Last night was the Power Up 2005 Power Premiere...and for me, it was an experience I will always remember! The Beverly Hills Hotel is very elegant...everything I imagined it would be. I watched...while L-Word.com representatives were busy snapping pictures...as all the celebrities, including Jennifer Love Hewitt, Robert Gant, Jane Lynch, and Margaret Cho made their way down the curved staircase, landing in the photographers den...an area where the flash from cameras has to be blinding, and hearing your name being shouted from all different directions, just a little bit disorienting.

We enjoyed wonderful conversations with Amy and Elizabeth Ziff of Betty, as well as Daniela Sea...were able to talk briefly with Guinevere Turner, and had one quick question to Sarah Shahi...who is even more beautiful in person! And, even though I was unable to get close enough to speak with Ilene Chaiken, it was a thrill just to be in the same space as the woman who changed our expectations of what we want from the entertainment industry, as well as provided those of us who frequent this site, hours upon hours of our own brand of entertainment!

Dinner was great, although I was so busy watching everyone, that I didn’t eat hardly anything! Elizabeth Ziff was so warm and open...and came up to our table just to talk again with us for a few minutes! The award presentation for the “10 Amazing Gay Women in Showbiz...who you need to know!” was both heartwarming, and funny. I will tell you all about these fabulous women in my follow up article. However, I will say that as I sat there listening to all their accomplishments, as well as their acceptance speeches, I felt an overwhelming sense of pride in my community, and my fellow lesbians.

Ilene Chaiken was presented with the Artistry Award. Her introduction was given by cast members Sarah Shahi, Daniela Sea, and Alexandra Hedison. The actual award was presented to her by Margaret Cho. Ilene made a wonderful speech, that was both heartfelt and inspiring which I will try to transcribe for you.

Power Up is a unique organization, and hosted an evening that was a total success on so many different levels. One which we would all benefit by supporting it in any way we can.

I will share so much more with you as soon as I can process it all, and get it down in writing!