Gaga beat her friend ‘American Idol’s Adam Lambert, as well as Brandi Carlile, The Gossip and Otep, in what was the final instalment on the GLAAD Awards in San Francisco – after two ceremonies earlier in the year were held at New York and Los Angeles.
Other big winners included Lee Daniels, the gay director of ‘Precious: Based on the Novel ‘Push’ by Sapphire’, who revealed that he had overcome huge issues with his sexuality since his youth. He said: “I come from a world where I was beaten daily by my dad because of my gayness. “I had bullies and I wanted to kill myself.”
Cybill Shepherd won the Golden Gate Award for her portrayal of lesbian Phyllis Kroll in ‘The L Word’, accepting the accolade from her two daughters. She said: “We stand on the shoulders of our elders and I want to thank everyone who’s worked so hard to make this possible. “I’m very humbled and I don’t know that I could be more dedicated to this cause, but I could never thank you enough, GLAAD, for your education of me.” Also in attendance were country singer Chely Wright, and Australian dance singer Sam Sparro who performed.
GLAAD Award winners:
Outstanding Music Artist – Lady Gaga
Golden Gate Award – Cybill Shepherd
Davidson/Valentini Award – Lee Daniels
Outstanding Documentary – ‘Ask Not’
Outstanding Digital Journalism – ‘The Stonewall Riots: 40 Years Later’
San Francisco Local Hero Award – Robert Hanson