Entertainment

Netflix leads GLAAD Media Awards nominations for LGBTQ representation

The streaming service got 26 nominations, including film nods for Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom and The Prom.
The streaming service got 26 nominations, including film nods for Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom and The Prom.

Netflix is once again the top contender at this year’s GLAAD Media Awards.

The streaming service got 26 nominations, snapping up film nods for Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom and The Prom, comedy series nominations for Dead To Me and Big Mouth and drama TV nods for The Umbrella Academy and Ratched.

Netflix has for the past few years led the annual nominations at GLAAD, which honours media for fair and accurate representations of LGBTQ people.

HBO Max followed with nine nominations, and Amazon, Hulu and HBO each received four.

The Hallmark Channel received its first nomination for The Christmas House, the network’s first festive film featuring a gay lead character.

GLAAD also noted that transgender characters were prominently featured in 9-1-1: Lone Star, Star Trek: Discovery, Saved By The Bell, Big Mouth and Supergirl.

Award recipients will be announced during a virtual ceremony scheduled for April.

Several categories increased from five to 10 nominees to recognise expanding levels of diverse LGBTQ representation across several media genres.

“This year’s nominees remind us that even in times of political and cultural division, diverse LGBTQ representation and visibility can enlighten, entertain, and create lasting change,” said GLAAD president and chief executive Sarah Kate Ellis in a statement.

The organisation also noted that Ryan Murphy created, directed and produced six nominees this year – The Prom, Boys In The Band, Circus Of Books, Hollywood, Ratched and 9-1-1: Lone Star.

Streaming services saw a total of 58 nominees, with cable receiving 29 nominations, and broadcast networks receiving 14.

GLAAD also honoured Out, a Pixar animated short film on Disney+ which features Pixar’s first-ever lead LGBTQ storyline, and After Forever, an Emmy Award-winning short-form series on Amazon Prime Video that follows a group of gay friends.

In its recent Where We Are On TV report, GLAAD found that LGBTQ and gender inclusiveness on television has retreated slightly this season due to delays and shutdowns caused by the Covid-19 pandemic.

Music artists who earned GLAAD nominations this year include Adam Lambert, Brandy Clark, Halsey, Kehlani, Lady Gaga, Miley Cyrus, Pabllo Vittar, Peppermint, Ricky Martin and Sam Smith.