Arts & Entertainment
GLAAD Media Awards announces 2019 nominees
‘Pose,’ The Favorite,’ ‘Love, Simon’ and more honored for LGBT-inclusivity
The 30th annual GLAAD Media Awards were announced on Friday at the Sundance Film Festival in Park City, Utah by “Pose” star
This year GLAAD expanded its nominations in the Outstanding Film – Limited Release category from five nominees to 10. The nominees include “The Favourite,” “Can You Ever Forgive Me?” “Boy Erased and “The Miseducation of Cameron Post,” among others. As for the Outstanding Film – Wide Release category, the teen rom-com “Love, Simon” and Marvel superhero sequel “Deadpool 2” were among the nominees.
For television, Netflix, Hulu and Amazon collectively received the most nominations with 11.
FX’s “Pose,” which made history as the first scripted television series to include a majority transgender cast, was nominated for Outstanding Drama Series along with “Supergirl” (CW), “Billions” (Showtime) and more.
This year GLAAD also opened up the awards to recognize LGBT-inclusive content in video games as well.
“GLAAD has always leveraged diverse forms of media to share LGBTQ stories which change hearts and minds, and as the video game industry reaches new heights of popularity and influence, it is imperative that LGBTQ people and issues are included in fair and accurate ways,” Sarah Kate Ellis, GLAAD President and CEO, said in a statement.
In GLAAD’s music categories, J
“The images and stories recognized by the GLAAD Media Awards over the past 30 years raised the bar for LGBTQ inclusion in the media industry and changed the hearts and minds of countless audience members around the world,” Ellis said. “This year’s nominees are changing the game by showcasing diverse races, genders, religions, ages, geographies, and genres in ways that challenge misconceptions and inspire LGBTQ acceptance. The 30th anniversary of the GLAAD Media Awards will honor these groundbreaking new LGBTQ stories while remembering the astounding positive cultural change that LGBTQ media representations have achieved.”
The GLAAD Media Awards will be held in a bi-coastal celebration on Thursday, March 28 in Los Angeles at The Beverly Hilton and Saturday, May 4 in New York City at the Hilton Midtown.
Check out the list of nominees below.
Outstanding Film – Wide Release
“Blockers” (Universal)
“Crazy Rich Asians” (Warner Bros.)
“Deadpool 2” (20th Century Fox)
“The Girl in the Spider’s Web” (Sony Pictures)
“Love, Simon” (20th Century Fox)
Outstanding
“1985” (Wolfe Releasing)
“Boy Erased” (Focus Features)
“Can You Ever Forgive Me?” (Fox Searchlight)
“Disobedience” (Bleecker Street)
“The Favourite” (Fox Searchlight)
“Hearts Beat Loud” (Gunpowder & Sky)
“A Kid Like Jake” (IFC Films)
“The Miseducation of Cameron Post” (FilmRise)
“Saturday Church” (Samuel Goldwyn Films)
“We the Animals” (The Orchard)
Outstanding Drama Series
“Billions” (Showtime)
“Black Lightning” (The CW)
“Grey’s Anatomy” (ABC)
“The Handmaid’s Tale” (Hulu)
“Instinct” (CBS)
“Pose” (FX)
“Shadowhunters” (Freeform)
“Star” (Fox)
“Supergirl” (The CW)
“Wynonna Earp” (Syfy)
Outstanding Comedy Series
“Brooklyn Nine-Nine” (FOX)*
“Crazy Ex-Girlfriend” (The CW)
“Dear White People” (Netflix)
“Modern Family” (ABC)
“One Day at a Time” (Netflix)
“Schitt’s Creek” (Pop)
“Superstore” (NBC)
“This Close” (Sundance Now)
“Vida” (Starz)
“Will & Grace” (NBC)
*Note: Brooklyn Nine-Nine now airs on NBC
Outstanding Individual Episode (in a series w/o a regular LGBTQ character)
“King in the North”-“Fresh Off the Boat” (ABC)
“Prom” -“Fuller House” (Netflix)
“Service” – “Law & Order: Special Victims Unit” (NBC)
“She”- “The Good Doctor” (ABC)
“Someplace Other Than Here”-“The Guest Book” (TBS)
Outstanding TV Movie or Limited Series
“American Horror Story: Apocalypse” (FX)
“The Assassination of Gianni Versace: American Crime Story” (FX)
“Life-Size 2” (Freeform)
