The 30th Annual GLAAD Media Awards nominations were announced last Friday and this year’s selections included several projects that showcased bisexual representation. The list of bisexual and bi+ characters appeared on media projects that span genres, from musical comedies to indie dramas to action/adventure movies and more.
According to GLAAD’s Where We Are on TV 2018-2019 report, bisexual representation this season actually fell slightly when compared to prior years. About 27 percent of regular and recurring LGBTQ characters on television identified as bisexual+, and the disparity between bisexual men and women on TV continues, with bisexual women represented much more than bisexual men. However, this year the amount of bisexual men slightly increased and despite the lingering appearances of harmful tropes about bisexual people in the media, GLAAD still found many positive and worthy representations to honor with nominations at the GLAAD Media Awards this year.
On television, the multiple bi+ characters on The CW’s Crazy Ex-Girlfriend continue to be “Gettin’ Bi” well into the show’s final season, with the character Darryl Whitefeather remaining one of the few and most praised representations of a bisexual man on TV, and last season introducing the bisexuality of Valencia Perez. The former Fox and newly NBC show Brooklyn Nine-Nine has also continued its laudable portrayal of Rosa Diaz, played by out bi actress Stephanie Beatriz, in its newest season. Bisexual+ representation also flourished on TV shows with fierce fan followings and groundbreaking LGBTQ representation such as Sense8, Shadowhunters, and Grey’s Anatomy.
On the big screen, this year saw bi+ representation in films such as the critically acclaimed independent film Disobedience and the newest branch in a long-standing franchise, The Girl in the Spider’s Web, each nominated for Outstanding Film - Limited Release and Outstanding Film - Wide Release, respectively. Notably, Disobedience was praised for its non-objectifying portrayal of its love scenes with its two female leads and The Girl in the Spider’s Web featured a trans actress as one of the female protagonist’s lovers.
In the realm of music, Janelle Monáe has had an amazing year, with the release of her critically acclaimed album culminating in her astounding performance at the Grammys last week. Monáe notably came out as pansexual last year, bringing attention and understanding to the sexuality. Chris, the artist formerly known as Christine and the Queens, has also she a light on pansexuality in many of her interviews, speaking out specifically about being incorrectly labeled as bisexual by the French press.
Within the field of journalism, GLAAD nominated Yahoo Lifestyle journalist Beth Greenfield’s profile on Emma González, in which the trailblazing teen activist recounted that she believes March for Our Lives and gay activism to be linked. González, who identifies as bisexual, was the center of the Greenfield piece which focused on the intersection between LGBTQ activism and gun control.
Here is a list of just some of the bisexual+ representation in the nominees this year:
Outstanding Film - Wide Release
The Girl in the Spider's Web (Sony Pictures)
Outstanding Film - Limited Release
Disobedience (Bleecker Street)
The Favourite (Fox Searchlight)
Outstanding Comedy Series
Brooklyn Nine-Nine (Fox/NBC)
Crazy Ex-Girlfriend (The CW)
Schitt's Creek (Pop)
Vida (Starz)
Outstanding Drama Series
Grey's Anatomy (ABC)
Shadowhunters (Freeform)
Star (Fox)
Wynonna Earp (Syfy)
Outstanding TV Movie or Limited Series
A Very English Scandal (Amazon Prime)
Sense8 (Netflix)
Outstanding Reality Program
I Am Jazz (TLC)
Outstanding Music Artist
Christine and the Queens, Chris (Because Music)
Janelle Monáe, Dirty Computer (Bad Boy Records)
Outstanding Comic Book
Runaways, by Rainbow Rowell, Kris Anka, David Lafuente, Takeshi Miyazawa, Matthew Wilson, Triona Tree Farrell, Jim Campbell, Michael Garland, Joe Caramagna (Marvel Comics)
Outstanding Video Game
Assassin's Creed: Odyssey (Ubisoft)
Pillars of Eternity II: Deadfire (Versus Evil)
The Sims Mobile (Electronic Arts)
Outstanding Newspaper Article
"'More Than Fear': Brazil's LGBT Community Dreads Looming Bolsonaro Presidency" by Marina Lopes (The Washington Post)
Outstanding Digital Journalism - Multimedia
"March for Our Lives and LGBT activism: 'They're definitely linked for me,' says Emma González" by Beth Greenfield (Yahoo! Lifestyle)
The GLAAD Media Awards recognize and honor media for their fair, accurate and inclusive representations of the lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and queer community and the issues that affect their lives.
The awards show in Los Angeles will take place on Thursday, March 28th at the Beverly Hilton and the awards show in New York City will take place on Saturday, May 4th at the New York Hilton Midtown. Tickets can be purchased here: glaad.org/mediaawards/30/events.
