Last night I had the pleasure of attending the GLAAD media awards, where individuals and the media are honored for making a positive difference in the gay and lesbian world. There were plenty of famous faces in the ballroom of the Hyatt Regency in Century City: the cast of Glee, Adam Glambert, Benjamin Bratt, Eric Dane and wife Rebecca Gayheart, and Drew Barrymore, who was honored for her voice of support. (She looked stunning, by the way, in a belted silver Oscar de la Renta frock and extra-long hair extensions.) Her acceptance speech was humble, humorous and honest. She spoke about growing up in West Hollywood, which is a predominantly gay area of L.A. and how gay culture was just part of life. And caring and understanding is just part of who she is and who we all should be. Agreed Drew, agreed!

The cast of Glee was there along with the show’s creator, Ryan Murphy, who gave a few spoilers for the character Kurt, who will get a boyfriend next year and they will be prom kings. “He’ll never be a victim,” Murphy said.

Constance McMillen was there — she’s a lesbian teen who wanted to bring her girlfriend to her senior prom at her high school in Mississippi. The school’s response? Cancel prom. A mother spoke about how her son was called faggot and punched so hard by a hateful man that his brain disconnected from his spinal cord and he died. The murderer spent 359 days in jail.

As I sat there listening to people accept awards and speak about their plight, I couldn’t help but think, I have it so easy. And I guess I will never understand this kind of hatred — just for being born a certain way. But it’s not anything new, is it? But the fact that I can vote and anyone can use the same toilets lets me know that there’s hope.