Ensuring respect for all our kids
The event: Onstage at the 2015 GLSEN Respect Awards, Justin Timberlake thanked organizers “for allowing Mommy and Daddy to have a rare date night out together.” The celebration of the organization’s 25 years on Oct. 23 not only heaped honors on new parents Timberlake and Jessica Biel but also bestowed awards on Zachary Quinto, YouTube and student advocate Mars Hallman.
“Look around. This is what adults look like,” Timberlake said to Biel, adding in a stage whisper, “They do exist. They don’t smell like poopy diapers.”
The scene: A jubilant mood prevailed in the Beverly Wilshire Hotel’s ballroom as VIPs such as Julia Roberts congenially posed for selfies with fellow guests.
GLSEN — the Gay, Lesbian and Straight Education Network — endeavors to ensure a safe, affirming school environment for all students, regardless of sexual orientation. Throughout the program students stepped up to the podium to tell their stories.
The crowd: Among the crowd were honorary co-chairs Roberts, Jim Parsons and Todd Spiewak; DreamWorks Animation CEO Jeffrey Katzenberg, Marilyn Katzenberg and NBC Entertainment Chairman Bob Greenblatt; actors Jessica Capshaw, Dana Delany, Sasha Alexander and Kirsten Vangsness; “Star Trek” director J.J. Abrams, TV personality George Kotsiopoulos, YouTubers Gigi Gorgeous and Connor Franta and style editor Joe Zee. Jim Fielding, Dave Karger and Chip Sullivan served as event chairs.
Quotes of note: In presenting Quinto’s award, Abrams ticked off the actor’s positive attributes, saying, “To know Zachary Quinto and see the choices he makes and the way he chooses to live his life is to respect him and to love him.”
For his part, Quinto looked to the future. “With issues of integration and marriage equality behind us, how can we all — young people, old people — turn our attention to other parts of the world as well, where oppression and violence against our brothers and sisters still threaten lives every single day. ... Let us all be champions for those who still face the darkness.”
“Even with all the trouble in our world today, this movement clearly is winning,” said Timberlake, “and it’s going to keep on winning.”
Biel quoted Oscar Wilde: “Always forgive your enemies. Nothing annoys them so much.”