The GLAAD Media Awards honored the television series 'Heated Rivalry' and 'Stranger Things' for their inclusive LGBTQ representation at the organization's 37th annual ceremony in Los Angeles. The event, which celebrates media for fair, accurate, and inclusive portrayals of the LGBTQ community, also presented special honors to actress and showrunner Quinta Brunson and legendary performer Liza Minnelli.

The awards highlight a significant moment in television, recognizing two vastly different but equally important approaches to queer storytelling. For the global phenomenon 'Stranger Things,' the honor for Best Drama Series acknowledges a multi-season character arc culminating in a poignant coming-out story, bringing a nuanced narrative of self-discovery to a massive mainstream audience. In contrast, the win for 'Heated Rivalry' as Best New Series celebrates a show adapted from a popular book series where queer romance is the central, driving force, signaling the cultural and critical validation of stories centered unapologetically on gay desire and relationships. Together, the wins underscore a broadening landscape of representation that encompasses both integrated subplots in blockbuster hits and leading narratives in dedicated new works.

What We Know So Far

  • The US-based organization GLAAD held its 37th annual awards ceremony at the Beverly Hilton Hills in Los Angeles, according to reports from thecolu.mn and msn.com.
  • 'Stranger Things' received the award for Best Drama Series, specifically recognizing the coming-out storyline of the character Will Byers in the show's final season, according to thecolu.mn.
  • 'Heated Rivalry,' a television adaptation of Rachel Reid's book series, was named Best New Series for its depiction of gay romance in professional hockey, thecolu.mn reported.
  • Quinta Brunson, the creator and star of 'Abbott Elementary,' received the Vanguard Award for her contributions to promoting equality and acceptance for queer people.
  • Liza Minnelli was the recipient of the first-ever Liza Minnelli Storyteller Award, an honor presented to her shortly before her 80th birthday.
  • The event considered over 300 nominations across more than 30 categories, according to information from thecolu.mn.