Last night, GLAAD had the opportunity to honor companies leading the way in LGBT marketing at the 2^nd annual GLAAD Media Awards in Advertising presented by Omnicom Group, Publicis Groupe and ROKK Vodka. The Awards were an official event of the 2010 Advertising Week and showed Madison Avenue ads on the cutting edge of LGBT inclusion. The GLAAD Media Awards in Advertising were an important way to elevate companies inclusive of our community in marketing efforts and were part of an uptick in LGBT events during Advertising Week as the industry begins to bring images of LGBT people to more and more Americans. The Awards also raise funds for the work of GLAAD’s Media Programs, to amplify the stories of LGBT people and issues in all forms of entertainment, news and social media. (Photos courtesy of Roberto Ochoa) Famous faces had the chance to speak out about their support for LGBT people during the red carpet press line, including Bryan Batt, famous for his portrayal of gay ad executive, Salvatore Romano, on AMC’s hit series Mad Men; Bethenny Frankel creator of the Skinny Girl Margarita and star of Bravo's "Bethenny Getting Married?," as well as Andy Cohen from Watch What Happens Live. Also in attendance were country music artist Chely Wright, the winners of RuPaul’s Drag Race season 1 and 2, Bebe Zahara Benet and Tyra Sanchez, Food Network's Anne Burrell and Sunny Anderson, Wilson Jermaine Heredia from RENT, and Anthony Wilkinson and Daniel Robinson from My Big Gay Italian Wedding, among others. Bryan Batt, the host for the evening opened the ceremony. Bethenny Frankel and Andy Cohen presented SAGE with the Outstanding Social Marketing Campaign for the SAGECAP: The Caregiver's Caregiver campaign. The following category, Outstanding Interactive Campaign, was presented by Wilson Jermaine Heredia and Bebe Zahara Benet to Wells Fargo for The Advocate Money Minute Presented by Wells Fargo campaign. The award was accepted by VP of Brand and Advertising Candace McCullom. From there, GLAAD president Jarrett Barrios took the stage to call on the advertising industry to push the envelope and include LGBT people in mainstrema marketing campaigns. "While LGBT representation on TV continues to grow, the advertising industry has not yet fully embraced our community," he said. "Tonight's nominees and honorees have set new benchmarks in the industry and continue to lead the way in fair, accurate and inclusive LGBT representation in advertising." Advertising Critic, Bob Garfield was then honored with the Public Visibility Award. For 25 years, Garfield took on agencies over ads rooted in homophobia and stereotypes and applauded groundbreaking inclusions of LGBT people in mainstream advertising in his Advertising Age column. Host Bryan Batt entertained the audience with a musical number, performing “Way ahead of my time” aka the Caveman Song from his upcoming cabaret show Batt on a Hot Tin Roof and then introduced Anthony Wilkinson and Daniel Robinson. The Broadway actors presented the Outstanding Print Campaign Award – LGBT Market to Progressive Insurance for the Works in Progress campaign and the Outstanding Print Campaign Award – Mainstream Market to K-Y Brand for the America’s Top Couple campaign. Sunny Anderson and Anne Burrell were next to take the stage. They presented Levi Strauss & Co. with the Outstanding TV Campaign – LGBT Market for their collaborating effort with LOGO in celebrating Gay History Month in the Levi's Gay History Month/Logo Leaders Campaign. The Corporate Responsibility Award was presented to American Airlines by Chely Wright. Vice President for New York, Art Torno was there to accept the award on behalf of the company. American Airlines has a long history of advertising to the LGBT market and announced the launch of a print campaign in the New York City neighborhood of Chelsea and around New York City - one of the first campaigns to include LGBT images in such a public outdoor advertising setting. Check out the official GLAAD Media Awards in Advertising site to see all nominees and award recipients!