The Gay and Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation (GLAAD) announced its picks for the 24th annual GLAAD Media Awards today, a glitzy annual gala that celebrates “outstanding images of the LGBT community.”
Many of the nominees seem like shoe-ins for their well-known advocacy of gay characters and culture. Others may have viewers arguing that the shows and programs don’t reflect well on the LGBT community. GLAAD focuses on “fair and accurate” portrayals of LGBT people by mainstream outlets, so a majority of the honorees hail from non-LGBT media, such as the major film studios and TV networks. But several LGBT blogs and magazines were singled out for excellence in LGBT coverage, including Autostraddle and Towleroad.
Among the familiar nominees, The New Normal, Smash, Glee, Modern Family, Grey’s Anatomy and more will compete in the scripted TV categories. The Perks of Being a Wallflower, The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel and Cloud Atlas are up for Outstanding Film-Wide Release. LGBT-themed films compete in the Outstanding Film-Limited Release and Outstanding Documentary categories, including Wish Me Away, Hit So Hard and How to Survive a Plague (the latter also nominated for a Best Documentary Feature Oscar this year).
Some Outstanding Reality Program picks will probably have viewers questioning GLAAD’s taste. TLC’s execrable family saga Here Comes Honey Boo Boo is nominated, as is The Real L Word, castigated by bloggers for representing a particularly narrow slice of the lesbian community.
“This year’s nominees enlighten and entertain, but also reflect a new American landscape where a growing majority accept and value their LGBT family, colleagues and friends. Now more than ever, viewers not only accept gay and transgender characters and plot lines, they expect them – just as they both accept and expect LGBT people to be a valuable part of their everyday lives,” said GLAAD President Herndon Graddick in a statement.
The GLAAD Media Awards ceremonies will be held in New York on March 16, 2013 at the New York Marriott Marquis; in Los Angeles on April 20 at the JW Marriott; and in San Francisco on May 11 at the Hilton San Francisco-Union Square. Special honorees for each city will be announced in coming weeks.
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