The 33rd Annual GLAAD Media Awards were presented in New York City on May 6th.

The GLAAD Awards is the world’s largest lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer media advocacy organization. Each year individuals come together to support the organization to speak against growing anti-LGBTQ attacks that affect LGBTQ+ youth and transgender Americans. The night celebrates people within the LGBTQ+ community and their allies as they each show support and join as one. This year’s annual event was hosted by celebrity Peloton Instruction Cody Rigbsy and transgender recording artist, actress, GLAAD Board Member, and RuPaul’s Drag Race Alum Peppermint. The event also featured special performances from Dove Cameron of her hit single ‘Boyfriend’ and Michael R. Jackson, who performed from his Pulitzer-Prize winning Broadway musical A Strange Loop. Amongst those honored were Judith Light, who received GLAAD’s Excellence in Media Award from Ariana DeBose, and Wilson Cruz received the Vito Russo Award at the Hilton Midtown in Los Angeles. GLAAD also announced recipients for 16 of this year’s 30 categories for the awards and additional categories were announced in Los Angeles on April 2nd.

Each attendee that graced the stage provided heartwarming statements and words that expressed their support and ways to remain unified as a community. Cruz states, “We are a community of lovers who have dared to imagine, and make real, a more expansive and inclusive definition of love and identity for the human race.” Awards such as this help provide positive representation for the LGBTQ+ community within the media. Offering individuals a space to be both comfortable and accepted without judgment from others.

While presenting the Vito Russo Award and Cruz’s legacy, Jonathan Capehart stated: When Wilson started out, there were only a handful of out folks in entertainment, journalism, and politics. But Wilson has been advocating for us for three decades, unafraid to step up and say, “We are not going to stand for this. You can’t do this to our friends, families, colleagues, and neighbors without a fight.” People such as Cruz who speak up against the unfair treatment and discrimination against those within the community and encourage others to do the same.

Attendees ranging from reality tv stars to political journalists spoke about the country’s current battle with the potential abolition of Roe vs Wade. Light stated, “There are deeply destructive bills in Florida, Alabama, and Texas. No one of any race, gender identity, sexual orientation or ability should have to face discrimination from their own government.” America has fallen into a delicate period where elected officials in power remain divided on social and reproductive issues that affect numerous groups and people.

AWARD RECIPIENTS

During the New York ceremony, GLAAD announced award recipients for the following categories live onstage:

Pose received the award for Outstanding Drama Series [presented by Laverne Cox]
“HIV/AIDS: 40 Years Later” TODAY (NBC) received the award for Outstanding TV Journalism Segment [presented by Amber Tamblyn and Nyle DiMarco]
Power Rangers received the award for Outstanding Kids & Family Programming [presented by Cynthia Nixon]
Sesame Street received the award for Outstanding Children’s Programming [presented by Cynthia Nixon]

Additional award recipients announced in New York City:

Outstanding Broadway Production: (TIE) Company and Thoughts of a Colored Man

Outstanding Music Artist: Lil Nas X

Outstanding Breakthrough Music Artist: Lily Rose, Stronger Than I Am (Big Loud Records/Back Blocks Music/Republic Records)

Outstanding Variety or Talk Show Episode: “Elliot Page” The Oprah Conversation (Apple TV+)

Outstanding TV Journalism Segment: “HIV/AIDS: 40 Years Later” TODAY (NBC)

Outstanding TV Journalism – Long-Form: “Pride of The White House” (MSNBC)

Outstanding Print Article: “Lawmakers Can’t Cite Local Examples of Trans Girls in Sports” by David Crary & Lindsay Whitehurst (The Associated Press)

Outstanding Online Journalism Article: “‘No Time For Intolerance:’ Dr. Rachel Levine Has A Job To Do” by Dawn Ennis (Forbes.com)

Outstanding Online Journalism – Video or Multimedia: “Transnational” [series] by Eva Reign, Alyza Enriquez, Freddy McConnell, Vivek Kemp, Courtney Brooks, Sarah Burke, Hendrik Hinzel, Alyza Enriquez, Dan Ming, Trey Strange, and Daisy Wardell (VICE News)

Outstanding Blog: Pittsburgh Lesbian Correspondents

Outstanding Spanish-Language Online Journalism Article: (TIE) “Claudia: La Enfermera Trans que Lucha Contra el Covid en Ciudad Juárez” por Louisa Reynolds (Nexos.com) and “Somos Invisibles”: La Discriminación y los Riesgos se Multiplican para los Indígenas LGBTQ+” por Albinson Linares (Telemundo.com)

Outstanding Spanish-Language Online Journalism – Video or Multimedia: “Expulsados México: Cómo la Comunidad Transgénero se Unió para Ayudar a los Migrantes” por Patricia Clarembaux, Anna Clare Spelman, y Celemente Sánchez (Univision Noticias)

A full list of all categories and award recipients from the 33rd Annual GLAAD Media Awards in New York and Los Angeles is below.

Outstanding New TV Series: Hacks (HBO Max)

Outstanding Comedy Series: Saved by the Bell (Peacock)

Outstanding Drama Series: POSE (FX)

Outstanding Film – Wide Release: Eternals (Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures)

Outstanding Reality Program: (TIE) RuPaul’s Drag Race (VH1) and We’re Here (HBO)

Outstanding Documentary: Changing the Game (Hulu)

Outstanding TV Movie: Single All The Way (Netflix)

Outstanding Film – Limited Release: Parallel Mothers (Sony Pictures Classics)

Outstanding Limited or Anthology Series: It’s A Sin (HBO MAX)

Outstanding Children’s Programming: “Family Day” Sesame Street (HBO Max)

Outstanding Kids & Family Programming: Power Rangers: Dino Fury (Nickelodeon/Netflix)