GLAAD Smiles at Milk, Betty, Tyra, Ellen & Portia

Films, TV series, talk shows and more compete for 20th Annual GLAAD Media Awards; Tyra Banks honored for Excellence in Media

By Natalie Finn Jan 27, 2009 5:09 AMTags
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Ellen DeGeneres, Kathy Griffin and Tyra Banks, yes. But don't forget Gus Van Sant, Woody Allen and Guy Ritchie, who all did the gay community quite a good turn last year, as well.

The directors' latest films—Milk, Vicky Cristina Barcelona and RocknRolla—are among the movies that will be vying for Outstanding Wide Release Film at the 20th Annual GLAAD Media Awards, handed out by the Gay & Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation to honor film, television, music, theater, and print and digital media for "fair, accurate and inclusive representation" of the gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender population and the issues affecting their lives.

Peter Sollett's hipster-friendly Nick and Norah's Infinite Playlist and Julian Jarrold's adaptation of Evelyn Waugh's Brideshead Revisited round out the nominees for top film in wide release.

Regularly doing justice to the LGBT crowd on the small screen in 2008 include Brothers & Sisters, The L Word, the N's South of Nowhere, BBC America's Torchwood and True Blood, all nominees for Outstanding Drama Series, while the Outstanding Comedy Series nominees are Desperate Housewives, ABC Family's Greek, Reaper, BBC America's Skins and Ugly Betty.

Also doing their parts last year, according to GLAAD, were Griffin, whose Kathy Griffin: My Life on the D-List is in the running with America's Next Top Model—which last cycle featured the show's first-ever transgender contestant—and others for Outstanding Reality Program, and DeGeneres, whose August nuptials made for a nomination-worthy episode of her eponymous talk show.

"Ellen & Portia's Wedding Day" is competing for Outstanding Talk Show Episode, however, against The Oprah Winfrey Show's show about "The Pregnant Man," as well as three offerings from Banks, the latest recipient of GLAAD's Excellence in Media Award. CNBC finance guru Suze Orman will receive the Vito Russo Award.

"They are changing hearts and minds, opening people's eyes to our common humanity, and it is our privilege to honor them," GLAAD President Neil Giuliano said of the former supermodel and the model money manager.

Trophies will be doled out during a trio of ceremonies in New York (March 28), Los Angeles (April 18) and San Francisco (May 9).

Get the complete list of nominees for the 20th Annual GLAAD Media Awards.

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