Three television projects from 21st Century Fox businesses took home top honors at the 29th Annual GLAAD Media Awards in New York City on May 5, including Twentieth Century Fox Television’s “This Is Us,” FOX’s “Brooklyn Nine-Nine,” and National Geographic’s “Gender Revolution: A Journey with Katie Couric.” The awards recognize media and entertainment for fair, accurate, and inclusive representations of the lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer (LGBTQ) community, as well as the issues that affect their lives.
“GLAAD is working to ensure the spirit of unity and intersectionality that was celebrated tonight extends throughout the year,” GLAAD president and CEO Sarah Kate Ellis said. “Tonight’s award recipients are the front lines to ensuring that LGBTQ acceptance moves forward in a political and cultural climate that is working against us.”
21CF garnered an additional eight nominations for films and television projects from across the business, including “Battle of the Sexes” and “The Shape of Water” from Fox Searchlight; “American Horror Story: Cult,” “Feud: Bette and Joan,” and “Legion” from FX; “Star” from FOX, “One Mississippi” from FX Productions, and “Modern Family” from TCFTV. This was the ninth consecutive nomination for “Modern Family,” as well as the fifth consecutive for “Brooklyn Nine-Nine.”
“What people see in the media has a powerful impact on how they treat others and the GLAAD Media Awards raise the bar for media to tell LGBTQ stories that accelerate acceptance,” Ellis said. “This year’s nominees showcase stories that span races, genres, ages, and geographies, challenge misconceptions, and broaden understanding and acceptance of LGBTQ people across the globe.”
Amiyah Scott, who plays the trans dancer Cotton on FOX’s drama series “Star,” co-presented a special award for Detroit Piston’s player and LGBTQ advocate Reggie Bullock. She spoke about her experience as a trans woman of color playing a character that defies stereotypes:
“Lee [Daniels, ‘Star’ showrunner] is big on authenticity, so he does come to me sometimes and ask me my opinion because I am a trans woman of color,” she said. “Most trans roles are typical and he steps outside of that box and that’s what I’m thankful for… Sometimes we are boxed in and our experiences as trans people are often shown as tragic and sad. But sometimes there is love and there is hope. It can be tragic for some, but that’s not always the case. And I’m fighting to break that stereotype.”
Learn more about GLAAD and check out a full list of winners from this year’s awards.
