and inclusive representation of people and events in the media as a means of eliminating homophobia and discrimination based on gender identity and sexual orientation.

Additional GLAAD Media Awards ceremonies will take place in Los Angeles April 14 at the Kodak Theatre, in San Francisco April 28 at the Westin St. Francis, and in South Florida May 10 at the JW Marriott Miami.

For the third consecutive year, the awards will be televised on Logo, MTV Networks' cable channel for lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender viewers and their allies.

Airdate; April 27 with repeated airings.