The 27th annual GLAAD Media Awards winners were announced on Saturday in Los Angeles.
Transparent, I am Cait, and Carol took home some of top prizes, which honour TV, film, and journalism that offers "fair, accurate and inclusive representations" of gay, lesbian, bisexual, and transgender communities.
Demi Lovato received the Vanguard Award, and Orange in the New Black star Ruby Rose received the Stephen F. Kolzak award, given to an LGBT media professional who has made a difference in promoting equality and acceptance. It was presented by Taylor Swift who made a surprise appearance.
Lilly Wachowski was greeted with a standing ovation when she made her first public appearance since she announced her transition last month. In her acceptance speech for Sense8, Wachowski thanked the "fabulous people at GLAAD" and added: "Love is a crucial thing for transgender people. It's a tether. When faced with a rather simple proposition of whether you're unloveable, our imagination falters. Too many of us end up on the wrong side of the existential question of love or oblivion. And so we ring that bell. Not just for everyone else's sake but our own."
This year's awards also highlighted how far trans visibility has come. The honour of Outstanding Reality Program was split between Caitlyn Jenner's famed show I Am Cait and the reality series I Am Jazz, which follows the life of transgender teen Jazz Jennings.
In her acceptance speech Jenner said: "I'm honoured to share this award with Jazz," Jenner said. "We have so many issues with trans youth, suicide rates and murder rates, and with your example with your show, it gives these young people hope that they can survive those very difficult times as they grow up trying to figure out who they are."
Queen Latifah won the Outstanding TV Movie award for Bessie, the movie she starred in and executive produced.
It would be cynical to say 'oh no, not another awards ceremony' but sat in the audience last weekend it was easy to see why the GLAAD Media Awards are at the pinnacle of award ceremonies. They recognise and honour all media for their fair, accurate and inclusive representations of the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender community and the issues that affect their lives. The awards show just how far we have come but we must not let complacency set in.
More awards will be presented in New York on May 14. The show was televised for the first time in nearly a decade, airing in a broadcast April 4 on Logo.
See the full list of winners below.
Outstanding Film -- Wide Release
Carol
Outstanding Comedy Series
Transparent
Outstanding Drama Series
Sense8
Outstanding TV Movie or Limited Series
Bessie
Outstanding Documentary
Kumu Hina
Outstanding Reality Program (tie)
I Am Cait
I Am Jazz
Outstanding Daily Drama
The Bold and the Beautiful
Special Recognition
Beautiful As I Want to Be, Logotv.com
This Is Me, Amazon Instant Video
Outstanding Music Artist
Troye Sivan
Outstanding Comic Book
Lumberjanes
Outstanding Talk-Show Episode
"Janet Mock," Super Soul Sunday
Outstanding Novela
Rastros de Mentiras, MundoMax
Outstanding Television Interview (Spanish-Language)
"Orientación Sexual y Acoso Escolar" Realidades en Contexto, CNN en Español
Outstanding Local Television Interview (Spanish-Language)
"La nueva Transgeneración," Enfoque Los Ángeles, KVEA-Telemundo 52 [Los Ángeles]
Outstanding Local-TV Journalism (Spanish-Language)
"Cada 29 Horas," Noticias 19, KUVS-Univision 19 [Sacramento]
Outstanding Newspaper Article (Spanish-Language)
"Padres transgénero - El único requisito para ser papá es el amor por los hijos" por Virginia Gaglianone, La Opinión
Outstanding Digital-Journalism Article (Spanish-Language)
"Perú: violaciones correctivas: El terrible método para 'curar' a las lesbianas" por Leire Ventas, BBCMundo.com
Outstanding Music Artist (Spanish-Language)
Ricky Martin