“Sense8” (Netflix)
“A Very English Scandal” (Amazon Prime)
Outstanding Documentary
“Believer” (HBO)
“Call Her Ganda” (Breaking Glass Pictures)
“My House” (
“Quiet Heroes” (Logo)
“When the Beat Drops” (Logo)
Outstanding Kids & Family Programming
“Adventure Time” (Cartoon Network)
“Andi Mack” (The Disney Channel)
“Anne with an E” (Netflix)
“She-Ra” (Netflix)
“Steven Universe” (Cartoon Network)
Outstanding Reality Program
“American Idol” (ABC)
“I Am Jazz” (TLC)
“Love & Hip Hop” (VH1)
“Queer Eye” (Netflix)
“RuPaul’s Drag Race” (VH1)
Outstanding Music Artist
Brandi Carlile, “By the Way, I Forgive You” (Low Country Sound/Elektra)
Brockhampton, “Iridescence” (RCA)
Christine and the Queens, “Chris” (
Hayley Kiyoko, “Expectations” (Atlantic)
Janelle Monáe, “Dirty Computer” (Bad Boy Records)
Kim Petras, “Turn Off the Light, Vol. 1” (BunHead)
Shea Diamond, “Seen It All” (Asylum Worldwide)
Sophie, “Oil of Every Pearl’s Un-Insides” (Future Classics)
Troye Sivan, “Bloom” (Capitol Records)
Years & Years, “Palo Santo” (Polydor)
Outstanding Comic Book
“Batwoman,” written by Marguerite Bennett, K. Perkins (DC Comics)
“Bingo Love,” written by Tee Franklin (Image Comics)
“Exit Stage Left: The Snagglepuss Chronicles,” written by Mark Russell (DC Comics)
“Fence,” written by C.S. Pacat (BOOM! Studios)
“Iceman,” written by Sina Grace (Marvel Comics)
“Lumberjanes: The Infernal Compass,” written by Lilah Sturges (BOOM! Studios)
“Oh S#!t It’s Kim & Kim,” written by Magdalene Visaggio (Black Mask Comics)
“Runaways,” written by Rainbow Rowell (Marvel Comics)
“Star Wars: Doctor Aphra,” written by Kieron Gillen, Simon Spurrier (Marvel Comics)
“Strangers in Paradise XXV,” written by Terry Moore (Abstract Studio)
Outstanding Video Game
“Assassin’s Creed: Odyssey” (Ubisoft)
“The Elder Scrolls Online: Summerset” (Bethesda Softworks)
“Guild Wars 2: Path of Fire” (ArenaNet)
“Pillars of Eternity II: Deadfire” (Versus Evil)
“The Sims Mobile” (Electronic Arts)
Outstanding Variety or Talk Show Episode
“Mike Pence and ‘A Day in the Life of Marlon
“NRA Problems, Chicken Bone Problems, Birmingham Problems” -“Wyatt Cenac’s Problem Areas “(HBO)
“Trans Rights Under Attack” -“Full Frontal with Samantha Bee” (TBS)
“Troye Sivan Hopes ‘Boy Erased’ Reaches All Parents”- “The Late Show with Stephen Colbert” (CBS)
“Valedictorian Seth Owen”-“The Ellen DeGeneres Show” (syndicated)
Outstanding TV
“Conversion Therapy: God Only Knows” -“CBS Sunday Morning” (CBS)
“Gender: The Space Between”- “CBS News” (CBS)
“Legacy of Hope” -“Nightline” (ABC)
“Respect” -“SC Featured” (ESPN)
“South Texas Pride” [series]- “KSAT News” (KSAT-TV [San Antonio, Texas])
Outstanding TV Journalism Segment
“Historic Number of LGBTQ Candidates on Ballots This Year”- “NBC Nightly News” (NBC)
“Mississippi Town Denies Pride Parade”- “Vice News Tonight” (HBO)
“Olympian Adam Rippon”- “New Day” (CNN)
“Same-sex Couple Reacts to Supreme Court Ruling” -“CNN Tonight with Don Lemon” (CNN)
“Trump: ‘Looking Very Seriously’ at Changing Transgender Definition” -“Velshi & Ruhle” (MSNBC)
Outstanding Newspaper Article
“He Took a Drug to Prevent AIDS. Then He Couldn’t Get Disability Insurance.” by Donald G. McNeil Jr. (The New York Times)
“LGBTQ Parents Challenge Stereotypes in China” by Sue-Lin Wong, Jason Lee (Reuters)
“‘More Than Fear’: Brazil’s LGBT Community Dreads Looming Bolsonaro Presidency” by Marina Lopes (The Washington Post)
“Pistons’ Reggie Bullock to Transgender Community: ‘I see y’all as people that I love'” by Malika Andrews (Chicago Tribune)
“Transgender Students Asked Betsy DeVos for Help. Here’s What Happened.” by Caitlin Emma (Politico)
Outstanding Magazine Article
“21 Transgender Stars, Creators Sound Off on Hollywood: ‘I Want to Portray These Characters, and I’m Ready'” by Chris Gardner, Rebecca Sun, Lindsay Weinberg, Joelle Goldstein, Bryan White (The Hollywood Reporter)
