With an increasing call for diversity and inclusion in awards shows, the 34th Annual GLAAD Media Awards recently announced their first batch of winners on March 30 in Los Angeles. Comedian and actress Margaret Cho hosted the ceremony.

Today, GLAAD is known as the world’s largest LGBTQ+ media advocacy organization and has been instrumental in inspiring positive media representation for the LGBTQ+ community since its inception.

In 1985, GLAAD was founded by a group of journalists in an effort to stand up against offensive media portrayal, particularly after the controversial coverage of AIDS in The New York Post. The group made a lifelong commitment to highlighting the diversity of the LGBTQ+ community. The first awards ceremony took place in 1989 when As the World Turns (1956-2010) won for Outstanding Daytime Drama, and Doctor Doctor (1989-1991) won for Outstanding Comedy Series.

In the years since, the GLAAD awards have expanded to multiple categories, with 33 categories now being awarded. Fifteen of the thirty-three categories were announced at the 34th Annual GLAAD awards, with Bros (2022) winning for Outstanding Film, The Inspection (2022) winning for Outstanding Limited Release Film, and A League of Their Own (2022) winning for Outstanding New TV Series.

Bros, starring and co-written by Billy Eichner of Billy on the Street frame, is notable for being a gay rom-com from a major studio. While the film’s box office receipts were a bit underwhelming, it did receive great reviews from critics. The Inspection, produced by A24 and based on director Elegance Bratton’s own story, follows the story of a young, gay Black man who struggles with his identity while joining the Marines. And sports drama A League of Their Own, based on the 1992 film of the same name, follows the story of a professional women’s baseball league. The show has been widely beloved by fans for its representation of LGBTQ+ women.

Christina Aguilera received the Advocate for Change Award, and Bad Bunny received the Vanguard award, both for their efforts in advocating for the LGBTQ+ community.

“I grew up in this community as most of my lifelong best friends identify as LGBTQ,” Aguilera said while accepting her award. “So much of who I am and what I do is because of each of you and our shared experience of having to fight for equality and freedom in some capacity.”

The show will be available to stream on April 12, and the remaining eighteen categories will be announced at the New York City ceremony on May 13.

Having an entire award show devoted to LGBTQ+ excellence in film, television, and other forms of media is important. With a record number of Anti-LGBTQ+ bills being proposed in 2023, especially against trans youth, modern times can feel utterly hopeless. But organizations like GLAAD are a constant reminder of the beauty that is found within the LGBTQ+ community. There will always be a space for us and the stories that ache within us, waiting to be told to the world.

Article Courtesy of Matt Minton

Feature Image from Bros (2022) via Universal Pictures