Actor Jim Parsons and his partner Todd
Spiewak were honored Friday at the GLSEN Respect Awards held at the
Beverly Hills Hotel in Los Angeles.
GLSEN, the Gay, Lesbian & Straight
Education Network, works to create a safe space in schools for
children who are or may be perceived to be gay, lesbian, bisexual or
transgender.
Parsons (Big Bang Theory) and
Spiewak were presented with the group's Inspiration Award.
“I've never considered myself an
activist,” Parsons, who
nonchalantly came out gay last year in an interview with The
New York Times, said
in accepting the award. “I've never considered my relationship
with Todd to be an act of activism. Rather simply, it's an act of
love; coffee in the morning, going to work, washing the clothes,
taking the dogs [out] – a regular life, boring love.”
“Now all this said, no one is giving
us an award for activism. I realize this,” he continued. “If we
are indeed [an] inspiration to others by simply being who we are and
living our lives in the way that feels right to us, then we have to
thank the same people who help any other couple who continue a
successful relationship – our friends and family. We are both
surrounded by so many people who make our lives better and easier,
friends we've had for many years and friends we've made since living
in L.A.”
Award-winning producer-writer Linda
Bloodworth-Thomason was honored with the group's Lifetime Achievement
Award. Her latest film, Bridegroom, premieres Sunday, October
27 on OWN.
(Related: Bridegroom
to premiere on OWN; Film traces gay couple's love story.)
Performing for the crowd was Steve
Grand, who recently released Stay, his second music video.
(Related: Steve
Grand gets the boy in second music video Stay.)