Brett Ratner to Receive New GLAAD "Ally Award"

Director Brett Ratner will receive the Gay and Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation's new Ally award at its upcoming New York ceremony, after being ousted as the producers of last year's Oscarcast after he made an anti-gay slur.

The selection of Ratner to receive the honor already is triggering some protest in social media, that the organization that condemned the director for his remarks is now a participant in his rehabilitation. GLAAD cited Ratner's work in creating a celebrity-filled "Coming Out for Equality" PSA campaign that will launch just before the Supreme Court hears the Prop 8 case later this month. Comcast is contributing $1.5 million in airtime on its Xfinity cable systems for the campaign, which will be launched at the GLAAD award ceremony on March 16.

During a Q&A session following the screening of his movie "Tower Heist," Ratner answered a question about rehearsals by saying, "rehearsal is for fags." He later apologized for the slur and resigned from the Oscar telecast.

GLAAD president Herndon Graddick said in a statement, "From high school jocks to faith leaders, those who follow Brett's lead are admired and heralded, while anti-LGBT bullies are increasingly ridiculed and marginalized."