Without authors, without serious reading in my life, I would be just one more blank page myself. My signed copy of Malcolm Boyd's book, "Am I running with you God?" is the first thing I ever owned signed to my partner and myself. Before we owned anything in common we owned a book together. I am so happy for his recognition.

Without authors, without serious reading in my life, I would be just one more blank page myself.

Amen, Robert.

One small problem with the Lambda Awards though... Patricia, have you ever won an award? Correct me if I'm wrong, but I don't remember you having won one. They seem to divide everything into gender roles. You write about gay men. You're a lesbian. So you don't really fit the "Gay men fiction" or the "lesbian fiction." It's almost as if they don't know what to do with you.

If there's one single person who completely deserves an award, it's definitely you.

Just a bit more about the Lammies....

As the show's (pro bono) producer who scripted most of the presenters, I opted to go with a positive celebration of the Lambda Literary Foundation's 20th anniversary and move to Los Angeles - only alluding to the economic difficulties plaguing us all (I'm an LGBT journalist working for two LGBT magazine's in a city where the major newspapers continue to lose circulation and lay off staff).

Here's part of what I had event co-chair Terry DeCresenzo say in her welcoming remarks:

"We are very excited about the program tonight because it kicks off our 21st year in our new home in Los Angeles. We hope that this move will prove auspicious – because Los Angeles – and West Hollywood – as we know from the Lammy award-winning Gay LA by Lillian Faderman and Stuart Timmons – is the seat of the LGBT liberation movement. It is also home to the genius of the film and broadcast arts – and many of the creative souls who produce literature – some of whom are in this room tonight. We hope for - and will work towards - a synergy with the creative class in our new environment that allows our literature and our lives to flourish."

Also - considering the historic California marriage decision - we noted that mystery writer/presenter Michael Nava also happens to be a judicial staff attorney for California Supreme Court Justice Carlos Moreno - one of the "yes" votes...he acknowledged the ovation and said he's taking the response back to Moreno and Chief Justice Ronald George, who wrote the opinion. Also - as John Heilman noted, WeHo City Councilmember John Duran is also board president of Equality California, one of the plantiffs in the marriage case.

There were other poignant moments - such as when Bernard Cooper presented the Pioneer Award to Malcolm Boyd and Mark Thompson and read a statement from Bishop Jon Bruno about how Malcolm continues to inspire him....The near schism in the Episcopal Church is not just because of the elevation of Bishop Gene Robinson - it's also because Bruno conducted a blessing of Malcolm and Mark at the church's center....

The other Pioneer, Ann Bannon, got a shout out from Lily Tomlin who, with Jane Wagner, produced a Broadway play based on Ann's books. Her honor was presented by Katherine Forrest, who later became the foil for a comedy routine by the Gay Mafia.

Lilliam Faderman told the audience about her Gay LA co-author Stuart Timmons' stroke, gays-in-the-military expert Aaron Belkin was one of the Monette/Horowitz honorees, Christopher Rice became the organization's new board president, Calpernia Addams presented in the Transgender category and talked about her Logo reality show, "Transamerican Love Story," Torie Osborn, who just left her post as Senior Advisor to LA Mayor Antonion Villaraigosa to write a memoir, also gave shout-outs to all her mentors in the room....and there were performances by a group from the Gay Men's Chorus and from Tim Miller during the roughly two hour show.

Also - Paul Colichman of here TV! and KCRW's nationally known book critic Michael Silverblatt - "The Book Worm" - were also there.

After I write my piece on the Primaries for the next issue of IN Los Angeles magazine, I'll be working with an editor on producing a broadcast version of the show - which Lambda intends to webcast. We will also post YouTube moments - which will also include the presentation by Patricia Nell Warren. I'll do a blog on it when it's completed.

Anyway - sorry to jump in here and go on for so long - but since I produced the show, I also feel responsible for the tone - and I wanted to explain why I went positive....

