GLSEN Honors 'Modern Family' at Respect Awards, 10/8

GLSEN, the Gay, Lesbian and Straight Education Network, will honor the Emmy Award-winning hit ABC show, "Modern Family," at tomorrow night's Respect Awards - Los Angeles, Presented by Centropolis Entertainment at the Beverly Hills Hotel. Emmy winner Rob Reiner will present the show with the Inspiration Award, and America's favorite mom, Florence Henderson, currently appearing on "Dancing with the Stars," will be welcoming everyone to the gala. Also being honored are Out & Equal Workplace Advocates and the GLSEN Educator of the Year, presented by Sodexo.

"Modern Family," which received 14 Emmy nominations and won the award for "Best Comedy" this year, portrays positive images and storylines that reflect a diverse America, including the depiction of a family headed by a gay couple.

Celebrities expected to attend include "Modern Family" stars Sof?a Vergara, Ty Burrell, Jesse Tyler Ferguson, Nolan Gould, Rico Rodriguez and Ariel Winter; "Big Love" stars Jeanne Tripplehorn, Chloe Sevigny and Ginnifer Goodwin; "Dancing with the Stars'" Florence Henderson, Corky Ballas and Louis van Amstel; "White Collar" star Matt Bomer; director/producer/writer Rob Reiner; Academy Award-winning writer Dustin Lance Black; Wilson Cruz and "The Insider's" Lara Spencer.

GLSEN has also partnered with CharityBuzz.com for an online auction as another way for people around the country to participate in the event. Some of the items available are an audition with Emmy-winning "Modern Family" casting director Jeff Greenberg, as well as a set visit to the show; two tickets to the "Dancing with the Stars" season finale and dance lessons with professional dancer Louis van Amstel; and a walk-on role on HBO's series "True Blood," among many others. For complete details go to http://www.charitybuzz.com/auctions/glsenlarespect2010/catalog_items.

The Respect Awards, held annually in Los Angeles and New York, recognize individual and corporate leaders who have helped propel GLSEN's efforts to ensure safe schools for all of America's students, regardless of sexual orientation or gender identity/expression.

Kevin Brockman, Executive Vice President of Global Communications for Disney/ABC Television Group; Michael Lombardo, President of Programming at HBO; Linda Bell Blue, Executive Producer, Entertainment Tonight/ The Insider; and Chip Sullivan, Head of DreamWorks Studio Publicity are the Respect Awards - Los Angeles co-chairs.

Past Respect Awards - Los Angeles honorees include: HBO, Shonda Rhimes, David C. Bohnett, 2009 Student Advocate of the Year Austin Laufersweiler, Disney/ABC Television Group, Lance Bass, Darren Star, Dr. Neal Baer, Greg Berlanti, Hon. James C. Hormel, Hon. Sheila Kuehl, Cisco Systems, James Howe, Virginia Uribe, Moises Kaufman, IBM, Frankie Martinez and Jeff Quinn.