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David Geffen — One of the most successful entertainment moguls in history and one of Hollywood's first self-made billionaires, Geffen founded the Asylum and Geffen record labels, which handled artists such as the Eagles, Donna Summer, John Lennon, Elton John, Joni Mitchell, Neil Young and Guns N' Roses.

In the 1980s, he produced the hit Broadway musicals Cats and Dreamgirls, as well as the films Personal Best, Risky Business and Little Shop of Horrors. In 1994, David Geffen co-founded DreamWorks SKG along with Steven Spielberg and Jeffrey Katzenberg. Some of the studio's major successes include Academy Award winners Saving Private Ryan, American Beauty and Shrek.

Geffen has donated millions to AIDS Project Los Angeles, the Gay Men's Health Crisis and AIDS Action. In 1992, he was a major fundraiser for President Clinton and the Democratic Party, and during the Clinton administration, he advised the president on how to deal with the media. Although he dated Cher and Marlo Thomas in the 1970s, he came out publicly at a Hollywood AIDS benefit in November 1992, after being pressured to come out by gay activists including Michelangelo Signorile.

Cool Quote: (On former talent agent Michael Ovitz's public, homophobic rant about the entertainment industry's “gay mafia”) “It's so paranoid, and so crazy, and so irresponsible, and makes him look like such a nut. All the gay people get together, like the Jewish people get together. I mean, yeah, we meet on Thursdays. I'm offended.'' (New York Daily News, July 2, 2002 )

Brian Graden — As programming chief for MTV, VH1 and CMT, Graden was behind the hits The Osbournes, Newlyweds, Jackass, Punk'd and Cribs. Graden also launched MTV's Original Movies for Television division, which produced the innovative films Anatomy of a Hate Crime and Hip Hopera: Carmen. Graden also breathed new life into VH1 with I Love the '80s and Best Week Ever. A former Fox executive, Graden helped develop South Park (for which he won a Cable Ace Award).

Currently serving as President of Entertainment, MTV Networks Music Group as well as President of Logo, AfterElton.com's parent company, Graden has helped shape the gay cable station's programming direction. Graden was named one of the Top 10 Gay Men in America by Genre magazine and one of the Top 100 Gay Men in The Advocate and Out.

Cool Quote: “Let's bust stereotypes when we can.” (New York Magazine, June 27, 2005)

Robert Greenblatt — As Showtime's president of entertainment, Greenblatt has been behind the hit drama The L Word. Previously, he worked at Fox Broadcasting, where he helped develop The X-Files, Ally McBeal, Party of Five, Melrose Place and Beverly Hills, 90210. He has also worked on other high-profile shows such as HBO's The Sopranos, WB's Dawson's Creek and Sci Fi's Farscape, and the feature film Home of Phobia (2004).

He and fellow producer David Janollari formed the Greenblatt Janollari Studio in 1997, creating shows such as The Hughleys and Six Feet Under. Greenblatt received the Elizabeth Birch Award from the Human Rights Campaign in 2004, presented to him for his significant contribution to lesbian and gay equality.

Cool Quote: “I think ‘groundbreaking' is exactly the right word for what Showtime has done with programs like The L Word and Queer as Folk. Showtime serves underserved audiences.” (Dallas Voice, Oct. 22, 2003)

Todd Holland — This director cut his teeth on 1980s series such as Amazing Stories and Max Headroom, then went on to direct episodes of Twin Peaks, The Larry Sanders Show, My So-Called Life, Felicity and Malcolm in the Middle. Holland was a pioneer in working homosexuality and a gay comic sensibility into television shows; he created a comic, gay scenario for a Larry Sanders episode as well as a gay character for My So-Called Life.

Holland's The Larry Sanders Show and Malcolm in the Middle both received multiple Emmy, CableACE Awards and Directors Guild award nominations and wins. In 2002, UCLA honored Holland as their Filmmaker of the Year. At the 2002 Emmy Awards, Holland openly acknowledged his companion, actor-singer Scotch Ellis Loring, saying, “I want to thank my sweetie, Scotch, for all his love and support.”

Cool Quote: “I always compare the gay sensibility to that of the compassionate outsider. It's the person who didn't date at the high school prom, who learned to exist socially without being part of a couple. There's a whole dynamic that comes from that energy — you learn to be funny to deal with discrimination.” (The Advocate, Jan. 16, 2001)

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