These are some photos of Matt Bomer over the weekend at an event for the Gay, Lesbian and Straight Education Network (GLSEN), an advocacy group which helps gay students around the country. Matt is really involved with the group, and so he was one of the big “gets” at the GLSEN Respect Awards. Several of Matt’s friends and family came out to support him too – his long-time partner Simon Hall was there, as was Matt’s White Collar costar Tim DeKay, and Matt’s long-time friend Joe Manganiello. I guess White Collar is done with filming this season, and that’s why Matt is rocking his scruffy beard. He looks HOT with a beard. Here’s a little more about Matt’s work with GLSEN:

Matt Bomer knew he was gay when he was a teenager, but coming out wasn’t an option.

“When I was in high school, there was no safe haven, there was no outlet for you to speak your mind,” the 34-year-old White Collar star said last night at gay student advocacy group GLSEN’s Respect Awards, where he and his partner, Simon Halls, were honored with the Inspiration Award.

“So I did what any self-preserving 14-year-old would do—I signed up for the school play and also the football team to cover my tracks. When that happens, when you aren’t allowed to speak about who you are, one of the most authentic parts of who you are, which is who you love or who you’re attracted to, feels invisible,” said Bomer, who publicly came out in February. “GLSEN gives visibility and authenticity to kids all across the country.”

Halls, one of Hollywood’s most powerful publicists, spoke of his and Bomer’s three sons.

“Having kids teaches you so many things, and one of the things we both have learned in our parenting journey is how loving and accepting and open children’s minds and hearts are,” he said. “Unfortunately, in some parts of the country, some kids are taught at an early age that being different is somehow bad or wrong or worthy of ridicule…Kids aren’t born to be bullies, they’re taught to be bullies.”

True Blood star and Bomer’s Magic Mike costar, Joe Manganiello, presented the couple with the award.

“You are the example that the rest of our country needs to wake up and see in terms of equality and putting an end to the bullying epidemic and making sure that every family is respected in our schools and our society,” said Manganiello, who also went to college with Bomer.

Also at the gala, which took place at the Beverly Hills Hotel, were actors Octavia Spencer, Amy Adams, Jim Parsons along with White Collar’s Tim DeKay and Willie Garson as well as directors Brett Ratner, Jason Moore and Bryan Singer, out country singer Chely Wright, red carpet maven Ross Matthews and fellow honorees Bob Weinstein and Jeffrey and Marilyn Katzenberg.

[From E! News]

It sounds like a great event. I kind of love that out gay men like Matt Bomer and Neil Patrick Harris are playing leading men (and romantic leads) in mainstream television shows. I think THAT says a lot to kids too – that they can definitely point to someone like Matt or NPH and say, “I know what a gay person looks like, I see them on TV all the time, and they’re just like everyone else.”

Some more photos from the event… I swear, I think Matt Bomer is incredibly, mind-numbingly beautiful, but I have such a full-blown crush on Tim DeKay. He’s incredibly sexy. Also: Matt Bomer is wearing a wedding ring? He and Simon must have gotten married.

Photos courtesy of WENN.