“Can a Transgender Woman Get Justice in Texas?” by Nate Blakeslee (Texas Monthly)
“Ex-Scientologist Michelle LeClair Says Church Officials Humiliated Her After She Came Out as Gay” by Johnny Dodd, Tierney McAfee (People)
“Lena Waithe is Changing the Game” by Jacqueline Woodson (Vanity Fair)
“They are the Champions” by Katie Barnes (ESPN The Magazine)
Outstanding Magazine Overall Coverage
Billboard
Ebony
Entertainment Weekly
GQ
Variety
Outstanding Digital Journalism Article
“Across U.S., LGBTQ Christians Try to Change Hearts and Minds From the Pews” by Julie Compton (NBCNews.com)
“Bermuda Same-sex Marriage Ban Means Trouble for Tourism and Cruise Ships” by Ryan Ruggiero (CNBC.com)
“Deadnamed” by Lucas Waldron, Ken Schwencke (ProPublica.org)
“LGBTQ Caravan Migrants Marry While Waiting for Asylum in Tijuana” by Sarah Kinosian (INTOmore.com)
“Workplaces Need to Prepare for the Non-Binary Future” by Samantha Allen (TheDailyBeast.com)
Outstanding Digital Journalism – Video or Multimedia
“I Was Jailed for Raising the Pride Flag in Egypt” by Amro Helmy (Buzzfeed Video)
“The Latinx Drag Queens Spearheading HIV Activism on the Border” by Paola Ramos (Vice.com)
“March for Our Lives and LGBT activism: ‘They’re definitely linked for me,’ says Emma González” by Beth Greenfield (Yahoo! Lifestyle)
“Marielle and Monica: The LGBT Activists Resisting Bolsonaro’s Brazil” by Fabio Erdos, Marina Costa, Charlie Phillips, Jacqueline Edenbrow (TheGuardian.com)
“Trans Model Aaron Philip is Making a Space for Disabilities on the Runway” (NowThis)
Outstanding Blog
Gays With Kids
Holy Bullies and Headless Monsters
My Fabulous Disease
Pittsburgh Lesbian Correspondents
TransGriot
Special Recognition
“Nanette” (Netflix)
“TransMilitary” (Logo)
SPANISH-LANGUAGE NOMINEES
Outstanding Scripted Television Series (Spanish-Language)
“Élite” (Netflix)
“Mi familia perfecta” (Telemundo)
“Mi marido tiene más familia” (Univision)
“Papá a toda madre” (Univision)
Outstanding TV
“Denuncian trabas migratorias contra la comunidad transgénero”- “Un Nuevo Dia” (Telemundo)
“Entrevista con Luis Sandoval para National Coming Out Day” -“Despierta América” (Univision)
“No es fácil en EEUU ser un gay latino” -“Noticias Telemundo Mediodía” (Telemundo)
“La primera escuela para niños transgénero de Chile” -“Nuestro Mundo” (CNN en Español)
Outstanding TV Journalism Segment (Spanish-Language)
“Entrevista con Pat ‘Cacahuate’ Manuel”- “NoticiasYa Tampa Bay” (Univision)
“LAFC Pride Republic” -“Noticiero Univision Los Ángeles” (Univision)
“Madre hispana lucha contra un agresivo cáncer seno” -“Noticias Univision Arizona” (Univision)
“Primera Pareja Gay en Casarse en un Consulado Mexicano”- “Noticias Telemundo Mediodía” (Telemundo)
“Transpesina”- “Univision 21 Fresno” (Univision)
Outstanding Digital Journalism (Spanish-Language)
“Apoyo y recursos para jóvenes LGBTQ y sus familias” por Virginia Gaglianone (LaOpinion.com)
“Así pinta la televisión hispana a los personajes LGBTQ, una representación preocupante” por Daniel Shoer Roth (ElNuevoHerald.com)
“Dallas: Para jóvenes LGBT con DACA, la lucha ha sido salir de dos clósets” por Jenny Manrique (AlDiaDallas.com)
“De la censura a la celebración: la historia de una exposición queer en Brasil” por Ernesto Londoño (NewYorkTimes.com/es)
“Desaliento y miedo en medio de celebración del Orgullo LGBT en NYC” por José Martínez (ElDiarioNY.com)
Special Recognition (Spanish-Language)
“House of Mamis” (INTOmore.com)
a&e features
Queery: Meet artist, performer John Levengood
Modern creative talks nightlife, coming out, and his personal queer heroes
John Levengood (he/him) describes himself as a modern creative with a wide‑ranging toolkit. He blends music, technology, civic duty, and a sharp sense of wit into a cohesive artistic identity. Known primarily as a recording artist and performer, he’s also a self‑taught music producer and software engineer who embodies a generation of creators who build their own lanes rather than wait for one to appear.
