Viewers are getting a broad look at the latest GLAAD Media Awards nominees, from acclaimed films and streaming dramas to podcasts, video games, journalism and Spanish-language storytelling. The 37th annual list celebrates work praised for fair, accurate and inclusive LGBTQ representation, while the next nominees are due in January 2027.

Essential Takeaways

  • A wide-ranging shortlist: The awards cover film, television, music, theatre, podcasts, games, comics and journalism.
  • Major winners: Kiss of the Spider Woman, Queen of Coal and Heated Rivalry led notable entertainment categories.
  • Beyond the screen: Podcasts, graphic novels and independent journalism sit alongside mainstream studio releases.
  • Spanish-language recognition: Dedicated categories highlight LGBTQ storytelling across Spanish-language television and digital media.
  • Streaming remains central: Netflix, Apple TV, HBO and other platforms appear repeatedly throughout the nominees.

Representation stretches far beyond the cinema

The most striking feature of the GLAAD Media Awards nominees is their range. A list that begins with films such as Blue Moon, The History of Sound and Kiss of the Spider Woman soon expands into television, music, theatre, games and reporting.

That breadth matters because LGBTQ stories are no longer confined to a single corner of popular culture. According to GLAAD’s previous awards announcements, the organisation assesses media for fairness, accuracy and inclusion across a wide variety of formats.

In the wide theatrical release category, Kiss of the Spider Woman took the top honour. The limited-release field produced joint winners, A Nice Indian Boy and Plainclothes, while Queen of Coal won among streaming and television films.

Television reflects a bigger, more varied conversation

Television remains one of the awards’ busiest areas, and the nominees show how queer representation now appears in everything from comedy and drama to reality programming and children’s entertainment.

Heated Rivalry won Outstanding New TV Series, while Palm Royale claimed the comedy prize and Stranger Things took the drama award. The limited or anthology category went to Wayward, suggesting that LGBTQ themes are being recognised across both intimate character pieces and high-profile genre projects.

The list also includes XO, Kitty, Adventure Time: Fionna and Cake and Firebuds in children’s and family categories. That inclusion is significant. Stories aimed at younger viewers can make identity, belonging and difference feel ordinary rather than sensational, which is often where representation has its quietest power.

Music, podcasts and games join the mainstream

The awards also capture how LGBTQ storytelling has moved through modern entertainment channels. Young Miko won Outstanding Music Artist, while KATSEYE was recognised as the breakthrough music artist.

Podcasting receives a similarly prominent platform. Handsome Podcast won the overall podcast category, and episodes featuring artists and public figures shared space with investigative and culture-focused conversations. GLAAD’s earlier award cycles have likewise treated audio as a serious storytelling medium, not merely an accessory to television or film.

Video games and comics broaden the picture further. Lost Records: Bloom and Rage won Outstanding Video Game, while Avengers Academy: Marvel’s Voices took the comic-book award. These formats invite audiences to spend more time inside characters’ worlds, so representation can feel active and participatory rather than simply observed.

Journalism keeps the focus on lived experience

Some of the strongest entries sit outside entertainment altogether. The journalism categories include reporting on transgender rights, HIV and AIDS, conversion therapy, military service, discrimination and community safety.

A Transgender Marine Speaks Out won the long-form television journalism award, while Community during fascism: Actress Laverne Cox on the importance of WorldPride in Trump’s D.C. was recognised for a segment or special. In online journalism, an article about Sarah McBride won the main article category, and Under The Desk News with V Spehar took the independent journalism prize.

These awards underline an important distinction: inclusive media isn't only about seeing people represented on screen. It's also about whose testimony is trusted, which issues receive sustained attention and whether reporting treats LGBTQ lives with accuracy and dignity.

Spanish-language categories add essential depth

The dedicated Spanish-language categories make the awards more representative of the audiences they serve. Winners included Mariliendre for scripted television and Ni hombre, ni mujer: Intersexual for television journalism, alongside a joint recognition for Orgullo 2025 Avances, Desafíos y Caminos.

Digital storytelling is included too, with My Coming Out Story winning the online journalism article category and ¿Tienes HIV, Mijo? A Mother’s Journey taking the video or multimedia award. These selections show that LGBTQ media is not a single, English-language conversation.

For viewers looking for something beyond the biggest US and UK releases, this section is a useful starting point. It offers drama, reporting and personal stories shaped by different languages, cultures and experiences, rather than presenting one version of queer life as universal.

What the next awards cycle could bring

The 37th annual awards are available to stream exclusively on Hulu, while the 38th annual GLAAD Media Awards nominees are expected in January 2027. That gives audiences plenty of time to explore the current shortlist and judge the work for themselves.

Previous GLAAD announcements show a continuing effort to recognise both household-name productions and smaller projects that might otherwise be missed. The balance isn't always easy, but it makes the list feel more useful than a simple popularity contest.

For viewers, the practical takeaway is simple: start with the category that matches your interests, then follow the nominees outward. A film pick may lead to a podcast, a documentary may point towards investigative journalism, and one comic or game may offer a surprisingly personal story.

It's a lively reminder that LGBTQ representation now lives almost everywhere media does.

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