Gay activism collided with Hollywood as
the Gay & Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation (GLAAD) rolled out
the second event for its 20th annual Media Awards in Los
Angeles Saturday.
The gay rights organization singled out
Reverend Gene Robinson and comedians Kathy Griffin and Ellen
DeGeneres at the star-studded show.
DeGeneres' daytime talk show, The
Ellen DeGeneres Show, won a special prize for its episode
featuring DeGeneres' marriage to actress Portia de Rossi.
Openly lesbian DeGeneres told the crowd
at the Nokia Theatre, “In my opinion, we are not fighting for gay
rights, we are fighting for equal rights,” and dedicated the honor
to Carl
Walker-Hoover, an 11-year-old boy who committed suicide after
being bullied and called “gay” by students at his Massachusetts
school.
Milk, Director Gus Van Sant's
biopic about the life and times of slain gay rights pioneer Harvey
Milk, won Outstanding Film.
On the small screen, ABC cleaned up
with its Sunday lineup: Desperate Housewives won Outstanding
Comedy Series, while Brothers and Sisters won in the
Outstanding Drama Series category.
Politics and gay activism were on the
minds of everyone attending the celebrity-lined bash.
"A
lot of the messages that really affect the world and change people's
minds come from Hollywood. Tonight, we're coming together and maybe
we can change people's minds about the way gay people are treated,"
said openly gay actor Alan Cumming. "This is like the Oscars for
gayness."
Self-described
D-list celebrity herself, Kathy Griffin, got a bit of A-list
pampering as she took home the Vanguard Award for her support of the
lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender community.
“I'm
here to learn as well as be adored,” Griffin said. “And I'm
already having a gay old time.”
Reverend
Gene V. Robinson, the first openly gay Episcopal bishop, was also
honored for his work as a religious leader and activist.
Last
month, at
a similar GLAAD event, financial guru Suze Orman, media
personality Phil Donahue and supermodel Tyra Bank were honored in New
York City. A final presentation in May will be held in San
Francisco.