With late-night TV queen Chelsea Handler (Chelsea Lately) holding the reins, the L.A. Gay & Lesbian Center's 38th Anniversary Gala and Auction on October 24, 2009—which raised $445,000 for Center services—was destined to be a laugh-a-minute event. But Handler wasn't the only one mining for comedy gold.

When out comic Wanda Sykes accepted the Center’s Rand Schrader Distinguished Achievement Award—presented by Jay Leno—the outspoken Sykes vowed to "keep running [her] big-ass mouth" to promote LGBT equality.

Drag performer extraordinaire Clinton Leupp, aka Miss Coco Peru (trick), moved the audience to laughs and tears with a stirring speech about his years donning drag and plunging into activism after accepting the Center's Board of Directors Award, presented by Zachary Quinto (Heroes).

What drag performers realize, Peru says, is that "if you have the balls to change yourself, you have the courage to change the world."

And Amber Riley, who stars in the breakout hit Glee, got toes tapping when she belted out "Hating On Me."

George Carrancho of American Airlines accepted the Corporate Vision Award in recognition of the airline's longstanding commitment to LGBT equality, following a hilarious video tribute to (and spoof of) the company. This year, for the first time, the public choose the recipient of the Corporate Vision Award by popular vote.

Handler, host extraordinaire, never shied away from edgy humor or political satire.

"I'm a little confused as to why I'm here, because I've hosted over 50 events for the gay and lesbian community this past year and assumed all of the problems had been solved," Handler said.

Center CEO Lorri L. Jean had plenty to say about the political climate, too; she took hypocritical right-wing politicians to task for lying about their own extramarital affairs while continuing to hold anti-gay positions and contribute to a culture that harms many LGBT people, including youth who come to the Center for help after being rejected by their families.

Jean's speech was preceded by the debut of a new, short video highlighting how the Center's many services for LGBT youth change their lives.