Hollywood actor Zachary Quinto on Friday said that he was humbled to accept an award honoring his LGBT advocacy.

The 38-year-old Quinto accepted the Champion Award at the 11th annual GLSEN Respect Awards at the Regent Beverly Wilshire in Beverly Hills, California.

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.

Star Trek director J.J. Abrams presented Quinto's award.

“To know Zachary Quinto and see the choices he makes and the way he chooses to live his life is to respect him and to love him,” Abrams said.

“It’s been less than five years since I made the decision to come out publicly,” Quinto told the crowd, “and in that short time, we've made more social and legislative progress as a community than any other time in the history of our nation. And that's truly a humbling realization and one that should cause all of us to swell with pride and gratitude to be alive [at] this most vital and exciting time. We have triumphed in so many ways recently.”

“In that triumph, we stand on the shoulders of many pioneers and fighters and younger people who never had the good fortune to witness the fruits of their labors. To them, we all owe a … debt of gratitude and in the memory of those truer champions than I will ever be, I humbly accept this honor,” he added.

Justin Timberlake and Jessica Biel were honored with the group's Inspiration Award.