GLAAD Media Awards in Los Angeles (3939)

Tammy Michaels, Judy Wieder, and Melissa Etheridge at the GLAAD awards

The Gay and Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation held the Los Angeles portion of its 13th Annual Media Awards Saturday. HBO's Six Feet Under beat out such competitors as Buffy the Vampire Slayer,ER, and Queer as Folk to win Outstanding Drama Series, while Will & Grace bested The Ellen Show,Sex and the City, and the now-canceled Some of My Best Friends to win Outstanding Comedy Series for the fourth year in a row.

Other winners included Resurrection Blvd. for Outstanding Individual Episode in a series without a regular gay character and The Laramie Project for Outstanding Los Angeles Theater Production. Six Feet Under creator Alan Ball received the Stephen F. Kolzak Award, which is given to an openly gay member of the entertainment or media community who has worked to eliminate homophobia, and Shirley MacLaine was honored with the Vanguard Award, given to a member of the entertainment community who has promoted equal rights for gay, lesbian, bisexual, and transgendered people. And marking the first time GLAAD has honored the gay press, The Advocate received the Barbara Gittings Award for excellence in media.