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The GLAAD Awards Brings Out the Biggies

Sun., Apr. 15, 2007 8:45 AM PDT by by Marc Malkin

John Shearer/WireImage.com

The Gay and Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation's Media Awards are like the Gay Oscars. They recognize achievement in the fair, balanced and positive portrayals of gay men and lesbians in the media.

Tonight’s awards ceremony took place at the Kodak Theater (yes, the home of the Academy Awards) in Hollywood.

There were so many great things said from the stage. Here are just some of the night's highlights...

T.R. Knight, opening the ceremony after receiving a standing ovation: "Today, our fight continues. It continues with the fearful ignorance by our chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, by a former NBA basketball player, by a conservative political pundit...I'm angry. I'm very angry at the inequality that we face every day. I hope I can turn my anger into action."

Jake Gyllenhaal, presenting the Vanguard Award to Jennifer Aniston: "People say actors are brave for taking certain roles. I say, 'No!' What's truly brave is picking out an outfit to wear in front of this crowd. The tie: white or black or white or…transgendered?"

Jennifer Aniston, accepting the Vanguard Award: "I remember when Susan and Carol [on Friends] got married and how controversial that was 10 years ago. Then you think, right here on this stage just a few months ago Melissa Etheridge gets up at the Oscars, kisses and thanks her wife in front of 40 million people. And not to mention our fabulous Ellen DeGeneres hosted the Oscars."

Lance Bass, presenting the Stephen Kolzak Award to tennis legend Martina Navratilova: "When I came out in People magazine, she wrote a letter to the editor calling me courageous."

Martina Navratilova, after watching a video retrospective of her career: "Those hairstyles! Sanjaya has nothing on me—but at least I can play tennis."

For more on the awards, read Isaiah-Less Gray's Gets GLAAD. You can also watch a telecast of the ceremony on the Logo network on Saturday.