The list of nominees for the 31st Annual GLAAD Media Awards has been released and it’s chock full of shows and films featuring Black talent.
Among the nominees for Outstanding Film – Limited Release is Kenyan film Rafiki, directed by Wanuri Kahiu and starring Samantha Mugatsia and Sheila Munyiva. The film is not only the first Kenyan film to be shown at Cannes, but it also challenges Kenya’s stringent anti-LGBT statute in entertainment.
Outstanding Drama Series nominees include HBO’s Euphoria starring Zendaya, Storm Reid and Algee Smith, Showtime’s The L Word: Generation Q starring Jennifer Beals, Latarsha Rose and Rosanny Zayas, FX’s Pose starring Billy Porter, Mj Rodriguez, Ryan Jamaal Swain, Indya Moore, Dominique Jackson, Angelica Ross, Dyllon Burnside, Hailie Sahar and Angel Bismark Curiel, Freeform’s Shadowhunters starring Isaiah Mustafa, CBS All Access’ Star Trek: Discovery starring Sonequa Martin-Green and Wilson Cruz and CW’s Supergirl featuring Mehcad Brooks.
Outstanding Comedy Series nominees include NBC’s Brooklyn Nine-Nine starring Andre Braugher and Terry Crews, Superstore starring Colton Dunn and Netflix’s Sex Education starring Ncuti Gatwa.
HBO’s Watchmen was nominated for Outstanding Individual Episode for “This Extraordinary Being,” which follows the life of Angela Abar’s (Regina King) grandfather Will Reeves, played throughout the series by Louis Gossett, Jr. For this episode, Jovan Adepo took on the role of Will as a young adult as he navigated the racist world of 1940s New York City while also being in a thankless, fetish-driven extramarital affair with Captain Metropolis (Jake McDorman).
Rent: Live starring Brandon Victor Dixon, Mario, Kiersey Clemons, Tinashe and Jordan Fisher, is among the nominees for Outstanding TV Movie, as well as USA’s Let It Snow starring Shameik Moore. When They See Us, the Netflix miniseries chronicling the lives of the Exonerated Five by Ava DuVernay, is also among the nominees for Outstanding Limited Series. When They See Us stars a sprawling Black cast, including Asante Blackk, Caleel Harris, Ethan Herisse, Marquis Rodriguez, Marsha Stephanie Blake, Kylie Bunbury, Niecy Nash, Aunjanue Ellis, Adepero Oduye, Kenneth Michael Williams, Omar Dorsey, Jovan Adepo, Storm Reid, Blair Underwood, Dascha Polanco and Isis King.
Hulu’s The Bravest Knight starring the voice talents of Storm Reid and Wilson Cruz are among the nominees for Outstanding Kids & Family Programming. Cartoon Network’s Steven Universe: The Movie starring the vocal talents of Estelle, Disney+’s High School Musical: The Musical: The Series starring Dara Renee and Sofia Wylie, Nick Jr.’s Nella the Princess Knight, starring the vocal talents of Akira Golz and Netflix’s Twelve Forever starring the vocal talents of Jaylen Barron are also nominated in the Outstanding Kids & Family Programming category.
For Outstanding Reality Program, Netflix’s Queer Eye starring Karamo Brown and VH1’s RuPaul’s Drag Race, created by and starring RuPaul Charles, are among the nominees. Jeremy O. Harris is nominated in the Outstanding Broadway Production category for his divisive play, Slave Play.
Surprisingly, left out of the nomination list is OWN’s David Makes Man, starring Akili McDowell, Alan Arenas, Isaiah Johnson, Ade Chike Torbert, Travis Coles, Cayden K. Williams, Nathaniel Logan McIntyre, Jordan Bolger, Solomon Valdez and Phylicia Rashad. The show features themes of Black youth coming to terms with themselves, including their sexuality, with the gender-fluid Mx. Elijah (Coles) providing stern encouragement to David and others.
The full listing of nominees for the remaining categories can be seen at GLAAD.org.
READ MORE:
TIFF Review: Formerly Banned ‘Rafiki’ Is A Fully Black, Beautiful, Lesbian Love Story
‘Don’t Let Go’ Star Storm Reid On New Thriller Film, Season 2 of ‘Euphoria’ And More
How ‘Watchmen’ Explores Generational Black Trauma And Provides A Path Beyond The Pain
After ‘When They See Us,’ The Exonerated Five Are ‘Still Surviving,’ And Fighting Back [INTERVIEW]
Indya Moore Debuts As ‘Steven Universe’ Non-Binary Character
WATCH: ‘David Makes Man’ Star Travis Coles Teaches About The Gender-Fluid Title, ‘Mx.’
Photo: Netflix, HBO
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