R&B star Frank Ocean, country singer Chely Wright and the NBC series “Smash” are among the nominees for the 24th Annual GLAAD Media Awards, which were announced Wednesday morning.
The “Bad Religion” crooner was nominated in the outstanding music artist category along with ex-“American Idol” finalist Adam Lambert, indie rockers Gossip, dance pop band Scissor Sisters and singer-songwriter Rufus Wainwright.
The awards, held in New York (March 16), Los Angeles (April 20) and San Francisco (May 11), are designed to celebrate fair and accurate representation of lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender people in the media.
“This year’s nominees enlighten and entertain, but also reflect a new American landscape where a growing majority accept and value their LGBT family, colleagues and friends,” the group said in a statement.
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In a now-legendary Tumblr post in July, Ocean opened up about his sexuality and described falling in love with a man at the age of 19. The declaration, a bold move for an artist in a genre not known for progressive views on homosexuality, was lauded by Def Jam founder Russell Simmons and Odd Future band mate Tyler, The Creator, among others.
Similarly, a film about Chely Wright, the first country music star to come out as gay, is up for outstanding documentary. “Chely Wright: Wish Me Away” premiered on Showtime in November and details how the “Single White Female” singer arranged her coming out in 2010 among the conservative circles of Nashville. In 2011 she married LGBT activist Lauren Blitzer.
In the television categories perennial nominee “Glee” is up for outstanding comedy series and new show “Smash,” a musical within a show set on Broadway, will compete against “True Blood,” “Grey’s Anatomy” and others for outstanding drama series honors.
OUTSTANDING MUSIC ARTIST
Gossip, “A Joyful Noise”
Adam Lambert, “Trespassing”
Frank Ocean, “Channel Orange”
Scissor Sisters, “Magic Hour”
Rufus Wainwright, “Out of the Game”