37th Annual GLAAD Media Awards Nominees Announced – Gains Seen In Mainstream Visibility

Featured image: Photo by Monica Schipper/GA/The Hollywood Reporter via Getty Images

The 37th annual GLAAD Media Awards nominations are in! Despite the challenges faced by creatives in a hostile political climate, there’s no shortage of media that has served to uplift with affirming narratives and to promote our visibility. All in, it’s been an exceptional year for queer content, especially in the Outstanding New TV Series department, with hits like The Hunting Wives, Boots, Pluribus and to no one’s surprise, Heated Rivalry, about two gay male hockey players – the hot romance sensation that just might have sapphics more obsessed than the boys.

The list of Outstanding Drama Series contenders highlights just how much groundbreaking content has taken streaming services by storm, i.e. Apple TV’s The Buccaneers and Severance, and Stranger Things (Netflix). Netflix leads among distributors/networks/streamers with 23 noms; combined HBO/Max scored 14; Apple TV took 11 and Hulu has nine.

Image: Connor Storrie and Hudson Williams attend premiere of “Heated Rivalry” on Nov. 24, 2025 in Toronto, Ontario. (Photo by Harold Feng/Getty Images)

Related: ‘Pluribus’ Becomes Apple TV’s Most-Watched Show, With Lesbian Lead Carol At The Center

Since 1990, GLAAD Awards have taken the prize for recognizing outstanding work in accurate and inclusive queer storytelling and media coverage – particularly work that moves past stereotypes and paints characters with multi-dimensional strokes. The range of channels and platforms is huge. Categories include Outstanding Film – Limited Release, Outstanding Drama Series, Outstanding Comedy Series, Outstanding Stories About Transgender People, Outstanding Comic Book, Outstanding Music Artist and many more (and yes, that means Video Games).

The sheer volume of media rocking the mainstream – plus having the broad spectrum appeal to warrant 31 categories – speaks to the state of affairs: the “bury your gays” days are over (mostly).

Related: Review Of ‘Bulletproof: A Lesbian’s Guide To Surviving The Plot

On the Independent side, Erin in the Morning made the cut for Outstanding Independent Journalism; the substack sets a high bar for commentary on trans legislation and LGBTQ+ news. Also in that category, Queer Kentucky, Kentucky’s only LGBTQ+ newsroom. “Our work exists because Kentucky’s LGBTQ+ communities deserve coverage that is accurate, affirming, and unafraid,” Missy Spears, Executive Director, has said with a nod to the politically fraught environment in which newsrooms currently operate.

Image: Spencer Jenkins, Editor-in-Chief and Missy Spears, Executive Director (courtesy) of nominee Queer Kentucky

Outstanding Magazine Overall Coverage contenders include queer-centric outlets, like The Advocate and Out, along with pubs that aren’t gay-specific but which consistently deliver on material that boosts positive representation, like Rolling Stone and Variety. Stars vying for music honors include Elton John & Brandi Carlile, G Flip, Reneé Rapp and Lady Gaga.

Related: G Flip Channels An “80s Butch Springsteen Fantasy” On New Album ‘Dream Ride’

The list for Outstanding Documentary includes offerings that highlight the intensity of the moment, such as Heightened Scrutiny (Fourth Act Film), which follows attorney Chase Strangio battling the Supreme Court for trans youth access to gender-affirming care; and some wonderful docs that pull back the curtain for a better look at cultural figures who fascinated for a time, then left us with secrets to uncover, as in Pee-Wee as Himself (HBO) and Sally (National Geographic) about the the 1st US woman in space.

Congratulations to all 291 nominees! Winners will be announced at the GLAAD Media Awards ceremony on March 5 in Los Angeles, venue to be announced.

The full list of nominations can be found here.