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)
Movies
‘Pillion’ director on bikers, BDSM, and importance of being seen
‘We put a lot of thought and effort into how we depicted the community’
One of the highlights of last week’s Mid-Atlantic Leather Weekend came not on the dance floor, but in a movie theater. In a new partnership, the independent film studio A24 brought its leather-clad new film “Pillion” — not yet in wide release — to D.C. for special showings for the MAL crowd.
“Pillion,” a term for the motorcycle passenger seated behind the driver, delves into the complicated relationship between an introverted, quiet Londoner Colin (Harry Melling) who embarks on a journey finding himself while entering into a sub relationship with a new Dom named Ray (Alexander Skarsgård) he meets during Christmas.
It’s writer-director Harry Lighton’s feature-length debut, sharing Skarsgård’s impossibly toned physique with both Colin and audiences, and offering an eye into the BDSM community by an LGBTQ director for the general public. This from a studio that also just released a movie about ping-pong starring Timothée Chalamet.
The Washington Blade was able to catch a screening at Regal Gallery Place on Jan. 18, hosted by MAL and Gary Wasdin, executive director, Leather Archives & Museum. The Blade also had a chance to interview Lighton about the experience.
Blade: How did you get involved in this film, especially as this is your directorial debut?
Lighton: I was sent “Box Hill,” the novel on which “Pillion” is based, by Eva Yates (the head of film at the BBC). I’d spent years working on a sumo film set in Japan, and then suddenly that became impossible due to the pandemic so I was miserable. And then I read this book that I found bracing, funny, moving. All the good things.
Blade: Are you involved with the leather community? Did you draw on any personal experiences or make connections with the community?
Lighton: I’m involved in the wrestling scene but not the leather community. So I spent lots of time with people who are [in the community] during the writing process, and then ended up casting a bunch of them as bikers and pillions in the film. They were incredibly generous to myself, Harry, and Alex with their knowledge and experiences. We have them to thank for lending credibility to the world on screen.
Blade: What kind of reception have you received at film festivals and with the LGBTQ community? Was it what you imagined?
Lighton: Obviously not everyone’s going to like the film — for some people it’ll be too explicit, for some not explicit enough; some people will feel seen, some won’t. But the general reaction’s been extremely positive so far. If I’m honest I thought it would divide opinion more.
Blade: How was it working with the actors?
Lighton: I had a lot of respect for both of them going in, and wondered if that might make me a bit too deferential, a bit too Colin-coded. But besides being extremely talented, they’re both lovely. And committed. And fun! With my shorts I always felt a bit out of my depth working with actors, but here I discovered a real love for it.
Blade: Turning to the plot, the parents are pretty supportive, especially Colin’s dad. How did you decide to draw his parents? What does it mean to show parents with nuanced viewpoints?
Lighton: I wanted to reverse the typical parent-child dynamic in queer film, where parents go from rejecting to accepting their queer kid. We meet Colin’s parents actively pushing him toward a gay relationship. But when the relationship he lands on doesn’t meet her definition of healthy, his mum withdraws her acceptance. I wanted to ask: Are they projecting their romantic model onto their son, or do they have a legitimate concern for his wellbeing with Ray?
Blade: How did you decide to place the setting?
Lighton: Practically, we needed somewhere within reach of London. But I liked the idea that Colin, who lives life on the periphery, grew up on the edge of the capital. One of our producers, Lee Groombridge, grew up in and around Bromley and showed me all the spots. I loved the atmosphere on the high street, the markets, and the contrast between the high street and the idyllic park. And I thought it would be a funny place for Alexander Skarsgård to have settled.
Blade: What do you hope audiences take away from the film?
Lighton: There’s no one message. Different people will take different things from it. Personally, Colin inspires me to jump off cliffs, to push beyond my comfort zone because that’s where life begins. From Ray I get the courage to be ugly, to fly in the face of social convention if it doesn’t make you happy or it’s not built for you.
Blade: Talk about the soundtrack — especially the Tiffany “I Think We’re Alone Now” song.
Lighton: Skarsgård’s Ray has the surface masc-ness that comes with looking like a Viking. I wanted to combine that with details that indicate he’s been a part of gay culture and “I Think We’re Alone Now” is nothing if not a camp classic.
Blade: What does it mean to you to show the film at MAL?
