37th GLAAD Media Awards: Liza Minnelli, Don Lemon, ‘Heated Rivalry’ cast and many others attend 

Los Angeles  – GLAAD, the world’s largest lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer (LGBTQ) media advocacy organization, announced award recipients across more than 30 categories for this year’s 37th GLAAD Media Awards, hosted by actor and producer Jonathan Bennett. The 37th Annual GLAAD Media Awards honor fair, accurate, and inclusive LGBTQ stories. This year nearly 300 nominees were recognized in more than 30 categories. The 37th GLAAD Media Awards will stream exclusively on Hulu beginning Saturday, March 21.

Emmy, Grammy, Oscar, and Tony Award-winning icon Liza Minnelli surprised the room and received GLAAD’s Inaugural Liza Minnelli Storyteller Award in honor of her upcoming memoir “Kids, Wait Till You Hear This!” Michael Feinstein presented the award. Minelle entered the stage surrounded by ensembles of dancers to great fanfare following an in-depth look at her legacy and impact narrated by RuPaul.

Emmy, Actor Award, and Golden Globe Award-winning actor, producer, writer, and showrunner Quinta Brunson received the Vanguard Award, introduced by Scott Evans. Bowen Yang and Matt Rogers, co-hosts of the acclaimed podcast Las Culturistas, received the Stephen F. Kolzak Award,  introduced by Demi Lovato. Global superstar Demi Lovato also opened the show with a performance of her hit “Kiss,” and Sony Music Group artist Eli also performed “Glitter.”

Casts of Heated Rivalry, The Traitors, Palm Royale, Stranger Things, Southern Hospitality, and MS NOW’s The Weekend with Jonathan Capehart and Eugene Daniels accepted awards in their respective categories. Hosts of podcasts I’ve Had It and Handsome also accepted awards onstage. Full list of award recipients below.

• Liza Minnelli, accepting the inaugural Liza Minnelli Storyteller Award:
  • “I’m so glad to be here with you, all of you. You make me so proud, ‘cause you’re strong, and you stand up for what you believe in.”
• Quinta Brunson, recipient of theVanguard Award:
  • “I want to thank GLAAD for honoring me with the Vanguard Award… and for being such big and amazing supporters of Abbott Elementary since we premiered day one.… Queer people have been a part of my life since birth. I have to shout out my uncle… who was the first example of representation in my life of queer people, who allowed me to be free. There are so many people in the room who changed my life.”
  • “My point is, I love gay people. I love you so much… You mess with gay people, you mess with me… Thank you so much for this.”
• Bowen Yang & Matt Rogers, recipients of the Stephen F. Kolzak Award:
  • “We can’t accept this award without condemning the rampant, active transphobia from this administration and its supporters; and we are also here to let them know in advance that they are fighting a losing battle. Because when we gather in rooms like this, we are always going to have each other’s backs.”
• Cara Delevigne, introducing Sarah Kate Ellis, CEO & President of GLAAD:
  • “Queer art and activism have always intersected. Great works inspire us to do the hard work, and in turn, those doing the hard work inspire great works of art. Despite those who try to silence us, shame us, erase us, legislate us out of existence, we are still here, making sure that we are heard, seen and represented – in all of our spectacular, messy, strong, romantic, musical, outrageous, gold-medal-winning glory.”
• Sarah Kate Ellis, CEO & President of GLAAD:
  • “Here’s the real story: LGBTQ people are parents. We are business leaders. Philanthropists and creators. People of every faith, race, class, and creed. We are America – a really, really well-dressed America. And we are family… And the truth is, America is with us. We see it in the total obsession with our stories: Heated Rivalry. Pluribus. Abbott Elementary. The Hunting Wives. The Traitors. Stranger Things. Even video games like Assassin’s Creed Shadows. These aren’t niche. They are global hits. Proof that LGBTQ stories are not risky. They are profitable. They are universal.”
  • “In today’s media ecosystem, GLAAD is still fighting back. BUT we are also charting the path forward. With influencers, podcasters, creators, fandoms, gamers, athletes. Everywhere that culture lives… That’s where you come in. We need your time, your talent and, yes, we need your resources. Telling our stories is not charity. It is a powerful tool for change.”
  • “We spend so much time thinking about them… tonight is about us. About the deep love and respect that we have for each other, the community we create. That community keeps us strong and unified. We know each other. We know who we are. We believe in freedom. We believe in letting people be who they are. We believe in love. We are rebels. We are the original influencers. And we are undeniable. So let’s share our voices, our stories, our whole selves. Let’s give it our all. Together, this big, powerful, diverse, patriotic family will continue building a future that’s fair, a future that’s just, and a future that’s free.”

RECIPIENTS OF THE 37TH ANNUAL GLAAD MEDIA AWARDS

GLAAD presented the following awards onstage during the event:

Outstanding New TV Series
Heated Rivalry (HBO Max/Crave)
Accepted by Connor Storrie, François Arnaud, Robbie G.K., and the cast of Heated Rivalry with director Jacob Tierney.

Outstanding Drama Series
Stranger Things (Netflix)
Accepted by Noah Schnapp.

Outstanding Comedy Series
Palm Royale (Apple TV)
Accepted by Abe Sylvia and Mindy Cohn.

Outstanding Film – Wide Theatrical Release
Kiss of the Spider Woman (Roadside Attractions)
Accepted by Tonatiuh.

Outstanding Reality Program
Southern Hospitality (Bravo)
Accepted by cast members Leva Bonaparte, TJ Dinch, Michols Pena, and Lake Ruker.