And to Patricia's point -I asked WeHo Councilmember John Heilman to be the last presenter in the important categories of Men's Memoir and Men's Fiction precisely to thank him and underscore all the effort he has put into creating a new fabulous West Hollywood Library - where he said he hopes to house all the books written by all the folks in the room - and more....

And thanks for presenting, Patricia.

Just a bit more about the Lammies....

As the show's (pro bono) producer who scripted most of the presenters, I opted to go with a positive celebration of the Lambda Literary Foundation's 20th anniversary and move to Los Angeles - only alluding to the economic difficulties plaguing us all (I'm an LGBT journalist working for two LGBT magazine's in a city where the major newspapers continue to lose circulation and lay off staff).

Here's part of what I had event co-chair Terry DeCresenzo say in her welcoming remarks:

"We are very excited about the program tonight because it kicks off our 21st year in our new home in Los Angeles. We hope that this move will prove auspicious – because Los Angeles – and West Hollywood – as we know from the Lammy award-winning Gay LA by Lillian Faderman and Stuart Timmons – is the seat of the LGBT liberation movement. It is also home to the genius of the film and broadcast arts – and many of the creative souls who produce literature – some of whom are in this room tonight. We hope for - and will work towards - a synergy with the creative class in our new environment that allows our literature and our lives to flourish."

Also - considering the historic California marriage decision - we noted that mystery writer/presenter Michael Nava also happens to be a judicial staff attorney for California Supreme Court Justice Carlos Moreno - one of the "yes" votes...he acknowledged the ovation and said he's taking the response back to Moreno and Chief Justice Ronald George, who wrote the opinion. Also - as John Heilman noted, WeHo City Councilmember John Duran is also board president of Equality California, one of the plantiffs in the marriage case.

There were other poignant moments - such as when Bernard Cooper presented the Pioneer Award to Malcolm Boyd and Mark Thompson and read a statement from Bishop Jon Bruno about how Malcolm continues to inspire him....The near schism in the Episcopal Church is not just because of the elevation of Bishop Gene Robinson - it's also because Bruno conducted a blessing of Malcolm and Mark at the church's center....

The other Pioneer, Ann Bannon, got a shout out from Lily Tomlin who, with Jane Wagner, produced a Broadway play based on Ann's books. Her honor was presented by Katherine Forrest, who later became the foil for a comedy routine by the Gay Mafia.

Lilliam Faderman told the audience about her Gay LA co-author Stuart Timmons' stroke, gays-in-the-military expert Aaron Belkin was one of the Monette/Horowitz honorees, Christopher Rice became the organization's new board president, Calpernia Addams presented in the Transgender category and talked about her Logo reality show, "Transamerican Love Story," Torie Osborn, who just left her post as Senior Advisor to LA Mayor Antonion Villaraigosa to write a memoir, also gave shout-outs to all her mentors in the room....and there were performances by a group from the Gay Men's Chorus and from Tim Miller during the roughly two hour show.

Also - Paul Colichman of here TV! and KCRW's nationally known book critic Michael Silverblatt - "The Book Worm" - were also there.

After I write my piece on the Primaries for the next issue of IN Los Angeles magazine, I'll be working with an editor on producing a broadcast version of the show - which Lambda intends to webcast. We will also post YouTube moments - which will also include the presentation by Patricia Nell Warren. I'll do a blog on it when it's completed.

Anyway - sorry to jump in here and go on for so long - but since I produced the show, I also feel responsible for the tone - and I wanted to explain why I went positive....

And to Patricia's point -I asked WeHo Councilmember John Heilman to be the last presenter in the important categories of Men's Memoir and Men's Fiction precisely to thank him and underscore all the effort he has put into creating a new fabulous West Hollywood Library - where he said he hopes to house all the books written by all the folks in the room - and more....

And thanks for presenting, Patricia.

This is great. I've only read a couple books on that list, so I have my work cut out for me!