Wednesday, January 28, 2009

Campaign group Gay and Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation (GLAAD) has announced the nominees for this year’s GLAAD Media Awards. The awards are for films and television programs that present a “fair, accurate and inclusive representations of the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender community”.

Gus Van Sant’s biopic Milk, starring Sean Penn as the gay title character Harvey Milk, is nominated in the film category along with Woody Allen’s Vicky Cristina Barcelona, Julian Jarrold’s version of Evelyn Waugh’s Brideshead Revisited, Guy Richie’s RocknRolla and Peter Sollett’s Nick and Norah’s Infinite Playlist.

British Doctor Who spin off Torchwood joins American series such as Brothers and Sisters, The L Word and True Blood in the television drama category while Channel 4‘s Skins is nominated for best comedy with ABC’s Desperate Housewives and Ugly Betty amongst others.

Special awards are to be given to Tyra Banks, Suze Orman and Lucia Mendez as well as Sirius XM Radio’s documentary The Laramie Project, 10 Years Later: The Lasting Legacy of Matthew Shepard. Macy’s, Absolut Vodka and IKEA are nominated for positive advertisements and The Denver Post and The Des Moines Register are amongst the nominated newspapers.

The GLAAD Media Awards have been presented annually since 1990.