Levengood, 32, who is single and identifies as gay and queer, is best known as a recording artist who has performed at Pride festivals across the country, including the main stages of World Pride DC, Central Arkansas Pride, and Charlotte Pride.
“Locally in the DMV, I’m known for turning heads at nightlife venues with my eye-catching sense of style. When I go out, I don’t try to blend in. I hope I inspire people to be themselves and have the courage to stand out,” he says.
He’s also known for hosting karaoke at Freddie’s Beach Bar in Arlington, Va., on Thursday nights. “I like to create a space where people feel comfortable expressing themselves, building community, and showcasing their talents.”
He also creates social media content from my performances and do interviews at LGBTQ+ bars and theatres in the DMV. Follow the Arlington resident @johnlevengood.
How long have you been out and who was the hardest person to tell?
I have been fully out of the closet since 2019. My parents were the hardest people to tell because my family has always been my rock and at the time I couldn’t imagine a world without them. Their reactions were extremely positive and supportive so I had nothing to fear all along.
I remember sitting on the couch with my mom, dad, and sister in our hotel room in New Orleans during our winter vacation and being so nervous to tell them. After I finally mustered up the nerve and made the proclamation, I realized my dad had already fallen asleep on the couch. My mom promised to tell him when he woke up.
Who’s your LGBTQ hero?
My LGBTQ heroes are Harvey Milk for paving the way for gays in politics and Elton John for being a pioneer for the fabulous and authentic. My local heroes in the DMV are Howard Hicks, manager of Green Lantern, and Tony Rivenbark, manager of Freddie’s Beach Bar. Both of them are essential to creating spaces where I’ve felt welcome and safe since moving to the DMV.
What’s Washington’s best nightspot, past or present?
Trade tops the list for me because of the dance floor and outdoor space. It’s so nice to get a break from the music every once and a while to be able to have a conversation.
We live in challenging times. How do you cope?
I’m still figuring this out. What is working right now is writing music and spending time with family and friends. I’ve also been spending less time on social media going to the gym at least three times a week.
What streaming show are you binging?
After “Traitors” Season 4 ended, I was in a bit of a show hole, but “Stumble” has me in a laughing loop right now. The writing is so witty.
What do you wish you’d known at 18?
At 18, I wish I would have known how liberating it is to come out of the closet. It would have been nice to know some winning lottery numbers as well.
What are your friends messaging about in your most recent group chat?
We are planning our next trip to New York City. If you can believe it, I visited NYC for the first time in 2025 for Pride and I’ve been back every quarter since. Growing up in the country, I was subconsciously primed to be scared of the city. But my mind has been blown. I can’t wait to go back.
Why Washington?
It’s the closest metropolitan area to my family, but not too close. I love the museums, the diversity, the history, and the proximity to the beach and mountains. It’s also nice to live in a city with public transportation.
Aging RFK Stadium has come down, but the RFK grounds are still getting lit up. Welcome back to the stage Project GLOW, D.C.’s homegrown electronic festival, on May 30-31. Back for its fifth year on these musically inclined acres, Project GLOW returns with an even more diverse lineup, and one that continues to celebrate LGBTQ antecedents, attendees, and acts.
