Celebrating LGBTQIA+ Wins with the GLAAD Awards

Al Stone-Gebhardt | February 1, 2024


The Gay & Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation (GLAAD) Media Awards were recently announced a week ago on their Instagram account, sparking excitement across the world for many LGBTQIA+ creators and viewers alike.

The GLAAD Media Awards are a beacon of appreciation for exceptional achievements in queer representation in the media landscape. The awards had their genesis in 1990, contrived to bring attention to the neglect of positive, accurate portrayals of the LGBTQIA+ community in modern media. 

However, the impact of GLAAD’s work extends beyond just the red carpet. While its primary goal was to recognize achievements in film, television, journalism, and other media forms, the GLAAD Awards have taken center stage in changing the landscape of queer visibility and acknowledging the weight media holds in forming perceptions. 

Over the years, GLAAD has progressed into encompassing a wider range of media, mirroring the diversity of racial, sexual and gender identities across queer communities.

The organization resolves to expedite acceptance for the LGBTQIA+ community, and their work reflects this. 

GLAAD’s operations extend into media monitoring, education and advocacy. Additionally, GLAAD labors to ensure fair and faithful representation of the queer community, striving to create a world where everyone can live without fear of discrimination. 

These awards serve as a compelling tool in achieving that mission. In recognizing and celebrating positive, intersectional queer characters and narratives, GLAAD encourages the broader media industry — from Warner Bros. to Penguin Random House to independent projects — to embrace diversity and inclusion and to challenge societal norms. The awards are both a celebration and a call to continue championing queer stories.

As the upcoming GLAAD Awards grow closer, there are many nominated pieces to look forward to, whether you’re a casual viewer or an intense cinephile. 

From film and television to journalism and digital content, here are some highlights from recent years and what viewers can look forward to:

Outstanding Film — Wide Release: This category recognizes mainstream films that have made incredible strides in queer representation. Some films this year are “Bottoms,” “The Color Purple,” “All of Us Are Strangers,” “Moving On” and “American Fiction,” to name just a few.

Outstanding Comedy Series/Drama Series: This category is a fan-favorite, acknowledging television that authentically portrays LGBTQIA+ characters and stories. TV series in this category include “The Last of Us,” “The Other Black Girl,” “Good Omens,” “9-1-1: Lone Star,” “Good Trouble,” “Harley Quinn,” “Doctor Who,” “Our Flag Means Death,” “What We Do In The Shadows” and “Everything Now.”

Outstanding Online/Print Journalism: This category celebrates online journalism that effectively uses elements of multimedia to communicate queer stories. Whether you read Them, CNN, People, Variety, The Washington Post or AP, many esteemed and local journalists have made it onto this list for their efforts to spotlight LGBTQIA+ stories, from trans triumphs to queer history to personal coming out stories.

Special Awards: At these awards, there is often a place held for individuals who have made exceptional contributions to queer visibility. This year, this category includes “The Dads” on Netflix, Beyonce’s “Renaissance: A Film by Beyonce” and The Tennessee Holler, among many other notable media. 

Fans of comics, podcasts, children’s programming and music won’t want to miss these awards, either. Categories celebrating all forms of entertainment exist within GLAAD. Queer fans will see big names, such as “Baldur’s Gate 3,” boygenius, Ice Spice, media like “Nimona” and “Heartstopper,” “Adventure Time: Fiona and Cake;” prints associated with Marvel and DC Comics are also up for ovations. 

Overall, the GLAAD Media Awards are a testimony of the breakthroughs made in queer representation in media in recent decades. By honoring these phenomenal songs, movies, series and prints, GLAAD celebrates the achievements of today and fans the flame for an inclusive future. As audiences, let us look forward to the continual growth of diverse, authentic storytelling that reflects the richness of the queer experience. 

"File:Jennifer Lopez at GLAAD Media Awards.jpg" by dvsross is licensed under CC BY 2.0.

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