The GLAAD Media Awards recognize and honor mainstream media for their fair, accurate and inclusive representations of the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender community and the issues that affect their lives. For the second consecutive year, the GLAAD Media Awards will be televised on Logo. Additionally, VH1 will air the program for the first time.

Teri Hatcher, Nicolette Sheridan, Jessica Alba, Laura Dern, Eric McCormack, Debra Messing, Megan Mullally, Sean Hayes, and Patricia, Rosanna and Alexis Arquette were among the dozens of celebrities who joined the Gay & Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation (GLAAD) as it honored Charlize Theron, Melissa Etheridge, and the best in film and television last night at the 17th Annual GLAAD Media Awards Presented by ABSOLUT VODKA in Los Angeles.

At the ceremony held at the Kodak Theatre, openly lesbian actress Jillian Armenante presented Charlize Theron 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. Theron and Armenante became friends while filming North Country together.

"Two years ago, I stood here and won my Oscar for Monster. Thank you for bringing me back here and letting me stand in this exact spot tonight to receive this wonderful award," Theron said in her acceptance speech. Theron continued, "There's one thing I'd like to [say to the] viewers out there: as mothers, fathers, teach your children to have tolerance and acceptance. At the end of the day, we're all the same."

Also at the ceremony, Laura Dern presented rock icon Melissa Etheridge with GLAAD's Stephen F. Kolzak Award, honoring openly lesbian, gay, bisexual or transgender media professionals who have made a significant difference in promoting equal rights for our community.

"There's one thing I can tell you — the one thing that makes us stronger as a community is coming out," Etheridge said accepting her award. "[When] we put ourselves out there, we show people that we are gay and we're not going to hurt you. We live, we love, we have children, we get married. We are people. I love being a gay person — a lesbian in 2006."

The pre-show VIP reception featured the first public appearance of Jack and Ennis' intertwined shirts from Brokeback Mountain. Purchased for more than $100,000 in an online auction by actor and activist Tom Gregory, the shirts were displayed along with the film's actual postcards in a re-creation of the closet from the GLAAD Media Award-winning film's final scene.

The evening included performances from lesbian comedian Judy Gold, and Cirque de Soleil's Zumanity. Other guests and presenters included: Jessica Alba; Alex Ali and Lynn Warren (Amazing Race 7); Chad Allen; Ant; Alexis, Patricia, and Rosanna Arquette; Anthony Azizi, Rod Lurie (Commander in Chief); Michael Bolton; Bill Brochtrup; Ilene Chaiken, Leisha Hailey, Mia Kirshner, Elizabeth Ziff (The L Word); Lucas Cheadle, Kasey Erickson, Gabbie Gibson, Raci Ignacio, T.J. Jourian, Jeremy Simmons, Thairin Smothers (TransGeneration); Lynn Chen, Michelle Krusiec, Alice Wu (Saving Face); Rodney Chester, Doug Spearman, Darryl Stephens, Christian Vincent (Noah's Arc); Gabrielle Christian, Matt Cohen, Danso Gordon, Chris Hunter, Rob Moran, Mandy Musgrave, Valery Ortiz, Austen Parros, Maeve Quinlan, Tom Lynch (South of Nowhere); Ron Cowan, Dan Lipman, Robert Gant (Queer as Folk); Wilson Cruz; Liz Garcia, Meredith Stiehm (Cold Case); Andrae Gonzalo, Tim Gunn, Santino Rice, Nick Verreos (Project Runway 2); Teri Hatcher, Nicolette Sheridan, Marc Cherry (Desperate Housewives); Sean Hayes, Eric McCormack, Debra Messing, Megan Mullally, David Kohan, Max Mutchnick (Will & Grace); Jay Hernandez; Ben Hogestyn, Lindze Letherman (General Hospital); Judith Light and Robert Desiderio; Alec Mapa (Half & Half); Garry Marshall; Paula Marshall, Jennifer Tilly, Joe Keenan, Christopher Lloyd (Out of Practice); Danny Nucci (World Trade Center); Jaime Pressley (My Name is Earl); Alex Rocco; Sandra Taylor; Esera Tuaolo; Bruce Vilanch; and Kevin Zegers, Calpernia Addams, Andrea James, Sebastian Dungan (Transamerica).