Lighton: When I told the bikers from the film I was coming to MAL they practically wet themselves with excitement. We put a lot of thought and effort into how we depicted the community in the film and there’s so much variety, no two Masters or subs are the same, but seeing a theater full of men in leather laugh, cry, and clap for the film meant the world.
a&e features
Alexander Skarsgård describes ‘Pillion’ in 3 words: lube, sweat, leather
Highly anticipated film a refreshingly loving look at Dom-sub life
Whether you’ve seen him in popular HBO series like “True Blood,” “Succession,” and “Big Little Lies,” the dynamic Swedish actor Alexander Skarsgård has that smoldering gaze that immediately draws viewers in.
Following in the footsteps of his father Stellan, (who just won the Golden Globe for “Sentimental Value”) the Golden Globe, Emmy, and SAG winner Skarsgård continues to be an actor who is fearless in the roles he takes on.
That courageousness is evident in Skarsgård’s latest film, the BDSM black comedy “Pillion,”which he also executive produces. He plays Ray, the handsome, hyper-dominant leader of a gay bike gang. The film was written and directed by Harry Lighton, and is based on the 2020 novel “Box Hill,” by Adam Mars-Jones.
“This was a small film by a first time filmmaker and it wasn’t financed when I read it,” Skarsgård told journalists at a recent awards news conference. “And I felt that, if I could help in any small way of getting it financed, I wanted to, because I thought it was such an incredible screenplay and I believe in Harry Lighton so much as a filmmaker. And it felt tonally unlike anything I’d ever read. It was such an exciting, surprising read.”
Skarsgård was blown away by the quality of the unconventional script. “When I heard BDSM relationship, biker culture, I expected something very different. I didn’t expect it to have so much sweetness and tenderness and awkwardness.”
For the sex scenes and nudity with co-star, Harry Melling — who excels in his portrayal as Ray’s submissive Colin — Skarsgård talked very early on with Lighton about how he wanted to shoot those scenes, and why they were in the film.
“I often find sex scenes quite boring in movies because a lot of the tension is in the drama leading up to two people hooking up, or several people hooking up, as in our movie. But what I really enjoyed about these scenes — they are all pivotal moments in Colin’s journey and his development. It’s the first time he gets a blowjob. It’s the first time he has sex. It’s the first time he has an orgasm. And these are pivotal moments for him, so they mean a lot. And that made those scenes impactful and important.”
Skarsgård was happy that Lighton’s script didn’t have gratuitous scenes that shock for the sake of just shocking. “I really appreciated that because I find that when this subculture is portrayed, it’s often dangerous and crazy and wild and something like transgressive.”
He continued: “I really love that Harry wanted it to feel real. It can be sexy and intense, but also quite loving and sweet. And you can have an orgy in the woods, rub up against a Sunday roast with the family. And that kind of feels real.”
One of the obstacles Skarsgård had to work with was Ray’s emotionally distant personality.
“Ray is so enigmatic throughout the film and you obviously never find out anything about him, his past. He doesn’t reveal much. He doesn’t expose himself. And that was a challenge to try to make the character interesting, because that could easily feel quite flat…That was something that I thought quite a lot about in pre production…there are no big dramatic shifts in his arc.”
For the film, Lighton consulted the GMBCC, the UK’s largest LGBT+ biker club, attending their annual meetup at which 80 riders were present.
“Working with these guys was extraordinary and it brought so much texture and richness to the film to have them present,” said Skarsgård. “They were incredibly sweet and guiding with us — I can’t imagine making this movie without them. I’d go on a road trip with them anytime.”
Added Skarsgård: “To sum up ‘Pillion’ in three words: lube, sweat, and leather. I hope people will connect with Colin and his journey, and come to understand the nuance and complexity of his bond with Ray.”
This year is shaping up to be a busy one for Skarsgård. “Pillion” premieres in select cities on Feb. 6 and then moves into wide release on Feb. 20. After that for Skarsgård is a role in queer ally Charli XCX’s mockumentary, “The Moment,” which premieres at the Sundance Film Festival. HIs sci-fi comedy series, Apple TV’s “Murderbot,” which he also executive produces, will begin filming its second season. And this weekend, he hosts “Saturday Night Live.”
The LGBTQ youth services organization SMYAL held its annual fundraiser, ‘SMYAL for the New Year,’ at Shakiki (2012 9th Street, N.W.) on Thursday, Jan. 22.
(Washington Blade photos by Michael Key)
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