The GLAAD Media Award for Outstanding Kids and Family Programming is an annual award that honors children's and family programming for excellence in the treatment of LGBT (lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender) characters and themes. It is one of several categories of the annual GLAAD Media Awards, which are presented by GLAAD—an American non-governmental media monitoring organization—at ceremonies held primarily in New York City and Los Angeles between March and May.
The award was first given at the 29th GLAAD Media Awards in 2018 to Andi Mack, a comedy-drama television series that aired on Disney Channel. Concerning the creation of this category, GLAAD CEO Sarah Kate Ellis stated that it was added to "raise the bar for current and future LGBTQ inclusion in this hugely popular and impactful genre", arguing about the importance of younger individuals, that are "coming out earlier and in greater numbers, [to] see their lives and experiences reflected in thoughtful, loving, and affirming ways". Throughout the award's history, there have only been two instances where a tie occurred, both between animated and live-action works: in 2020 where Hulu's The Bravest Knight and Disney+'s High School Musical: The Musical: The Series won, and again the following year with Hulu's First Day and Netflix's She-Ra and the Princesses of Power winning. At the 34th GLAAD Media Awards in 2023, the award was formally split into Animated and Live Action categories.
For a program to be eligible, it must be family-oriented and made for children, tweens, teenagers, and their parents. Furthermore, programs must include at least one LGBT character in a leading, supporting, or recurring capacity; in the absence of a regular LGBT character, the show must feature an LGBT-inclusive episode or story arc. Programs are judged based on the tone of the narrative and the "storytelling techniques required for the age of the intended audience". Children's and family programming selected by GLAAD are evaluated based on four criteria: "Fair, Accurate, and Inclusive Representations" of the LGBT community, "Boldness and Originality" of the project, significant "Impact" on mainstream culture, and "Overall Quality" of the project. GLAAD monitors mainstream media to identify which children's and family programs will be nominated, while also issuing a call for entries that encourages media outlets to submit youth-oriented programming for consideration. By contrast, in order for family programming created by and for LGBT audiences to be considered for nomination, they must be submitted after the call for entries. Winners are determined by a plurality vote by GLAAD staff and its board, Shareholders Circle members, volunteers and affiliated individuals.
Since its inception, the award has been given to nine programs. At the 36th GLAAD Media Awards, Jurassic World: Chaos Theory won in the Animation category, with Heartstopper winning in the Live-Action category.
Winners and nominations + Table key Indicates the winner
+ Award year Program Network 2018(29th) Andi Mack Disney Channel Danger & Eggs: "Chosen Family" Amazon Video Doc McStuffins: "The Emergency Plan" Disney Channel Nickelodeon Steven Universe Cartoon Network 2019(30th) Steven Universe Cartoon Network Adventure Time Cartoon Network Andi Mack Disney Channel Anne with an E Netflix She-Ra and the Princesses of Power 2020(31st) Hulu High School Musical: The Musical: The Series Disney+ Andi Mack Disney Channel Arthur: "Mr. Ratburn and the Special Someone" PBS Nickelodeon Nella the Princess Knight: "A Tale of Two Nellas" Nick Jr. Channel Rocko's Modern Life: Static Cling Netflix She-Ra and the Princesses of Power Steven Universe: The Movie Cartoon Network Twelve Forever Netflix 2021(32nd) First Day Hulu She-Ra and the Princesses of Power Netflix Adventure Time: Distant Lands: "Obsidian" HBO Max : "Mary Anne Saves the Day" Netflix Craig of the Creek Cartoon