The Perks of Being a Wallflower writer and director Stephen Chbosky and stars Logan Lerman, Johnny Simmons and Mae Whitman were presented with the Outstanding Film – Wide Release award by Tobey Maguire at the 24th Annual GLAAD Media Awards in Los Angeles on Saturday.
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"I've been very touched by the reception that our film has gotten. This is the last award show there will be for Perks and it is the most meaningful to me because, lets face it, gay people have the best taste. Honestly it is the most meaningful to me because this is a personal story for me. I wanted to make a movie so that kids knew they weren't alone and I did it and we did it together because I was one of those kids," Chbosky said. "We, the adults, grow up and we know the happy ending and what it looks like, but we also know that there's another generation and the generation after them that have a lot of challenges.I know because of what I went through that those kids need role models and they need heroes. I just wanted to make a movie where the smartest, most confident, most awesome kid was the gay kid and I wanted to tell the story that when that kid gets called a name and he's bullied, he turns around and he hits back. And finally I wanted to tell a story where the drama came from living, and not from dying."
"I just want to thank everybody in this room who contributes to the idea of giving heroes to that 12-year-old kid and personally I cannot wait to see what that kid grows up and does because I feel that in my heart if we can help people understand if you don't waste all your time thinking there's something wrong with you then you can spend the rest of your life doing what's right," he ended.
I am so proud that #theperksofbeingawallflower won Outstanding Film at the #glaadawardsThis was very special to me. Thank you guys.
— Stephen Chbosky (@StephenChbosky) April 21, 2013
The Perks of Being a Wallflower, adapted from Chbosky’s acclaimed novel of the same name is a tale of adolescence centered on wallflower Charlie (Logan Lerman) who befriends two outcasts, one of whom is Patrick (Ezra Miller), a gay under-achieving high school student, who is involved with closeted quarterback Brad (Johnny Simmons).
Former President Bill Clinton received the Advocate for Change Award. Entertainment attorney Steve Warren received the Stephen F. Kolzak Award. Actress Drew Barrymore hosted the event. The capacity crowd enjoyed performances by Kelly Rowland and Glee's Darren Criss. Guests include: Leonardo DiCaprio (The GreatGatsby); Charlize Theron (Snow White and the Huntsman); Jennifer Lawrence (The Hunger Games); Harvey Weinstein; Betty White (Hot in Cleveland); brothers Chris Evans (The Avengers) & Scott Evans (BehavingBadly); Tobey Maguire (The Great Gatsby); Alex Pettyfer (The Butler); Elle Fanning (Ginger & Rosa); Logan Lerman, Johnny Simmons, Mae Whitman, Stephen Chbosky (The Perks of Being a Wallflower); Beth Ditto (Gossip); Kirsten Dunst (On the Road); Naya Rivera, Alex Newell (Glee); Matt Bomer (White Collar); Sara Ramirez, Ellen Pompeo (Grey's Anatomy); Ryan Murphy (Glee, The New Normal, American Horror Story); Andrew Rannells, Justin Bartha, Georgia King, Jayson Blair (The New Normal); Greg Garcia, Cloris Leachman, Shannon Woodward, Harvey Guillen (Raising Hope); Craig Zadan (Smash); Ted Danson (CSI) and Mary Steenburgen (30 Rock); Lana Parrilla (Once Upon a Time); Eric Dane, Rebecca Gayheart (G.B.F.); Ioan Guffudd and Alice Evans (The Vampire Diaries); Ali Larter (Legends) and Hayes MacArthur (Go On); Barrett Foa (NCIS: Los Angeles); Sara Gilbert (The Talk) and musician Linda Perry; Molly Shannon (Enlightened); Kat Graham (The Vampire Diaries); Freddie Smith (Days of Our Lives); Trevor Donovan (90210); Perez Hilton; Teri Polo, Sherri Saum, Peter Paige (The Fosters); Thomas Roberts (MSNBC); author and advocate Chaz Bono; Kori Boccumini, Cori McGinn (The Real L Word); Avan Jogia (Twisted); Maria Menounos (Extra);Jane Espenson, Brad Bell (Husbands); Crystal Chappell, Joanna Johnson, Linsey Godfrey (The Bold and the Beautiful); Melody Thomas Scott (The Young and the Restless); Brad Goreski (It's a Brad, Brad World); Hal Sparks (Queer as Folk); Khristianne Uy (The Taste); LGBT advocates Zach Wahls, Jennifer Tyrrell,Shane Bitney Crone (Bridegroom); GLAAD National Spokespersons, Wilson Cruz and Omar Sharif, Jr., and more.
Photos and videos of the event are available here.
Additional awards were presented in New York on March 16. The final awards will be presented in San Francisco on May 11 at the Hilton San Francisco - Union Square where Adam Lambert will receive the Davidson/Valentini Award and the San Francisco Giants will receive the Corporate Leader Award.
The 24th Annual GLAAD Media Awards were presented nationally by Ketel One and Wells Fargo, and presented locally in Los Angeles by Delta Air Lines.
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