ENGLISH-LANGUAGE CATEGORIES
Outstanding Film – Wide Release
Film must be released by a recognized film distribution company, and play for paid admission in theaters for seven consecutive days. “Wide Release” will be defined by a combination of number of screens played, budget, and visibility. While US theaters are completely or partially closed due to COVID-19, this category will also include films released by a major studio digitally for a premium fee of $19 or more. (For a list of major studios, contact submissions@glaad.org.) GLAAD will determine if a film is eligible for Wide Release based on initial distribution plans, mainstream impact, and visibility. Receives Award: Award is given to the film. Producer, director, writer, and/or actors may accept.
Outstanding Film – Limited Release
Film must be released by a recognized film distribution company, and play for paid admission in theaters for seven consecutive days. While US theaters are completely or partially closed due to COVID-19, this category will also include films intended for theatrical release by a film distribution company but which received a digital theatrical release in conjunction with closed movie theaters or premiered on broadcast television, cable, or a streaming platform instead. (For a list of recognized film distributors, contact submissions@glaad.org.) This category does not include feature films distributed only on VOD. “Limited Release” will be defined by a combination of number of screens played, budget, and visibility. Receives Award: Award is given to the film. Producer, director, writer, and/or actors may accept.
Outstanding Drama Series
Given to a drama series which has a lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender or queer character in a lead, supporting or recurring role. Award is given for content throughout the entire year. Receives Award: Award is given to the show. Producer, writers, and/or actors may accept.
Outstanding Comedy Series
Given to a comedy series which has a lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender or queer character in a lead, supporting or recurring role. Award is given for content throughout the entire year. Receives Award: Award is given to the show. Producer, writers, and/or actors may accept.
Outstanding Documentary
Documentaries must either be televised in more than one local market, or be released theatrically. If released theatrically, film must be released by a recognized distribution company, and play for paid admission in theaters for seven consecutive days. If televised, the broadcast date must be no more than two (2) years after the completion of the film. This category does not include documentaries distributed only on VOD. Receives Award: Award is given to the film. Producer, director, and/or person(s) featured in the film may accept.
Outstanding TV Movie
Given to a made-for-television movie or a film purchased for exclusive release on broadcast television, cable, or a streaming platform. Film did not play for paid admission in theaters. Episodes of an anthology series, in which each episode is a different story, that are 75 minutes in length or longer are also eligible. This category does not include feature films distributed only on VOD. Receives Award: Award is given to the film. Producer, writers, and/or actors may accept.
Outstanding Limited or Anthology Series
Given to a limited or anthology television series which has a lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender or queer character in a lead, supporting or recurring role. Receives Award: Award is given to the limited or anthology series. Producer, director, writer and/or actors may accept.
Outstanding Reality Program
Given to a program that depicts actual people and/or events and includes LGBTQ people as participants, hosts, and/or judges. The show’s premise, circumstances or situations are manipulated for the purpose of creating the program, and may include contrived or staged elements. The category includes shows that are not a contest, as well as shows that give a prize or is itself a contest and/or competition. Award is given for LGBTQ content throughout the entire series. Receives Award: Award is given to the show. Producer, host, and/or participants may accept.
Outstanding Children’s Programming
Given to a family-oriented television program created for younger children. Award is given for a lead, supporting, or recurring LGBTQ character, or for an LGBTQ-inclusive episode or story arc in shows without a regular LGBTQ character. Judging will take into consideration the narrative tone and storytelling techniques required for the age of the intended audience. Receives Award: Award is given to the show or episode/story arc. Producer, writers, and/or actors may accept.
Outstanding Kids & Family Programming
Given to a family-oriented television program created for older kids, tweens, teens, and/or their parents. Award is given for a lead, supporting, or recurring LGBTQ character, or for an LGBTQ-inclusive episode or story arc in shows without a regular LGBTQ character. Judging will take into consideration the narrative tone and storytelling techniques required for the age of the intended audience. Receives Award: Award is given to the show or episode/story arc. Producer, writers, and/or actors may accept.
Outstanding Music Artist
Given to a music artist who released a full-length or EP-length album during the current eligibility period, and who used songs, music videos, or live performances to accelerate LGBTQ acceptance. The album must be sold through a major music retail store and/or a major online music store. Media interviews, public statements, and other information may be considered when selecting nominees and award recipients. Receives Award: Award is given to the artist. Artist may accept.
Outstanding Breakthrough Music Artist
Given to a music artist who has achieved a breakthrough in the music industry during the current eligibility period and whose songs, music videos, or live performances have made a significant impact on LGBTQ visibility and acceptance. The artist must have released a full-length or EP-length album during the current eligibility period. The album must be sold through a major music retail store and/or a major online music store. Media interviews, public statements, and other information may be considered when selecting nominees and award recipients. Artists nominated for Outstanding Breakthrough Music Artist cannot be nominated for Outstanding Music Artist in the same year. Receives Award: Award is given to the artist. Artist may accept.
