The GLAAD Media Award for Outstanding Drama Series is an annual award that honors
drama series for excellence in the depiction of
LGBT (
lesbian,
gay,
bisexual, and
transgender) characters and themes. It is one of several categories of the annual
GLAAD Media Awards, which are presented by
GLAAD—an American
non-governmentalmedia monitoring organization founded in 1985, formerly called the Gay & Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation—at ceremonies in New York City, Los Angeles, and San Francisco between March and June.[2]
The award is one of the few to date back to the
1st GLAAD Media Awards in 1990, where the
ABC series HeartBeat and
NBC series L.A. Law won—one of only two instances in the award's history where there was a tie. It was not given in 1992, but has been awarded every year since 1993. That year also saw a tie, with
Fox's Melrose Place and ABC's One Life to Live winning; the only instance when a
soap opera won the award. For the 7th GLAAD Media Awards in 1996, the category was merged with
Outstanding Comedy Series to create Outstanding Television Series, but this was reverted the following year.
For a drama series to be eligible, it must include at least one LGBT character in a
leading,
supporting, or
recurring capacity.[3] The award may be accepted by the show's producers, writers, and/or actors.[4] Drama series selected by GLAAD are evaluated based on four criteria: "Fair, Accurate, and Inclusive Representations" of the LGBT community, "Boldness and Originality" of the project, significant "Impact" on mainstream culture, and "Overall Quality" of the project.[5] GLAAD monitors mainstream media to identify which drama series will be nominated, while also issuing a Call for Entries that encourages media outlets to submit programs for consideration. Dramatic programs created by and for an LGBT audience must be submitted in order to be considered for nomination, as GLAAD does not monitor such works for defamation.[5] Winners are determined by a plurality vote by GLAAD staff and board, Shareholders Circle members,[a] as well as volunteers and affiliated individuals.[5]
The GLAAD Media Award for Outstanding Drama Series is an annual award that honors
drama series for excellence in the depiction of
LGBT (
lesbian,
gay,
bisexual, and
transgender) characters and themes. It is one of several categories of the annual
GLAAD Media Awards, which are presented by
GLAAD—an American
non-governmentalmedia monitoring organization founded in 1985, formerly called the Gay & Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation—at ceremonies in New York City, Los Angeles, and San Francisco between March and June.[2]
The award is one of the few to date back to the
1st GLAAD Media Awards in 1990, where the
ABC series HeartBeat and
NBC series L.A. Law won—one of only two instances in the award's history where there was a tie. It was not given in 1992, but has been awarded every year since 1993. That year also saw a tie, with
Fox's Melrose Place and ABC's One Life to Live winning; the only instance when a
soap opera won the award. For the 7th GLAAD Media Awards in 1996, the category was merged with
Outstanding Comedy Series to create Outstanding Television Series, but this was reverted the following year.
For a drama series to be eligible, it must include at least one LGBT character in a
leading,
supporting, or
recurring capacity.[3] The award may be accepted by the show's producers, writers, and/or actors.[4] Drama series selected by GLAAD are evaluated based on four criteria: "Fair, Accurate, and Inclusive Representations" of the LGBT community, "Boldness and Originality" of the project, significant "Impact" on mainstream culture, and "Overall Quality" of the project.[5] GLAAD monitors mainstream media to identify which drama series will be nominated, while also issuing a Call for Entries that encourages media outlets to submit programs for consideration. Dramatic programs created by and for an LGBT audience must be submitted in order to be considered for nomination, as GLAAD does not monitor such works for defamation.[5] Winners are determined by a plurality vote by GLAAD staff and board, Shareholders Circle members,[a] as well as volunteers and affiliated individuals.[5]