An event celebrating positive portrayals of the gay, lesbian, bisexual and trans-gender community in the media has honoured Jennifer Lopez for her advocacy of gay rights.
The 44-year-old entertainer received the Vanguard Award at the Glaad (Gay and Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation) Media Awards in Los Angeles for her role as executive producer on The Fosters - a US drama series about a lesbian couple. This same award was previously bestowed upon Cher, Liza Minnelli and Dame Elizabeth Taylor.
The American Idol judge paid tribute to her "loyal" GLBT fans for being "always on the floor and in my heart".
The singer and actress told an audience at the Beverly Hilton Hotel, Sunday night, "If I do anything that makes one child out there feel empowered... my dream has come true," she told an audience at.
Other winners on Saturday included Canadian singing twins Tegan and Sara, NBC soap Days of Our Lives and The Fosters itself, which received the award for outstanding drama series. Special awards were presented to veteran TV producer Norman Lear and trans-gender actress Laverne Cox, star of prison drama Orange is the New Black.