GLAAD says Most People Erroneously Think LGBTQ Rights are Well Protected

 

 

Netflix has a lot to smile about Thursday – specifically, 26 nominations-worth of smiles.

The streaming service led all networks in the 32nd GLAAD Media Award nominations this year, for films like "Ma Rainey's Black Bottom," "The Prom" and "The Boys in the Band," not to mention documentary "Disclsoure" and series like "Sex Education" and "The Umbrella Academy." The next-closest streaming network, HBO Max, earned nine nominations. LGBTQ people of color, and the transgender community at large, saw nominations across categories.

Ryan Murphy – at the helm of many Netflix productions – was behind six different nominees this year, as a creator, director, producer and/or executive producer: "The Prom," "Boys in the Band," "Circus of Books," "Hollywood," "Ratched" and "9-1-1: Lone Star."

About 1 in 5 LGBTQ characters to appear on a series this coming year is tied to four industry leaders behind the scenes, including Murphy.

Hallmark received its first nomination ever this year for "The Christmas House" – a noteworthy milestone for the network that was maligned for its lack of LGBTQ representation. Other LGBTQ Christmas movies received nods, including "The Christmas Setup" on Lifetime and Paramount's "Dashing in December."

'We're not there yet': LGBTQ representation dips on broadcast TV, GLAAD study reveals

Streaming services received 58 nominations, while cable received 29 and broadcast received 14.

Other nominated series include Emmy Award-winning "Schitt's Creek," "Love, Victor," "Killing Eve" and "P-Valley." Musicians nominated include Miley Cyrus, Lady Gaga, Kehlani, Halsey, Peppermint, Ricky Martin and Sam Smith, among others.

On the journalism side of the equation, a USA TODAY piece by reporter Petruce Jean-Charles scored a nomination: "LGBTQ Americans are getting coronavirus, losing jobs. Anti-gay bias is making it worse for them."

In order to be eligible, all nominees must have been published, released or broadcast starting Jan. 1, 2020 through Dec. 31, 2020.

"During an unprecedented year of crises and isolation, the nominees for the 32nd Annual GLAAD Media Awards reached LGBTQ people with powerful stories and inspired countless others around the world with bold looks at LGBTQ people and issues," GLAAD President & CEO Sarah Kate Ellis said in a statement. "As GLAAD continues to lead the fight for LGBTQ acceptance, this year’s nominees remind us that even in times of political and cultural division, diverse LGBTQ representation and visibility can enlighten, entertain, and create lasting change."

A full list of the 198 nominees can be found here, along with a breakdown on diversity. The awards ceremony will take place virtually in April. The 2020 ceremony was also held virtually.

Representation of LGBTQ characters will slightly decrease on broadcast TV this year, from 10.2% to 9.1%, according to GLAAD's annual "Where Are We on TV" report. This is the first time there's been such a decrease since the 2013-2014 TV season.

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David Oliver, USA TODAY

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY