POWER UP honored Judith Light of “One Life to Live,” “Who’s the Boss?” and “The Ryan White Story” with the group’s Premiere Award for her work to win acceptance for the gay community.

"I am deeply touched to be honored by POWER UP,” Light said. “It is an organization I have admired since its inception."

Light worked throughout her career to improve the lives of lesbians and gay men by bringing issues important to the gay community to the forefront of mainstream society. In 1993, she played a major role in organizing the March on Washington that sought to bring equality to gay people, and has a long career of supporting AIDS related causes.

The Bravo Network received POWER UP’s second Premiere Award and a standing ovation from the crowd for its efforts to bring gay life to the forefront. "Bravo is proud to be honored by an organization that shares our commitment to support the gay and lesbian community in the entertainment industry," Bravo Network President and NBC executive Jeff Gaspin said.

Bravo produced this summer’s surprise smash hit “Queer Eye for the Straight Guy,” and the gay dating reality show “Boy Meets Boy.” The Bravo Network began airing in 1980 and now reaches more than 70 million viewers under the ownership of NBC.

Laura Innes of NBC’s “ER” received POWER UP’s Artistry Award for portraying a lesbian character on prime-time television.

"I hope [my character’s] inclusion in prime time helps break down barriers of prejudice and injustice on-screen and off," Innes told the crowd.

Showtime later unveiled the cast of its newest show, “The L Word,” which examines everyday lesbian life from the viewpoint of five women. Previews of the show reveal a plot of dramatic sexual entanglement of lesbians living life in the fast lane, along with heavy coming out themes that mark the challenges of transitioning from sex with men to women. “The L Word” will begin airing this January.

Afterward, POWER UP named the entertainment industry’s ten most successful lesbians, of which Ellen DeGeneres, Rosie O’Donnell, Melissa Etheridge and k.d. Lang received top honors. All of the women on the list publicly identify themselves as gay while holding high profile positions in the entertainment industry.

But, the real accomplishment of the evening was in the silent success of an organization that, in less than three years, grew from a small group of lesbians working for change in the entertainment industry to an expansive circle of women with the power to bring gay life to the mainstream of mass media – all while successfully placing a $500 premium on tickets to the group’s annual gala.

Several hundred people attended the event, and more than 1000 people belong to POWER UP in Los Angeles, New York, San Francisco and Chicago. Proceeds from the gala will fund production costs for lesbian-oriented films.

POWER UP money helped produce a feature film based on Angela Robinson’s hit comedy D.E.B.S., which Screen-Gems Productions plans to release early next year. Other POWER UP films received positive acclaim from critics at the Sundance, Telluride and Berlin film festivals during the past year, and the group hopes to become well-known worldwide for lesbian-film sponsorship. POWER UP will accept screenplay submissions for grant money early next year.

Applications for the POWER UP Filmmakers Fund, $1,000 - $5,000 available to individuals for projects, are available online at www.power-up.net.

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