GLAAD Awards 2015: Sam Smith, Doctor Who, The Imitation Game and Game of Thrones nominated by LGBT advocacy group

The awards celebrate fair and accurate portrayals of the LGBT community

Sam Smith and Benedict Cumberbatch's The Imitation Game are nominated for GLAAD Awards

Sam Smith, Doctor Who, The Imitation Game and Orange is the New Black are among the nominees for this year’s GLAAD Awards, celebrating fair and accurate LGBT portrayal in the media.

The lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender advocacy organisation announced its shortlist yesterday ahead of the annual ceremonies in LA on 21 March and New York on 9 May.

There are 31 categories ranging from outstanding film and drama series to outstanding documentary and music artist. Comic books, TV journalism, newspaper articles, talk show episodes and blogs are also recognised.

BBC sci-fi drama Doctor Who is nominated for its controversial “Deep Breath” episode, which featured the show’s first lesbian kiss between lizard-woman Madame Vastra and her human wife Jenny Flint.

Some viewers complained to the BBC that the series was pushing a “homosexual agenda”, with the broadcaster was also accused of “pro-gay bias” in general.

Benedict Cumberbatch’s turn as persecuted codebreaker Alan Turing in Oscar-nominated biopic The Imitation Game is up for outstanding film, along with gay rights movie Pride and award-winning drama Love is Strange.

In the drama category, Game of Thrones competes with Grey’s Anatomy and Last Tango in Halifax, while Orange is the New Black, Modern Family and Golden Globe-winning trans show Transparent are nominated for the comedy gong.

Gay “Like I Can” singer Sam Smith will battle Mary Lambert, Angel Haze, Against Me! and Mary Gauthier for the outstanding music artist award.

“It has been a good year for LGBT media representation, particularly on television and for the transgender community,” said Nick Adams, director of communications and special projects for GLAAD.

The organisation has said that 83 dramas and 52 comedies with regular LGBT portrayal were considered, compared to ten years ago when only 17 dramas and eight comedies were eligible.

GLAAD Awards 2015 shortlist

Outstanding Film (wide release)

The Imitation Game (The Weinstein Company)

Love is Strange (Sony Pictures Classics)

Pride (CBS Films)

The Skeleton Twins (Roadside Attractions)

Tammy (Warner Bros. Pictures)

Outstanding Film (limited release)

Dear White People (Lionsgate)

Life Partners (Magnolia Pictures)

Lilting (Strand Releasing)

The Way He Looks (Strand Releasing)

Will You Still Love Me Tomorrow (Film Movement)

Outstanding Drama Series

Degrassi (TeenNick)

The Fosters (ABC Family)

Game of Thrones (HBO)

Grey’s Anatomy (ABC)

How to Get Away with Murder (ABC)

Last Tango in Halifax (PBS)

Masters of Sex (Showtime)

Orphan Black (BBC America)

Pretty Little Liars (ABC Family)

Shameless (Showtime)

Outstanding Comedy Series

Brooklyn Nine-Nine (FOX)

Faking It (MTV)

Glee (FOX)

Looking (HBO)

Modern Family (ABC)

Orange Is the New Black (Netflix)

Please Like Me (Pivot)

Sirens (USA Network)

Transparent (Amazon Instant Video)

Vicious (PBS)

Outstanding Individual Episode

(in a series without a regular LGBT character)

“Deep Breath” Doctor Who (BBC America)

“Down a Tree” Good Luck Charlie (Disney Channel)

“Identity Crisis” Drop Dead Diva (Lifetime)

“Let’s Have a Baby” Playing House (USA Network)

“No Lack of Void” Elementary (CBS)

Outstanding TV movie or mini-series

The Normal Heart (HBO)

Outstanding Documentary

The Case Against 8 (HBO)

L Word Mississippi: Hate the Sin (Showtime)

Laverne Cox Presents: The T Word (Logo / MTV)

To Russia with Love (Epix)

True Trans with Laura Jane Grace (AOL Originals)

Outstanding Reality

Big Freedia: Queen of Bounce (Fuse)

B.O.R.N. to Style (FYI)

Make or Break: The Linda Perry Project (VH1)

R&B Divas: Atlanta (TV One)

Survivor: San Juan del Sur (CBS)

Outstanding Daily Drama

Days of Our Lives (NBC)

General Hospital (ABC)

Outstanding Music Artist

Against Me!, Transgender Dysphoria Blues (Xtra Mile Recordings)

Angel Haze, Dirty Gold (Island Records/Republic Records)

Mary Gauthier, Trouble & Love (In the Black Records)

Mary Lambert, Heart on My Sleeve (Capitol Records)

Sam Smith, In the Lonely Hour (Capitol Records)

Outstanding Comic Book

Hawkeye, written by Matt Fraction (Marvel Comics)

Lumberjanes, written by Noelle Stevenson, Grace Ellis (BOOM! Studios)

Memetic, written by James Tynion IV (BOOM! Studios)

Rat Queens, written by Kurtis J. Wiebe (Image Comics)

Saga, written by Brian K. Vaughan (Image Comics)

Outstanding Talk Show Episode

“Issues Facing the Transgender Community” Katie (syndicated)

“Laverne Cox discusses ‘The T Word’” The View (ABC)

“Michael Sam” Oprah Prime (OWN)

“Pepe Julian Onziema” Last Week Tonight with John Oliver (HBO)

“Robin Roberts” The Ellen DeGeneres Show (syndicated)