GLAAD joined the celebratory spirit of awards season on Thursday night, recognizing over 30 outstanding contributions to LGBTQ storytelling at the annual GLAAD Media Awards held at the Beverly Hilton Hotel in Los Angeles. The ceremony, hosted by Jonathan Bennett, spotlighted a range of winners across films, television, music, podcasts, and journalism that promote fair, accurate, and inclusive portrayals of LGBTQ lives.
Significant winners included “Heated Rivalry,” “Stranger Things,” “Palm Royale,” and “Kiss of the Spider Woman.” Notable special honors were awarded to Quinta Brunson, who received the Vanguard Award, and the hosts of the “Las Culturistas” podcast, Bowen Yang and Matt Rogers, who were recognized with the Stephen F. Kolzak Award. The evening opened with a performance from Demi Lovato.
For those unable to attend, the 37th GLAAD Media Awards will be available for streaming exclusively on Hulu starting March 21.
The full list of winners highlighted various categories. “Kiss of the Spider Woman” was awarded Outstanding Film – Wide Theatrical Release, while “A Nice Indian Boy” and “Plainclothes” won for Outstanding Film – Limited Theatrical Release. The streaming film “Queen of Coal” took the prize for Outstanding Film – Streaming or TV, and the documentary “Come See Me in the Good Light” was recognized as Outstanding Documentary.
In the television categories, “Heated Rivalry” was named Outstanding New TV Series, and “Palm Royale” received the accolade for Outstanding Comedy Series. “Stranger Things” triumphed as Outstanding Drama Series. In reality programming, “Southern Hospitality” won Outstanding Reality Program, while “The Traitors” took home the award for Outstanding Reality Competition Program.
The celebration also recognized musical talents, with “Young Miko” being awarded Outstanding Music Artist and “KATSEYE” winning Outstanding Breakthrough Music Artist. The awards included acknowledgment of compelling storytelling in comic books, podcasts, and various journalism efforts, reflecting the depth and richness of LGBTQ narratives across multiple platforms.
In Spanish-language categories, “Mariliendre” was recognized as Outstanding Scripted Television Series, while “Ni hombre, ni mujer: Intersexual” won for Outstanding TV Journalism – Special Segment.
The GLAAD Media Awards continue to serve as an essential platform for honoring the voices that uplift and amplify LGBTQ stories, fostering greater understanding and acceptance within mainstream media.