Project GLOW 2026 headliners include house and techno star Mau P, progressive house legend Eric Prydz, hard-techno favorite Sara Landry, and bass acts Excision b2b Sullivan King, among the lineup of trance, bass, house, techno, dubstep, and others for the fifth anniversary year.
President & CEO Pete Kalamoutsos — born and raised in D.C. — founded Club GLOW in 1999. In 2020, GLOW entered into a partnership with global entertainment company Insomniac Events to produce live events like Project GLOW, which kicked off in 2022.
As in past years, Project GLOW not only makes space, but is intentionally inclusive of the LGBTQ community, one of its most dedicated fan bases. The festival’s LGBTQ-focused Secret Garden stage blooms again — a more intimate dance area that stands on the strength of DJs and musicians who draw from the LGBTQ community. D.C.’s LGBTQ nightlife mastermind Ed Bailey is the creative mind behind Secret Garden again. He joined Project GLOW in 2023.
“Kalamoustos says that “he’s proud of his partnership with Ed Bailey, along with Capital Pride and [nightlife producer] Jake Resnikow. It’s amazing to collaborate with Bailey at the Secret Garden stage, especially after the curated lineup we worked on at Pride last year.”
The Secret Garden will be a bit different from other stages: Eternal (“At the Eternal stage, time stands still. Lose yourself in the dance of past, present, and future, surrendering to the eternal rhythm of the universe”) and Pulse (“Feel the rhythm of the beat pulse through your veins as the heartbeat of the crowd synchronizes into one. Here, every moment vibrates with life as it guides you through a new dimension of euphoria”). The Secret Garden stage is in the round, surrounded by 16 shipping containers. The containers play canvas to muralists from around the world, who are coming in to paint them in a vibrant garden-style vibe. “We gave this stage some extra love with this layout,” K says, “ we finally cracked the code.”
K says that this will be the biggest lineup yet for the Secret Garden, featuring Nicole Moudaber b2b Chasewest, Riordan b2b Bullet Tooth, Ranger Trucco, Cassian, Eli & Fur, Cosmic Gate and Hayla. The stage is also the largest yet, featuring an expanded dance floor and 360-degree viewing.
Across all stages, K says that his goal for the fifth anniversary is “More art and fan interactive experience, more like a festival, strive to be like a Tomorrowland, as budget grows to add more experience.” Last year’s Project GLOW alone drew 40,000 attendees over two days.
K, however, was not satisfied with one festival this spring. GLOW recently announced a “pop-up” one-day event. Teaming up with Black Book Records, GLOW is set to throw a first-of-its-kind dance-music takeover of Pennsylvania Avenue, N.W., headlined by electronic music star Chris Lake. Set for April 18, this euphoric block party will feature bass and vibes blocks from the White House. Organizers expect as many as 10,000 fans to attend. Beyond music, there will be food, activations, and plenty of other activities taking place around 6th St and Pennsylvania Ave NW – a location familiar to many in the LGBTQ community, as this sits squarely inside the blocks of the Capital Pride party that takes place in DC every June.
Over the past two decades, Club GLOW has produced thousands of events, from club nights to large-scale festivals including Project GLOW, Moonrise Festival, and more. Club GLOW also operates Echostage.
Celebrity News
Madonna announces release date for new album
‘Confessions II’ marks return to the dance floor
Pop icon Madonna on Wednesday announced that her 15th studio album will be released on July 3.
Titled “Confessions II,” the new album is a sequel to 2005’s “Confessions on a Dance Floor,” an Abba and disco-infused hit.
The new album reunites Madonna with producer Stuart Price, who also helmed the original “Confessions” album. It’s her first album of new material since 2019’s “Madame X.”
“We must dance, celebrate, and pray with our bodies,” Madonna said in a press release. “These are things that we’ve been doing for thousands of years — they really are spiritual practices. After all, the dance floor is a ritualistic space. It’s a place where you connect — with your wounds, with your fragility. To rave is an art. It’s about pushing your limits and connecting to a community of like-minded people,” continued the statement. “Sound, light, and vibration reshape our perceptions. Pulling us into a trance-like state. The repetition of the bass, we don’t just hear it but we feel it. Altering our consciousness and dissolving ego and time.”
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