Sunday’s Daytime Emmy Awards featured wins for LGBT-inclusive programming like The Ellen DeGeneres Show, awarded Best Entertainment Talk Show and taking both the lead actor/actress categories were stars of As the World Turns, Maura West and Michael Park.  Receiving the prestigious Lifetime Achievement Award was recognized LGBT ally, Agnes Nixon. Nixon, who is known as the “Queen of modern soap opera” for the creation of shows like All My Children and One Life to Live, has utilized the soap opera platform to spotlight LGBT visibility. Nixon returned to full time head writing duties to supervise the 2000 story of Erica Kain’s daughter Bianca’s coming out. In 2009, All My Children became first daytime series to feature a lesbian wedding between Bianca Montgomery and Reese Williams. All My Children was also the first daytime series to feature the transition of Zoe (formerly known as "Freddie") Luper. GLAAD President Jarrett Barrios commented: "Nixon's support as an ally is incredibly important in growing acceptance of LGBT people. She has created fully dimensional representations of LGBT culture with story lines that are blended into the fabric of the show. Through meeting Zoe or seeing the wedding of Bianca and Reese millions of people everyday have come to better understand the lives of LGBT people." All My Children's story lines have also covered  other characters coming out and one of the first to address HIV/AIDS. Due to the show’s extensive visibility of the LGBT community, All My Children won seven GLAAD Media Awards. The Ellen DeGeneres Show took the Emmy for best Entertainment Talk Show. The Ellen DeGeneres Show also won a GLAAD Media Award in 2009 for Outstanding Talk Show Episode highlighting her wedding with actress Portia de Rossi. As the World Turns, a soap that features gay characters Noah, Luke, and Dr. Reid, was awarded in several categories.  The series broke ground when it was the first daytime series to feature a gay male kiss between Noah and Luke. The couple has since broken up, but in true soap opera fashion, they are now involved with a complicated love triangle with Dr. Reid. Soap One Life to Live also featured gay couple Kyle and Fish, whose relationship was revered for its accurate reflection of the LGBT community. Unfortunately, their story line concluded in April, causing an outcry from "Kish" fans everywhere. As the World Turns is now airing its final season, but will forever be remembered for its extensive coverage of LGBT stories. GLAAD commends these trailblazing series and people who have changed the face of LGBT visibility in media by sharing unique stories that continue to change hearts and minds.

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