Mon. October 20, 2014
Beverly Hills, CA -
Actress Julia Roberts was among those honored at Friday's 10th annual GLSEN Respect Awards at the Regent Beverly Wilshire in Beverly Hills, California.
GLSEN, the Gay, Lesbian & Straight Education Network, works to create a safe space in schools for children who are or may be perceived to be gay, lesbian, bisexual or transgender.
Roberts accepted the group's Humanitarian Award, the night's top honor, on behalf of herself and husband Danny Moder, who both worked on HBO's Emmy-winning AIDS drama The Normal Heart.
"A humanitarian is a person who brings attention to the welfare and good works of others, so in that regard we are all that," Roberts said.
"What is the point if not to be kind and unconditional in our love and generosity toward one another?What is the point of a day that doesn't have some kind of positive feeling?" she added.
In accepting the group's Chairman's Award, NBC Chairman Bob Greenblatt, who is openly gay, said he had "a hand in bringing many LGBT folks to television."
"I did it to show America how normal and universal our stories are," Greenblatt.
Dancer-choreographer Derek Hough, who is best know for his work on the ABC reality series Dancing with the Stars, was honored with GLSEN's Inspiration Award.
Hough said he had been bullied while growing up: "I was bullied as a boy. Strung up by my ankles and spit on and a gun to my head. Dancing was my GLSEN."
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