GLAAD Awards 2013: "The New Normal," Bill Clinton receive honors

NBC's sitcom "The New Normal," FX's thriller "American Horror Story: Asylum" and NBC's daytime drama "Days of Our Lives" took home top TV honors at the 24th annual GLAAD Media Awards held Saturday night in Los Angeles.

The GLAAD awards pay tribute to "inclusive representations of the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender community and the issues that affect their lives."

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GLAAD Media Awards 2013

The event, hosted by actress-producer-director Drew Barrymore, boasted the inclusion of Hollywood heavyweights Jennifer Lawrence, Charlize Theron, Betty White and Leonardo DiCaprio among presenters.

Other winners included "Perks of Being a Wallflower," which was named outstanding film: wide release, and former President Bill Clinton was given the first advocate for change award.

On the arrivals line, Oscar-winner Mary Steenburgen, a longtime friend of Mr. Clinton's, defended the former president's controversial honor. Under the Clinton administration came the Defense of Marriage Act, which bars federal recognition of same-sex marriage, as well as the "don't ask, don't tell" military policy.

"Actually, ("don't ask, don't tell") was a sorrow for him," Steenburgen said. "So, I think he's spent a large part of his life making up for that. But I tell you this: He's never not had his heart in the right place, in terms of the gay community."

Many who walked the press gauntlet shared personal stories. Actor Justin Bartha said a brother's coming out moved him both personally and professionally.

"It was an inspiring moment -- I'm sure for him and definitely me and my whole family," Bartha noted. "So, it was at th! e forefront of my mind when looking at (the role of half of a gay couple in "The New Normal")."

"Kyle XY" actor Matt Dallas discussed his decision to come out publicly earlier this year. MSNBC news anchor Thomas Roberts talked about the recent marriage to his male partner of 12 years.

Entertainment blogger Perez Hilton detailed the challenges of being the single gay parent of a newly adopted child.

And transgendered advocate Chaz Bono expressed his hopes for the gay lesbian bisexual transgender community's future.

"I mean, I think the goal always has to be equality in all aspects under the law," he said. "You're never going to eradicate discrimination. We see that with other minorities. Racism is still, unfortunately, alive and well. But equal protection under the law makes a huge difference. So, I think, for me, that is the goal, that is the thing to strive for."

One headline-grabbing moment came when Lawrence introduced President Clinton and she said "Gill" instead of "Bill." E! News reports that Mr. Clinton then joked, "I don't know why Harvey [Weinstein] made Jennifer do that. She really was like 2 years old when I became president. I met her backstage and she looked like she was touring the Museum of Natural History."

Additional 2013 GLAAD Media Awards were presented in New York on March 16. The final awards will be presented in San Francisco on May 11.