Network Diary of a Future President Disney+ Kipo and the Age of Wonderbeasts Netflix Nickelodeon Disney Channel Steven Universe Cartoon Network 2022(33rd) Power Rangers Dino Fury Nickelodeon / Netflix Amphibia Disney Channel : "Claudia and the Sad Goodbye" Netflix Centaurworld Danger Force: "Manlee Men" Nickelodeon Diary of a Future President Disney+ Doogie Kameāloha, M.D. High School Musical: The Musical: The Series Nickelodeon Disney Channel 2023(34th) Animated Dead End: Paranormal Park Netflix Amphibia Disney Channel Battle Kitty Netflix Big Nate Nickelodeon Craig of the Creek Cartoon Network Netflix Jurassic World Camp Cretaceous Disney Channel Disney+ Trick or Treat Scooby-Doo! Cartoon Network Live Action Heartstopper Netflix Better Nate Than Ever Disney+ First Day Hulu High School Musical: The Musical: The Series Disney+ Monster High: The Movie Nickelodeon / Paramount+ Power Rangers Dino Fury Netflix Raven's Home Disney Channel Rebel Cheer Squad Netflix Trevor: The Musical Disney+ Zombies 3 2024(35th) Animated Hailey's On It! Disney Channel Adventure Time: Fionna and Cake Max Craig of the Creek Cartoon Network The Dragon Prince Netflix The Ghost and Molly McGee Disney Channel The Loud House Nickelodeon Moon Girl and Devil Dinosaur Disney Channel Nimona Netflix The Proud Family: Louder and Prouder Disney+ Transformers: EarthSpark Paramount+ Live Action Heartstopper Netflix High School Musical: The Musical: The Series Disney+ Jane Apple TV+ Power Rangers Cosmic Fury Netflix XO, Kitty Netflix2025(36th) Animated Jurassic World: Chaos Theory NetflixThe Bravest Knight HuluThe Dragon PrinceNetflixFright Krewe(Hulu / Peacock)Kiff: The Haunting of Miss McGravy’s HouseDisney Channel“I Wanna Dance with My Buddy” Hailey’s On It!Disney ChannelThe Loud HouseNickelodeonMoon Girl and Devil DinosaurDisney Channel“Powerless” Monsters at Work Disney Channel“Summer of Heart Eyes” Primos Disney Channel Live Action Heartstopper NetflixEmpire WaistBlue Fox Entertainment“If You Love Me” Beyond Black BeautyAmazon Prime VideoJane Apple TV+“Louds in Love” The Really Loud HouseNickelodeon2026(37th) Animated Adventure Time: Fionna and Cake HBO MaxThe Bravest Knight HuluJurassic World: Chaos TheoryNetflixMoon Girl and Devil DinosaurDisney ChannelThe Proud Family: Louder and ProuderDisney+ Live Action XO, Kitty Netflix Goosebumps: The Vanishing Disney+/HuluJaneApple TV School SpiritsParamount+"Selamiut" Washington Black Hulu
Multiple wins and nominations
Programs
The following programs received two or more Outstanding Kids and Family Programming awards:
Wins Program 3 Heartstopper
The following programs received four or more Outstanding Kids and Family Programming nominations:
Nominations Program 6 The Loud House 4 High School Musical: The Musical: The Series 3 Andi Mack The Bravest Knight Craig of the Creek The Dragon Prince Heartstopper Jane Moon Girl and Devil Dinosaur The Owl House The Proud Family: Louder and Prouder She-Ra and the Princesses of Power Steven Universe 2 Amphibia The Babysitters Club Diary of a Future President First Day Hailey’s On It! Jurassic World: Chaos Theory XO, Kitty
Networks
The following networks received two or more Outstanding Kids and Family Programming awards:
Wins Format Network 7 4 live action, 3 animated Netflix 2 1 live action, 1 animated Disney Channel 1 live action, 1 animated Hulu
The following networks received four or more Outstanding Kids and Family Programming nominations: Nominations Format Network 25 10 live action, 15 animated Netflix 19 4 live action, 14 animated Disney Channel 12 10 live action, 2 animated Disney+ 11 4 live action, 7 animated Nickelodeon 9 9 animated Cartoon Network 8 2 live action, 3 animated Hulu 3 2 live action, 1 animated Paramount+ 3 live action Apple TV+ 3 animated HBO Max/Max 2 1 live action, 1 animated Amazon Video/Amazon Prime Video
See also LGBTQ themes in Western animation
Notes
References
External links GLAAD Media Awards