ABC leads GLAAD awards nominees, including ‘Grey’s Anatomy’ and ‘Modern Family’

‘Glee,’ ‘Modern Family’ among GLAAD nominees

LOS ANGELES — For the fourth year running, the ABC television network leads nominees for media awards from the Gay and Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation.

The network earned eight nominations Wednesday for the 21st annual GLAAD Media Awards, with “Brothers & Sisters,” ”Grey’s Anatomy,” ”Private Practice” and newcomer “Modern Family” among its contenders.

The GLAAD Media Awards honor the fair, accurate and inclusive representation of the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender community and the issues that affect their lives in the media. This year’s awards — with 152 nominees in 32 categories — will be split into three ceremonies, held in Los Angeles, New York and San Francisco in March, April and June.

“Words and images matter,” GLAAD president Jarrett Barrios said in a statement. “With these awards, we seek to recognize news coverage and entertainment programming that go beyond stock stereotypes with LGBT storylines that more fully reflect the challenges gay and transgender people face and the aspirations we hold for ourselves and our families.”

ABC received the following nominations:

— “Brothers & Sisters” and “Grey’s Anatomy” for drama series

— “Modern Family” for comedy series

— “All My Children” and “One Life to Live” for daily drama

— A “Good Morning America” interview with Chaz Bono for TV journalism segment

— Two nominations for “Private Practice” for individual TV episode

Among the other nominated broadcast networks, CBS garnered four nods, the CW and NBC earned two each, and Fox had one. The other drama series nominees are AMC’s “Mad Men,” BBC America’s “Skins” and HBO’s “True Blood. The other comedy series nominees are Fox’s “Glee,” Logo’s “Beautiful People,” ABC Family’s “Greek” and Showtime’s “United States of Tara.”

Reality TV nods went to CBS’ “The Amazing Race 15,” Bravo’s “Kathy Griffin: My Life on the D-List,” Logo’s “RuPaul’s Drag Race,” and MTV’s “The Real World” and “Making His Band.” Logo’s “An Englishman in New York,” MTV’s “Pedro,” Lifetime’s “Prayers for Bobby and BBC America’s “Torchwood: Children of Earth” were nominated for TV movie or miniseries.

Documentary nominees are PBS’ “Ask Not,” HBO’s “Be Like Others,” Sundance Channel’s “Derek,” Logo’s “U People” and Diva Productions’ “The Topp Twins.” Wide release feature film nominees are the family drama “Everybody’s Fine,” bromantic comedy “I Love You, Man,” Harlem saga “Precious,” 1960s period piece “A Single Man” and bohemian romp “Taking Woodstock.”

GLAAD also announced that actress Cynthia Nixon will be honored with the Vito Russo Award, which is named after a founding member of GLAAD and is presented to a gay media professional who has made a significant difference in promoting equal rights for the gay community. The “Sex and the City” star will accept the special award at a ceremony in New York.

“Cynthia Nixon has been a vocal and visible advocate who has transformed cultural attitudes about our community,” Barrios said.