Last night at a star-studded gala at the New York Marriot Marquis, the Gay and Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation (or GLAAD) announced the winners in more than half the categories of the annual GLAAD Media Awards, created to “recognize and honor media for their fair, accurate and inclusive representations of the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) community and the issues that affect their lives.” AfterElton.com was one of the winners.

AfterElton.com and writer James Hillis were honored for the article, “Gay Newsmen — A Clearer Picture,” an in depth look at the issues confronted by gay journalists, which won in the category of Outstanding Digital Journalism Article.

“We’re thrilled by this award, and very, very proud of James,” said AfterElton.com editor Michael Jensen. “He wrote a terrific article.”

Celebrity attendees or presenters at the ceremony included As the World Turns stars Van Hansis and Jake Silbermann, journalist Barbara Walters, actors Kevin Bacon and Kyra Sedgwick, director Maurice Jamal, as well as Cheyenne Jackson, Alan Cumming, and Graham Norton.

Kevin Bacon, Kyra Sedwick & Maurice Jamal (right).

Other award winners included the movie Stardust, which won Outstanding Film — Wide Release. The film includes a gay pirate played by Robert DeNiro.

Despite an ongoing controversy over the lack of kissing between its teenage gay male characters, the CBS soap opera As the World Turns was honored for Outstanding Daily Drama.

Brian Graden, president of MTV (which owns AfterElton.com), was honored with the Vito Russo Award, named after one of GLAAD's late founders, the author of the landmark book The Celluloid Closet.

Rufus Wainright won in Outstanding Music Artist category for the CD Release the Stars, and Terry Moore’s graphic novel Strangers in Paradise won in the Outstanding Comic Book category.

The ABC newsmagazine 20/20 and the CBS newsmagazine 60 Minutes both won in the category of Outstanding Newsmagazine Journalism in a tie vote. The winning 20/20 segment was a much-discussed one on transgendered children entitled “My Secret Self: A Story of Transgender Children.” Barbara Walters appeared in person to accept the award.

For the Bible Tells Me So won in the category of Outstanding Documentary. Out Episcopal bishop V. Gene Robinson, who is profiled in the film, was on hand to accept the award, along with director Daniel Karslake.

From left to right:
Daniel Karslake, Bishop V. Gene Robinson, Michael Huffington
all photos: Getty Images

The GLAAD Media Awards are given in a total of 40 categories, 26 of which
were announced last night. The winners of the fourteen remaining categories will be announced at upcoming ceremonies in South Florida, Los Angeles, and San Francisco. This is the 19th year that GLAAD has given the awards.

Yesterday, GLAAD also announced an agreement with the cable network Bravo to broadcast the ceremonies later this year.

GLAAD was founded in 1985 by a group of New York activists to combat what its members saw as biased and inflammatory AIDS reporting in the New York Post. It is now based in Los Angeles with an office in New York, and a staff of more than 50.

For a complete list of last night’s winners, visit the GLAAD website.