Sally Field, T.R. Knight, Rachel Griffiths, Matthew Rhys, Garry Marshall, Sarah Silverman, Jimmy Kimmel, Sofia Vergara and Zoe Saldana were among the dozens of celebrities who joined the Gay & Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation (GLAAD) as it honored Janet Jackson, Rufus Wainwright, and Herb Ritts, and presented awards for Outstanding Drama Series, Comedy Series, and Reality Program at the 19th Annual GLAAD Media Awards in Los Angeles.

Kathy Griffin opened the show by inviting her mother, Maggie Griffin, onstage to quiz her about her knowledge of the LGBT community.  Later in the show, Grammy Award-winning singer Joss Stone performed two songs for the near-capacity crowd of 2800 in the Kodak Theatre.

At the ceremony, Ellen DeGeneres presented Janet Jackson 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.

Also at the event, Sharon Stone presented the Stephen F. Kolzak Award to Rufus Wainwright.  The Stephen F. Kolzak Award is presented to an openly lesbian, gay, bisexual or transgender media professional who has made a significant difference in promoting equal rights for the LGBT community.

GLAAD also honored Herb Ritts with a posthumous Pioneer Award.  The Pioneer Award is given to an 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 GL AAD Media Awards.  Tom Ford presented the award, and Cindy Crawford accepted on behalf of the Herb Ritts Foundation.

Other guests and presenters at the event included: Portia de Rossi; Billy Baldwin, Candis Cayne (Dirty Sexy Money); Jennifer Beals, Laurel Holloman, Ilene Chaiken (The L Word); Adamo Ruggiero, Lauren Collins (Degrassi: The Next Generation); Paul James, Jacob Zachar, Amber Stevens, Zach Lively, Max Greenfield, Patrick Sean Smith (Greek); Gabrielle Christian, Maeve Quinlan (South of Nowhere); Tuc Watkins, Marc Cherry (Desperate Housewives); Steve Agee, Laura Silverman, Jay Johnston (The Sarah Silverman Program); Jack Mackenroth, Rami Kashou, Nick Verreos (Project Runway); Rex Lee; Leslie Jordan; Bryan Batt; Sharon Lawrence; Jay Manuel; Jackie Warner, Jesse Brune (Work Out); Michelle Paradise, Megan Cavanagh, Angela Feather stone, Marnie Alton (Exes and Ohs); Calpernia Addams, Andrea James (TransAmerican Love Story); Wilson Cruz; Todd Holland; Scotch Loring; and former NBA player John Amaechi.

Following is a complete list of GLAAD Media Awards recipients announced Saturday in Los Angeles.  Additional awards were presented in New York on March 17, and in South Florida on April 12.  The remaining awards will be presented in San Francisco on May 10 at the San Francisco Marriott.

Additional awards will be presented in in San Francisco on May 10 at the San Francisco Marriott.

For a complete list of award recipients [ more ]
Los Angeles press release [ more ]
Los Angeles photo gallery [ more ]