Host Candis Cayne, Alan Cumming, William Baldwin, Judith Light, Jennifer Beals, Rex Lee and Jason Lewis were among the celebrities who joined the Gay & Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation (GLAAD) as it honored Sharon Stone, Ilene Chaiken, James Schamus, and David Mixner, and presented awards in four categories at the 19th Annual GLAAD Media Awards in San Francisco on Saturday night.
The GLAAD Media Awards recognize and honor media for their fair, accurate and inclusive representations of the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) community and the issues that affect their lives.
At the ceremony, Alan Cumming presented Sharon Stone with GLAAD's Vanguard Award, honoring media professionals who, through their work, have increased the visibility and understanding of the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender community. Stone was honored for her years of activism on behalf of the LGBT community and the millions of dollars she has raised for HIV/AIDS research.
Jennifer Beals presented the Davidson/Valentini Award to The L Word creator Ilene Chaiken. Named after Craig Davidson, GLAAD's first executive director, and his partner Michael Valentini, the award is presented to an openly lesbian, gay, bisexual or transgender media professional who has made a significant difference in promoting equal rights for our community.
In her acceptance speech, Chaiken decried the lack of leading LGBT characters in popular media, and urged the audience to tell their own stories. "If history is indeed written by the victors, let's make ourselves victorious by writing our own history and directing it and producing it and starring in it," Chaiken said.
Marcus Hu, co-president of Strand Releasing, presented Focus Features CEO James Schamus with the Golden Gate Award, which honors media professionals who, through their work, have increased the visibility and understanding of the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) community. From The Wedding Banquet, to Brokeback Mountain, to Milk, the upcoming film about assassinated San Francisco City Supervisor Harvey Milk, Schamus has brought compelling LGBT stories to filmgoers around the world.
Activist and writer David Mixner was honored with the Pioneer Award, which is given to a pioneering individual, group, or media outlet that made a significant contribution to the development of lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender-inclusive media images prior to the creation of the GLAAD Media Awards. Long-time friend Judith Light presented him with the award.
San Francisco Mayor Gavin Newsom presented a Special Recognition Award to John Fisher, executive director of Theatre Rhinoceros, for its 30-year commitment to grassroots LGBT theater.
Previously GLAAD announced an exclusive agreement with Bravo, its new broadcast partner, which will telecast the 19th Annual GLAAD Media Awards on June 27, 2008. The announcement was made jointly by GLAAD President Neil G. Giuliano and General Manager of Bravo Media Frances Berwick. The national media advocacy organization has presented the GLAAD Media Awards annually since 1990, but this will be the first televised airing of the celebration on a fully distributed national cable network.
Grammy®-nominated pop instrumentalist Dave Koz and singer Deborah Cox performed at the event. Other guests and presenters at the event included: J.P. Calderon; David Bromstad; Rob Epstein and Jeffrey Friedman; and filmmakers Luane Beck and Kim Clark.
Following is a complete list of GLAAD Media Awards recipients announced Saturday in San Francisco. Additional awards were presented in New York on March 17, in South Florida on April 12, and in Los Angeles on April 26.
Vanguard Award: Sharon Stone (presented by Alan Cumming)
Davidson/Valentini Award: Ilene Chaiken (presented by Jennifer Beals)
Golden Gate Award: James Schamus (presented by Marcus Hu)
Pioneer Award: David Mixner (presented by Judith Light)
Outstanding Television Movie, Mini-Series or Anthology: The DL Chronicles (here!) [Accepted by: creators Deondray Gossett and Quincy LeNear]
Outstanding Talk Show Episode: "Born in the Wrong Body" The Oprah Winfrey Show (syndicated) [Accepted by: episode guests Jake Rostovsky and Peggy Rostovsky]
Outstanding Magazine Overall Coverage: The Advocate [Accepted by: Editor Anne Stockwell]
Outstanding Advertising Electronic: "Change" Levi's [Accepted by: Levi's Vice-President of Marketing Robert Cameron]
Special Recognition: Theatre Rhinoceros [Accepted by: Executive Director John Fisher]
More than 100 corporate sponsors are showing their support, including National Presenting sponsors ABSOLUT® VODKA and IBM and Los Angeles Presenting Sponsors AT&T and Harrah's Foundation. GLAAD is also grateful to the event's Platinum Underwriters MTV Networks and Time Warner. Allstate Insurance Company, Ken Alpert & Andrew Petronio KA Design Group, American Airlines, Anheuser-Busch, Inc./Bud Light, Atlantis Events, Comcast, Coors Brewing Company, HMS Media, Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino, University of Phoenix, and Terry K. Watanabe support the 19th Annual GLAAD Media Awards as Underwriter Sponsors.