Julia Roberts’ Humantarian Efforts Honored at GLSEN’s Respect Awards

The Beverly Wilshire ballroom hosted accomplished actors, writers, producers, directors, activists and a very famous A-lister on Friday night for GLSEN’s Respect Awards Los Angeles, but it was a group of LGBT teens from the organization’s student ambassador program that garnered the most praise and respect from the lively Hollywood crowd.
Even that Oscar winning A-lister – Julia Roberts who was honored with the night’sHumanitarian Award with absentee hubbyDanny Moder – seemed star struck by the students, whose courage in rising above bullying to live truthful lives was on full display throughout the evening. “The young people in this room have encouraged me infinitely,” she said during her closing acceptance speech close to 10 p.m., a time she joked would normally be in line with her second REM cycle. “I’m so moved, I’m so amazed and I feel that it is now our responsibility as the Moder family – me and the four of them who didn’t come – to support all of you in this room in any and every way we can.”
Moder couldn’t make it because he was in Texas, relayed Roberts, but Ryan Murphy could. The multi-hyphenate presented the actress with her award and in the process praised the couple’s philanthropic efforts on behalf of GLSEN, UNICEF, Heal the Bay, Stand Up to Cancer and the Global Alliance for Clean Cookstoves. On a lighter note, Murphy dubbed the Moders “damn fine role models” and noted that Roberts filmed the classicPretty Woman in the same hotel 25 years ago. (Reg Bev Will, anyone?)
Speaking of her screen work, Murphy also said that Roberts is one of the main reasons his HBO film The Normal Heart got made. During her speech, Roberts (who sat next to her agent, CAA’s Kevin Huvane) said she was thrilled to be recognized but she’s fully aware of what her role in the process really is.