A recap of the 2010 GLAAD Awards: Drew Barrymore, Wanda Sykes, “Glee,” and “A Single Man” honored

Love, love, love Drew Barrymore and it was wonderful to see her honored at last night’s GLAAD Media Awards in Los Angeles.

Drew has been a lifelong friend of the LGBT community and shown her devotion with dramatic appearances at anti-Prop 8 rallies in recent years.

GLAAD’s  prestigious Vanguard Award, which honors efforts to increase visibility and understanding of the gay community, was presented to Drew by Iron Chef Cat Cora.

In an entertaining video shown before Drew took the stage to accept her trophy, she listed several of her inspirational gay colleagues, including her agent, lawyer, doctor, stylists and one of her dogs.

“The thing that means the most to me about an evening like this, and why I want to fight and be outspoken, is because there are so many people who are in desperate need of family,” Drew said in her speech. “So whatever governments we have to overcome, whatever adversity people have to overcome to create these families and have the legal things be out of the way so that love can exist and people can take care of one another, that’s the most important thing in the world. That we take care of each other.”

Also at the event was Mississippi teen Constance McMillen, whose high school canceled her prom rather than allow McMillen to attend with her girlfriend, presented the Stephen F. Kolzak Award to Wanda Sykes.

Sykes had been moved by the courage shown by this high school student and invited her to appear on her FOX late-night show. When she was on the show, Wanda asked Constance to present her with the GLAAD honor which goes to someone who has shown a strong commitment to educating the public about the lives of LGBT people.

“I am very humbled, thank you GLAAD,” Sykes said accepting her award. “Thank you for the work you’re doing and being the watchdog. Because you really create the environment that allows me to be comfortable being me. [It's great] to be out and open and free and be able to say thank to my wife. It’s love and being honest that wins hearts and minds.” Sykes continued jokingly, “This means the world to me and I promise that I will continue to be a voice, and hopefully a positive image, but I’ve got to tell you – you might have to put up with a stint in rehab, I’m sorry.”

This was the first public event Wanda attended the event with her wife Alex.

It was no surprise that the huge sensation that is Glee won the GLAAD Award for outstanding comedy series despite strong competition that included the ABC hit Modern Family.

The show’s cast and creator Ryan Murphy accepted the award with Murphy making special mention of his two out cast members Jane Lynch and Chris Colfer.

Murphy, who is also gay, told the crowd that Colfer’s character, outspoken gay soprano Kurt Hummel, would have a boyfriend next season, and the pair would become prom kings. he also promised the crowd that Colfer’s character “would never be the victim.”

“We have a great responsibility with the show,” he said.

Along with Lynch and Colfer, cast members present were Dianna Agron, Jessalyn Gilsig, Kevin McHale, Cory Monteith, Amber Riley, Mark Salling, and Jenna Ushkowitz.

Actor Wilson Cruz and actress Candis Cayne hosted the show. Rob Halford, openly gay lead singer for Judas Priest introduced Adam Lambert, GLAAD nominee for Outstanding Music Artist, who closed the show with performances of “Music Again” and “Fever” for the capacity audience at the Hyatt Regency Century Plaza.

Other guests and presenters at the event included: Bryan Batt (Mad Men), Benjamin Bratt (La Mission); Dustin Lance Black (Milk); Jason Lewis (Sex and the City); Scott Evans (One Life to Live); Eduardo Xol (Extreme Makeover: Home Edition); Rebecca Gayheart; Kirsten Vangsness (Criminal Minds); Holly Robinson-Peete (Celebrity Apprentice); Brad Goreski (The Rachel Zoe Project); Stephen Wallem (Nurse Jackie); California Assembly Speaker John Perez; Jaila Simms (Making His Band); Michael Sucsy (Grey Gardens); Santino Rice, Merle Ginsberg (RuPaul’s Drag Race); Countess LuAnn de Lesseps (The Real Housewives of New York); Rose Garcia, Mikey Koffman, Tracy Ryerson (The Real L Word); Randy Barbato, Fenton Bailey (World of Wonder Productions); former President of Entertainment at MTV Networks, Brian Graden; and GLAAD President Jarrett Barrios.

Here is a full list of the GLAAD Awards handed out so far:

The awards:

Vanguard Award: Drew Barrymore
Stephen F. Kolzak Award: Wanda Sykes
Outstanding Film – Wide Release: “A Single Man”
Outstanding Comedy Series: “Glee”
Outstanding Reality Program: “RuPaul’s Drag Race”
Outstanding Spanish-Language TV Journalism Segment: “Polemicas Adopciones,” from “Noticiero Telemundo”
Outstanding Los Angeles Theater: “Lydia” by Octavio Solis

Recipients from March 13 New York ceremony:

Excellence in Media Award: Joy Behar
Vito Russo Award: Cynthia Nixon
Outstanding Drama Series: “Brothers & Sisters”
Outstanding TV Movie or Mini-Series: “Prayers for Bobby”
Outstanding TV Journalism Segment: Why Will Won’t Pledge Allegiance,” from “American Morning”
Outstanding Digital Journalism Article: (tie) “We Love You, This Won’t Change a Thing” by John Buccigtross (ESPN.com) and “Why Can’t You Just Butch Up? Gay Men, Effeminancy and Our War with Ourselves” by Brent Hartinger (AfterElton.com)
Outstanding Film-Limited Release: “Little Ashes”
Outstanding Individual Episode: “Pawnee Zoo” from “Parks and Recreation”
Outstanding Daily Drama: “One Life to Live”
Outstanding Talk Show Episode: “Ellen DeGeneres and Her Wife, Portia de Rossi” from ”The Oprah Winfrey Show”
Outstanding TV Journalism – Newsmagazine: “Uganda Be Kidding Me” (series) from “The Rachel Maddow Show”
Outstanding Newspaper Article: “Kept From a Dying Partner’s Bedside” by Tara Parker-Pope (The New York Times)
Outstanding Newspaper Columnist: Frank Rich (The New York Times)
Outstanding Newspaper Overall Coverage: The New York Times
Outstanding Magazine Article: “Coming Out in Middle School” by Benoit Denizet-Lewis (The New York Times Magazine)
Outstanding Magazine Overall Coverage: The Advocate
Outstanding Comic Book: Detective Comics by Greg Rucka
Outstanding New York Theater: Broadway & Off–Broadway: “A Boy and His Soul” by Colman Domingo
Outstanding New York Theater: Off–Off Broadway: “She Like Girls” by Chisa Hutchinson

Spanish-Language Awards:

Outstanding Novela: “Más Sabe el Diablo”
Outstanding Daytime Talk Show Episode: “Adopción gay: un tema muy controversial” from “Paparazzi TV Sensacional”
Outstanding Talk Show Interview: “Realidades de ser gay en la tercera edad” from “El Show de Cristina”
Outstanding TV Journalism – Newsmagazine: (tie) “En el cuerpo equivocado” form “Primer Impacto” and “Damas gracias: Entrevista con Eva Leivas-Andino” from “Al Rojo Vivo”
Outstanding Newspaper Article: “Mas familias de dos papás o dos mamas” by Pilar Marrero (La Opinión)
Outstanding Magazine Article: “Del odio a la justicia” by Lena Hansen (People en Español)
Outstanding Digital Journalism Article: “Saliendo del clóset: Cómo enfrentarlo en familia” by Fernanda Martínez (Univision.com).

Additional awards will be presented in San Francisco on June 5.