Outstanding Reality Competition Program
The Traitors (Peacock)
Accepted by cast members Chrishell Stause, Parvati Shallow, and Monet X Change.

Outstanding TV Journalism Segment
“Community during fascism: Actress Laverne Cox on the importance of WorldPride in Trump’s D.C.” The Weekend (MS NOW)
Accepted by Jonathan Capehart, Eugene Daniels, Laverne Cox.

Outstanding Podcast
Handsome (Headgum)
Accepted by Tig Notaro.

Outstanding Podcast Episode (TIE)
“Straight Panic, Gay Excellence” I’ve Had It (PodcastOne)
“Chappell Roan: Are People Scared of Me?” Call Her Daddy (The Unwell Network / SiriusXM)
Accepted by hosts of I’ve Had It, Jennifer Welch and Angie “Pumps” Sullivan.

GLAAD also announced all award recipients during the ceremony:
Outstanding Limited or Anthology Series
Wayward (Netflix)

Outstanding Film – Limited Theatrical Release (TIE)
A Nice Indian Boy (Blue Harbor Entertainment)
Plainclothes (Magnolia Pictures)

Outstanding Film – Streaming or TV
Queen of Coal (Netflix)

Outstanding Documentary
Come See Me in the Good Light (Apple TV)

Outstanding Music Artist
Young Miko, Do Not Disturb (The Wave Music Group / Capitol Records)

Outstanding Breakthrough Music Artist
KATSEYE (HYBE x Geffen Records)

Outstanding Broadway Production
Liberation, by Bess Wohl

Outstanding Video Game
Lost Records: Bloom & Rage (DON’T NOD)

Outstanding Comic Book
Avengers Academy: Marvel’s Voices, by Anthony Oliveira, Elsa Sjunneson, Carola Borelli, Bailie Rosenlund, Pablo Collar, Charles Stewart III, Alti Firmansyah, Minkyu Jung, KJ Díaz, Ruth Redmond, Dono Sánchez-Almara, Ariana Maher, Joe Caramagna (Marvel Infinity Comics)

Outstanding Original Graphic Novel/Anthology
Gaysians, by Mike Curato (Algonquin Books)

Outstanding Children’s Programming
Firebuds (Disney Jr.)

Outstanding Kids & Family Programming – Live Action
XO, Kitty (Netflix)

Outstanding Kids & Family Programming – Animated
Adventure Time: Fionna and Cake (HBO Max)

Outstanding Variety or Talk Show Episode
“Guest Host Alan Cumming on Attacks Against the Trans Community & Bringing Kindness Back in America” Jimmy Kimmel Live (ABC)

Outstanding Magazine Overall Coverage
People

Outstanding TV Journalism – Long-Form
“A Transgender Marine Speaks Out” (NBC 7 San Diego)

Outstanding Online or Print Journalism Article
“As the first out trans person in Congress, Sarah McBride is ready to fight for us” by Christopher Wiggins (Advocate)

Outstanding Online Journalism – Video or Multimedia
“A Mother and Her Trans Teen Decide to Leave the U.S.” Text and Visuals by Sam Wolson, Illustrations by Lilli Carré (NewYorker.com)

Outstanding Independent Journalism
Under The Desk News with V Spehar

Barbara Gittings Award for Excellence in LGBTQ Media
Them

Special Recognition
The Drowsy Chaperone in Concert (Breaking the Binary Theatre)
Gaydar with Anania

SPANISH-LANGUAGE CATEGORIES
Outstanding Scripted Television Series // Serie de Televisión con Guión Sobresaliente
Mariliendre (Atresplayer)

Outstanding TV Journalism // Periodismo Televisivo Sobresaliente (TIE)
“Ni hombre, ni mujer: Intersexual” Noticias Telemundo (Telemundo)
“Orgullo 2025 Avances, Desafíos y Caminos” Spectrum Noticias (Spectrum)

Outstanding Online Journalism Article // Artículo sobresaliente de periodismo digital
“My Coming Out Story” Quién [serie] (Quien.com)

Outstanding Online Journalism – Video or Multimedia // Periodismo digital sobresaliente: vídeo o multimedia
“¿Tienes HIV, Mijo? A Mother’s Journey” Living y Ready (LatiNation)

Reconocimiento Especial
Andry José Hernández Romero
Before We Forget (Twenty Nine Palms Ent.)

Inaugural Liza Minnelli Storyteller Award

Liza Minnelli

ABOUT THE 37th GLAAD MEDIA AWARDS

Since 1990, the GLAAD Media Awards honor media for fair, accurate, and inclusive representations of LGBTQ people and issues.

The 37th GLAAD Media Awards which spotlights 291 culture-changing nominees across 32 categories, honoring outstanding fair, accurate, and inclusive representations of LGBTQ people and issues in film, television, gaming, music, podcasting, journalism, Spanish-language media, and more.

GLAAD President and CEO Sarah Kate Ellis is the Executive Producer of the 37th GLAAD Media Awards, alongside GLAAD’s Rich Ferraro and Anthony Allen Ramos. GLAAD’s Jose Useche is a Producer. The ceremony was produced in partnership with STAMP Event Co.

For the sixth consecutive year, Hulu will be the event’s official streaming destination, continuing its support of LGBTQ stories and storytellers. A special presentation of the Los Angeles ceremony will premiere on the platform on March 21.

Tag and follow #GLAADawards and @glaad for updates and reactions from nominees.

The 37th Annual GLAAD Media Awards were presented by Hyundai Motor America.