Co-hosted by Naked Sword President Tim Valenti and drag queen Roma, the awards presentation moved quickly, and quips between co-hosts kept the evening lighthearted.
The first Lifetime Achievement Award of the evening went to former performer and company owner Jill Kelly. Kelly thanked her mentors and many co-stars, naming the late director Jim Holliday many times.
Gay performer Michael Brandon was another recipient of a Lifetime Achievement Award. He was the most emotional of the honorees, noting how much fun he has on-screen and gaving his partner a heartfelt thank you.
With his trademark sunglasses, Mr. Marcus strode to the podium to accept his Lifetime Achievement Award. Citing his initial difficulty of being a minority in the adult industry, Marcus told the crowd how proud he was to stand with the other honorees in recognition of his career achievements.
Gay director John Rutherford was the final Lifetime Achievement Award honoree.
“I was humbled by my recognition from such a great organization and group of industry leaders, attorneys and lobbyists,” Rutherford said. “The hard work and continued efforts of the people behind the Free Speech Coalition will pave the way for me to continue for another 17 years.”
In a humbling gesture, Bob Pyne Sr. of Williams Trading announced during his acceptance speech of the Joel Warner Good Guy Award that he was donating the $5,000 profit of a recently installed soda machine at his facility to the Free Speech Coalition.
First Amendment attorneys Jeffrey Douglas and Reed Lee updated the crowd as to where the FSC is in its battle against onerous 2257 litigation, stating that it is winning the fight. The two lawyers then presented the Hal Freeman Freedom Isn’t Free Award to New Beginnings LTD’s Lenny Friedlander, Peekay’s Phyllis Heppenstall and retired Navy Lt. Col.-turned-porn-performer and director Dave Cummings.
Friedlander and Cummings have joined the FSC as plaintiffs in its lawsuit against the federal government over U.S.C. 18 § 2257.
ACE National’s Angelina Spencer won the Advocate Achievement Award. ACE National is the trade association of America’s adult nightclubs.
