Grammy-nominated singer Adam Lambert was the star attraction at the GLAAD Media Awards in San Francisco over the weekend where Spice Girls member Mel B presented him with the Davidson/Valentini Award.

'We are right in the middle of two generations with two different perspectives but one common thread – love,' Lambert told the crowd at the Hilton Hotel in Union Square.

'With all the differences of opinion both within the LGBT community and elsewhere, the best we can do is to keep it real and to spread a message of acceptance.'

The award Lambert received is named after Craig Davidson, GLAAD's first executive director, and his partner Michael Valentini. It is presented to an openly LGBT media professional who has made a significant difference in promoting equality for the LGBT community.

Lambert made clear that whatever the price of fame, he's glad to be out there trying to make a difference.

'If we can inspire even one person to open their mind, or another to be who they want to be, whether they’re gay or straight, old or young, man or woman, black or white – then it’s worth being objectified by the sometimes frustrating world of media sensationalism,' he said in his speech.

Lambert added: “Thank you to GLAAD for recognizing my efforts, because I put a lot of effort into this. I think about it a lot (it makes me crazy), but my goal is to try to represent both myself and my community proudly.”

Lambert came out publicly on the cover of Rolling Stone shortly after his star-making run on American Idol in 2008. Last year, he became the first openly gay artist to ever have an album debut at number one on the Billboard top 200 chart.

Previous Davidson/Valentini honorees include director Lee Daniels (Precious), actors Chad Allen, Alec Mapa, B.D. Wong, and Sandra Bernhard, and The L Word creator Ilene Chaiken.