Trans-inclusive TV dominates GLAAD Media Award nominations

TV exhibits that includes transgender and nonbinary folks dominated the media award nominations launched Wednesday by the LGBTQ advocacy group GLAAD.

Yearly since 1990, GLAAD has honored movies, tv exhibits, musicians, journalists and different media figures for honest, correct and inclusive representations of lesbian, homosexual, bisexual, transgender and queer folks.

Of the 30 tv exhibits nominated in three classes — excellent comedy sequence, excellent drama sequence and excellent new TV sequence — 18 function transgender and/or nonbinary characters, together with “Pose,” “9-1-1: Lone Star,” “Good Bother,” “Gray’s Anatomy,” “The L Phrase: Technology Q,” “Star Trek: Discovery” and “The Intercourse Lives of School Ladies.” 

This yr’s listing consists of 246 nominees throughout 30 classes — up from 198 nominees throughout 28 classes final yr. This yr GLAAD added two classes: excellent new TV sequence and excellent authentic graphic novel/anthology.

“Media can create constructive change and this yr’s nominees signify highly effective tasks, tales, and creators that positively shifted tradition and enlightened audiences with new and impactful LGBTQ tales,” Sarah Kate Ellis, GLAAD president and CEO, stated in an announcement. “There are extra nominees this yr than ever earlier than, highlighting a rising panorama of LGBTQ visibility, and serving as a reminder to the vital position that movie, tv, music, journalism, and different types of media can play in rising LGBTQ acceptance within the face of ongoing assaults towards our group.” 

Most of the nominees in different classes additionally featured trans characters or instructed the tales of trans folks “in well timed, nuanced, and empowering methods,” GLAAD stated, within the deadliest yr on document for trans folks. Additionally within the final yr, dozens of states thought of laws to ban trans women from feminine faculty sports activities groups and block trans youths’ entry to gender-affirming well being care. 

Different nominated exhibits and movies that includes trans and nonbinary folks embody “West Facet Story,” “Altering the Sport,” “Legendary,” “Queer Eye,” “RuPaul’s Drag Race,” “We’re Right here,” “Port Authority” and “The Loud Home.”

Of the ten nominees for excellent online game, six function trans and nonbinary characters, together with “Boyfriend Dungeon,” “Far Cry 6,” “The Gardener and the Wild Vines” and “Life is Unusual: True Colours.” 

Transgender and nonbinary characters seem in 5 of the nominated comedian books and graphic novels, together with the 2 anthologies: “DC Pleasure” and “Marvel’s Voices: Pleasure.”

GLAAD famous that most of the nominations in journalism additionally featured trans folks or highlighted points affecting the trans group.

NBC Information, MSNBC and NBC’s “TODAY” present garnered a mixed seven nominations, with NBC Information Digital receiving nominations for “TransAmerica” for excellent TV journalism, lengthy type, and “As anti-trans violence surges, advocates demand coverage reform“ for excellent on-line journalism article. 

Although a lot of GLAAD’s nominees centered on trans tales, GLAAD’s newest “The place We Are on TV” report launched final yr discovered a year-over-year lower within the variety of transgender characters on TV. The group attributed the decline to the pandemic and the truth that a number of exhibits with outstanding trans characters weren’t anticipated to return. 

Nevertheless, transgender actress Angelica Ross, who starred in Ryan Murphy’s “Pose,” instructed NBC Information final yr that she believes the drop in illustration is because of a scarcity of effort in Hollywood.

“As to be anticipated, a superb proportion of the motion for range was performative and predictable,” Ross stated. “A lot of my trans colleagues who’re creators noticed this coming nicely earlier than it began taking place. It’s why of us like myself, Rain Valdez, Janet Mock, Shakina Nayfack and others are utilizing our house within the business to create extra roles and create more room for actually numerous storytelling.”

Although GLAAD’s report discovered that total LGBTQ illustration was down — in addition to trans illustration — it additionally discovered that LGBTQ folks of colour on TV outnumbered their white counterparts for the primary time within the 25 years that GLAAD has been preserving observe. 

Equally, a big variety of this yr’s nominees function the tales of LGBTQ folks of colour, in response to GLAAD. These nominees within the movie and tv classes embody “Tick, Tick … Growth!,” “Breaking Quick,” “Gossamer Folds,” “The Obituary of Tunde Johnson,” “Plan B” and “Tu Me Manques.” 

Many LGBTQ artists of colour have been additionally nominated for excellent music artist or excellent breakthrough music artist, together with Lil Nas X, Halsey, Kaytranada, Demi Lovato, Arlo Parks and Japanese Breakfast. 

Award winners will likely be introduced throughout two reside ceremonies: in Los Angeles in April, and in New York Metropolis in Might. The total listing of nominees could be discovered on GLAAD’s web site.

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