GLAAD AWARDS SPEECH by Kathy Najimy Presenting at the GLAAD Awards 1999 LA Hello and Thank you!!! Oh my goodness this is so exiting. The GLAAD awards...I mean in addition to all the great work they do, just the Name...The GLAAD awards I can’t help- but be glad. I’ m GLAAD!!I I love it when people who lift up the gay and lesbian image receive recognition. Now, I have never had the honor of being nominated for a GLAAD award .... which is fiiiine...of course I’ve hosted the GLAAD awards.... twice..... and presented a bunch... but nope, thats okay!!! I mean come on..it takes a lot to be even considered. You must be dedicated to gay rights .... ( grand Marshall of four pride parades) Put the word out to the public ( only every single talk show I’ve ever been on) Encourage print media attention ( 4,000 magazine interviews) Write and perform gay oriented material (The Kathy and Mo show- Two award -winning HBO specials) , commit your life to Gay awareness (Last year won the Gay and Lesbian Center and Shan ti Humanitarian Awards) and use your work to spread tolerance (always talking about being true to yourself to Josh ,you know, the character on my show who is in the closet. Thursdays 9:30 NBC). So I patiently persevere with gladness. . Now you know...It had been speculated that the reason I haven’t (cry) been included is because I am not a fully gay person. I mean you know, I HAVE kissed a couple of girls ....granted they were drunk but hey it still counts right? But the truth is I am married to a wonderful MAN. It’s not like I’m a Melissa or an Ellen who are, you know, Gay, Gay. (Pause) Or Are they? Maybe, its not like it seems....maybe the overwhelming awards, recognition , accolades and admiration you get from being a full-on Gay Gay has become well, a little bit addicting to them. ...Maybe just maybe, it is time for someone to smash this charade and tell the truth. Huh Ellen???? Huh? (holds up huge poster of Ellen In a wedding photo) Explain THIS Mrs. ELLEN McDougall!!!! Is it not true that you have been married to this man Chester Mc Dougal for 26 blissfully happy years.?.....while poor amazing Anne had been duped into posing as your beard? And what about you Melissa? Raging Rocker Lesbian? ..I think not. Don’t worry Missy, we know you are not married to a man, You couldn’t be married ,because you are too busy being a huge straight slut. ( hold up several posters of Melissa with different men.) Shacking up with every Tom Dick and Harry you meet.... while beautiful unsuspecting Julie waits at home with your what? 16 children now? Gay my Ass!!! Wow. I’m sorry I didn’t mean to explode like that but the truth is .....Whew I feel much better now. Thank You. Just kidding that was a joke. Huh Ellie? Missy? We’re good friends so I call her Missy. You know it is always a pleasure to support GLAAD. Always inspiring to praise people and projects that lift up the gay community ,and stand as examples of inclusion and positivity. What these awards remind us is that The gay and Lesbian movement is a movement solely based in LOVE. It is not a movement of battle, or boundaries, not a movement for money or land. Not a movement for religion or arms, It is a movement that simply says I would like the right to love and kiss who I choose. And the business of GLAAD is to make sure that this movement of Love rises up and and is counted.. And for that,GLAAD..... we thank you.