Outstanding Video Game
Given to a video game from a major studio or publisher with outstanding LGBTQ-inclusive content. Award is given for an interactive experience that includes authentic and impactful LGBTQ characters or storylines. Judging will take into consideration the degree to which the LGBTQ-inclusive content is effectively woven into gameplay, including player agency and the world itself. At GLAAD’s discretion, a video game that is not from a major studio or publisher may be nominated if the game achieves a similar level of visibility and impact. Receives Award: Award is given to the video game. Developers or publishers may accept.
Outstanding Comic Book
Given to a comic book published by the four mainstream publishers and their subsidiary labels: Dark Horse, DC, Image, and Marvel. At GLAAD’s discretion, a comic book from another publisher may be nominated if the book achieves a level of visibility and impact similar to a mainstream publisher. The comic book may be nominated for an individual issue, a story arc, or a recurring LGBTQ character. Receives Award: Award is given to the comic book. Writer, artist, and/or editor may accept.
Outstanding Variety or Talk Show Episode
Recognizes one episode of a daytime, primetime, or late night talk show which featured an outstanding discussion of LGBTQ issues. Multiple episodes of the same show may be nominated. A show must not have had any offensive episodes throughout the rest of the year. Receives Award: Award is given to the episode. Producer, host, and/or person(s) featured on the show may accept.
Outstanding TV Journalism Segment
Recognizes spot-news and short-form journalism by a local or national news outlet which is no longer than 20 minutes in length. This includes but is not limited to: nightly news story, morning show story, cable news segment or interview. Multiple episodes/segments of the same show may be nominated. Receives Award: Award is given to the segment. Producer, journalist, and/or persons featured in the story may accept.
Outstanding TV Journalism – Long-Form
Recognizes long-form journalism by a local or national news outlet which is longer than 20 minutes in length. This includes but is not limited to: newsmagazine segment, stand-alone special or feature program, episode of news show. Multiple episodes/segments of the same show may be nominated. Receives Award: Award is given to the segment or entire show (if it’s a stand-alone feature program.) Producer, journalist, and/or persons featured in the story may accept.
Outstanding Print Article
Given to an individual article or series of related articles that were printed in a newspaper or magazine. More than one article from an individual newspaper or magazine may be nominated. Editorials are not eligible in this category. Receives Award: Award is given to the article. Journalist, editor, and/or persons featured in the story may accept.
Outstanding Magazine Overall Coverage
Given to a magazine for the quantity and quality of its digital and print coverage throughout the entire year. Receives Award: Award is given to the magazine. Publisher, editor, and/or prominent journalist may accept.
Outstanding Online Journalism Article
Given to an article or series of related articles that are exclusive to an online news site. Receives Award: Award is given to the article. Journalist, editor, and/or persons featured in the story may accept.
Outstanding Online Journalism – Video or Multimedia
Given to a video, slide show, or other multimedia story that is exclusive to an online news site. Receives Award: Award is given to the multimedia piece. Journalist, executive producer, and/or persons featured in the story may accept.
Outstanding Blog
Recognizes a blog based on the quality of its overall coverage throughout the year. Outlet must be independent, with a majority of content from a single contributor. Outlet may consist of original content and/or aggregated content with original commentary, posted in chronological order. Receives Award: Award is given to the blog. Primary contributor may accept. (Note, submission fees are waived in this category.)
SPANISH-LANGUAGE CATEGORIES
Outstanding Scripted Television Series
Given to a series or novela which airs during daytime, primetime, or late-night hours. The series must feature a lead, supporting or recurring LGBTQ character. Award is given for content throughout the entire series. Receives Award: Award is given to the series. Producer, writers, and/or actors may accept.
Outstanding TV Journalism
Recognizes spot-news, short-form or long-form journalism, including but not limited to: nightly news story, morning show story, cable news program, news talk segment, newsmagazine or TV interview. Multipart news segments may be nominated. If your piece is a stand-alone news program entirely focused on a particular LGBTQ topic or story, please submit for Special Recognition. Receives Award: Award is given to the segment. Producer, journalist, and/or persons featured in the story may accept.
Outstanding Online Journalism Article
Given to an article or series of articles published online. Receives Award: Award is given to the article. Journalist, editor, and/or persons featured in the story may accept.
Outstanding Online Journalism – Video or Multimedia
Given to a video, slide show, or other multimedia story that is exclusive to an online news site. Receives Award: Award is given to the multimedia piece. Journalist, executive producer, and/or persons featured in the story may accept.