37th GLAAD Media Awards Celebrate LGBTQ+ Storytelling With Major Wins for Heated Rivalry, Stranger Things, and More
The 37th GLAAD Media Awards took over The Beverly Hilton in Los Angeles last night, bringing together some of the biggest names in entertainment to celebrate LGBTQ+ representation across film, television, music, journalism, and beyond. Hosted by actor Jonathan Bennett, the annual ceremony honored the creators and storytellers helping push fair, accurate, and inclusive queer stories into the mainstream. And if there’s one thing we took away from the night, it’s that LGBTQ+ storytelling continues to thrive across every corner of the entertainment industry.
While the ceremony took place last night, fans will have to wait just a little longer to watch all the special moments unfold. The 37th GLAAD Media Awards will officially air on Hulu on Saturday, March 21, when the recorded ceremony becomes available to stream. So if you want to catch the speeches, celebrations, and emotional moments honoring LGBTQ+ storytelling, make sure to mark your calendars.
But anygays… one of the biggest highlights of the 37th GLAAD Media Awards came in the television categories, where queer storytelling continued to dominate across genres. The hockey romance phenomenon, Heated Rivalry, skated away with Outstanding New TV Series, a win many fans (including us) were quietly predicting. The passionate, messy, deeply emotional love story between Shane (Hudson Williams) and Ilya (Connor Storrie) has clearly resonated with audiences, and seeing it recognized on a stage dedicated to LGBTQ+ representation felt especially fitting. Meanwhile, Stranger Things took home Outstanding Drama Series, while the stylish comedy Palm Royale won Outstanding Comedy Series. The limited series category also delivered a big moment for Wayward, which claimed the award for Outstanding Limited or Anthology Series.
Reality television also had its moment during the 37th GLAAD Media Awards, with Bravo’s Southern Hospitality winning Outstanding Reality Program and Peacock’s The Traitors taking home the prize for Outstanding Reality Competition Program. Both shows continue to showcase diverse casts and personalities, proving that unscripted television can still make meaningful space for LGBTQ+ visibility.
Film categories at the 37th GLAAD Media Awards celebrated a wide range of queer stories. Kiss of the Spider Woman won Outstanding Film (Wide Theatrical Release), while the Outstanding Film (Limited Theatrical Release) category ended in a tie, with both A Nice Indian Boy and Plainclothes sharing the honor. Streaming films were also recognized, with Queen of Coal winning Outstanding Film (Streaming or TV), while the documentary Come See Me in the Good Light took home Outstanding Documentary for its moving exploration of queer life and resilience.
The 37th GLAAD Media Awards also celebrated the growing impact of LGBTQ+ voices in audio storytelling. The podcast Handsome won Outstanding Podcast, while the Outstanding Podcast Episode category resulted in another tie. Both “Straight Panic, Gay Excellence” from I’ve Had It and “Chappell Roan: Are People Scared of Me?” from Call Her Daddy earned the honor, highlighting how queer conversations are thriving across podcast platforms.
Journalism and media coverage were also recognized for their crucial role in amplifying LGBTQ+ voices. The Outstanding TV Journalism Segment award went to “Community during fascism: Actress Laverne Cox on the importance of WorldPride in Trump’s D.C.” from The Weekend on MS Now. NBC 7 San Diego’s “A Transgender Marine Speaks Out” won Outstanding TV Journalism (Long-Form), while People magazine earned the award for Outstanding Magazine Overall Coverage. In written journalism, Christopher Wiggins won Outstanding Online or Print Journalism Article for “As the first out trans person in Congress, Sarah McBride is ready to fight for us” for The Advocate, and “A Mother and Her Trans Teen Decide to Leave the U.S.” from The New Yorker won Outstanding Online Journalism (Video or Multimedia).
Independent and digital journalism were also celebrated during the 37th GLAAD Media Awards, with Under The Desk News with V Spehar winning Outstanding Independent Journalism. Meanwhile, Them received the Barbara Gittings Award for Excellence in LGBTQ Media, recognizing its ongoing commitment to telling bold and authentic queer stories.
Music also had its moment at the 37th GLAAD Media Awards, with Young Miko winning Outstanding Music Artist for Do Not Disturb, while Katseye took home Outstanding Breakthrough Music Artist. Over in the theater world, Liberation by Bess Wohl won Outstanding Broadway Production.
The celebration of LGBTQ+ creativity extended into gaming and comics as well. Lost Records: Bloom & Rage from Don’t Nod won Outstanding Video Game, while Avengers Academy: Marvel’s Voices earned the award for Outstanding Comic Book. Meanwhile, Gaysians by Mike Curato took home Outstanding Original Graphic Novel/Anthology.
Family programming categories at the 37th GLAAD Media Awards also highlighted the importance of queer representation for younger audiences. Firebuds won Outstanding Children’s Programming, while XO, Kitty took home Outstanding Kids & Family Programming (Live Action). On the animated side, Adventure Time: Fionna and Cake won Outstanding Kids & Family Programming (Animated).
Variety and talk shows also played a role in uplifting LGBTQ+ conversations this year. The award for Outstanding Variety or Talk Show Episode went to “Guest Host Alan Cumming on Attacks Against the Trans Community & Bringing Kindness Back in America” from Jimmy Kimmel Live.
The 37th GLAAD Media Awards also included several special recognitions, honoring The Drowsy Chaperone in Concert from Breaking the Binary Theatre and the project Gaydar with Anania.
Spanish-language media also had a strong presence at the 37th GLAAD Media Awards, with Mariliendre winning Outstanding Scripted Television Series (Serie de Televisión con Guión Sobresaliente). The Outstanding TV Journalism category resulted in a tie between Noticias Telemundo’s “Ni hombre, ni mujer: Intersexual” and Spectrum Noticias’ “Orgullo 2025 Avances, Desafíos y Caminos.”
In digital journalism, “My Coming Out Story” from the Quién series won Outstanding Online Journalism Article, while “¿Tienes HIV, Mijo? A Mother’s Journey” from Living y Ready earned the award for Outstanding Online Journalism (Video or Multimedia). The Spanish-language special recognition went to Andry José Hernández Romero and Before We Forget from Twenty Nine Palms Entertainment.
More than anything, the 37th GLAAD Media Awards served as a powerful reminder of how essential LGBTQ+ stories remain across every medium. From blockbuster television series to intimate documentaries, viral podcasts to investigative journalism, queer voices continue to shape culture in meaningful ways. And with wins like Heated Rivalry leading the pack, it’s clear that audiences are hungry for stories that center LGBTQ+ lives with honesty, complexity, and heart.
And honestly? We wouldn’t have it any other way. If you want to experience all the celebrations firsthand, don’t forget that the 37th GLAAD Media Awards will be available to stream on Hulu starting March 21. Trust us, this is one ceremony queer entertainment fans won’t want to miss.
The 37th GLAAD Media Awards will be available to stream on Hulu starting March 21. Follow us on X and Instagram for all queer stuff!
Featured Image: (L-R) Jonathan Bennett, Connor Storrie, Nadine Bhabha, Robbie G.K., Brendan Brady, Jacob Tierney, François Arnaud, Christina Chang, and Amber Glenn. Image via Getty Images.
