The 35th annual GLAAD Media Awards, held in New York City on Saturday, May 13th, 2024, recognized outstanding media projects that promote fair, accurate, and inclusive representations of LGBTQ+ people and issues. The ceremony, hosted by Ross Mathews, capped off a two-part award show, with the first half of winners announced at a Los Angeles ceremony in March.
Award Highlights and Special Recognitions
The New York ceremony featured a dazzling array of winners across various media categories. Here are some of the night’s top honors:
- Outstanding Film – Streaming or TV: Rustin (Netflix)
- Outstanding New Series: The Last of Us (HBO)
- Queer Fan Favorite: Red, White & Royal Blue
- Outstanding Podcast: Las Culturistas (iHeart)
Special Awards:
- Excellence in Media Award: Jennifer Hudson
- Vito Russo Award (Presented by Jennifer Lawrence): Orville Peck
Previously Announced Awards:
- Special Recognition Awards: Awarded to various films and television shows celebrating LGBTQ+ themes.
- Barbara Gittings Award for Excellence in LGBTQ Media: Awarded to +Life Media
Award Categories and Winning Projects: A Celebration of Diversity
The GLAAD Media Awards encompass a wide range of media formats, showcasing diverse storytelling platforms and recognizing achievements across the board. Here’s a breakdown of some key categories and their respective winners:
- Television:
- Outstanding TV Journalism – Long-Form: Our America: Who I’m Meant to Be – Episode 3
- Outstanding Variety or Talk Show Episode: The Jennifer Hudson Show, “Jennifer Hudson Surprises HIV Activist with $10,000”
- Outstanding New Series: The Last of Us (HBO)
- Outstanding TV Journalism Segment: “New York City Gay Bar Deaths Classified as Homicides” (NBC News Now)
- Outstanding Live TV Journalism – Segment or Special: “Indiana Students Put on LGBTQ-Themed Play Themselves After it’s Canceled By the School” Yasmin Vossoughian Reports (MSNBC)
- Film & Streaming:
- Outstanding Film – Streaming Or TV: Rustin (Netflix)
- Outstanding Documentary: Beyond the Aggressives: 25 Years Later (MTV Documentary Films), Kokomo City (Magnolia Pictures) and The Stroll (HBO | Max Documentary Films)
- Theater & Entertainment:
- Outstanding Broadway Production: Melissa Etheridge: My Window
- Outstanding Reality Program: Family Karma
- Podcasts:
- Outstanding Podcast: Las Culturistas (iHeart)
- Print & Online Media:
- Outstanding Print Article: “As Drag Bans Proliferate, Maren Morris Goes Deep With Drag’s Biggest Stars on Why the Show Must Go On” by Stephen Daw (Billboard)
- Outstanding Online Journalism Article: “The AP Interview: Pope Francis Says Homosexuality Not a Crime” by Nicole Winfield (AP.com)
- Outstanding Online Journalism – Video or Multimedia: “7 Remarkable Trans Elders Share Lessons for the Next Generation” (them.us)
- Spanish Language Awards:
- Outstanding Online Journalism Article (Spanish Language): “Personas mayores LGBTQIA+ ‘tienen que regresar a un clóset para poder buscar vivienda‘” por David Cordero Mercado y Joaquín A. Rosado Lebrón (PeriodismoInvestigativo.com and ElNuevoDia.com)
- Outstanding Online Journalism – Video or Multimedia (Spanish Language): “Conoce a la primera diputada negra y trans de Brasil” por Natalia Barrera Francis, Joyce García, David von Blohn, Paula Daibert y Claudia Escobar (Descoloniza – AJ+ Español)
This diverse range of winners underlines the GLAAD Media Awards’ commitment to recognizing media that amplifies LGBTQ+ voices and stories across all platforms.
Continuing the Fight for Representation: The Importance of GLAAD
The GLAAD Media Awards serve a crucial purpose – they highlight the power of media to promote understanding, acceptance, and inclusivity towards the LGBTQ+ community. By recognizing projects that accurately portray LGBTQ+ experiences and tackling critical issues, the GLAAD Awards encourage positive representation in media and challenge discriminatory narratives.
This year’s ceremony, with its celebration of diverse titles like Red, White & Royal Blue and The Last of Us, underscores the ongoing progress in LGBTQ+ representation across media. However, the fight for equality continues. The GLAAD Awards serve as a reminder of the importance of inclusive storytelling and the role media plays in shaping public perceptions.
