Kenya’s banned lesbian romance Rafiki was one of the winners in the 31st Annual GLAAD Media Awards, which recognises LGBTQ inclusion and representation.
Rafiki, which was banned in its home country of Kenya, was honoured with the Outstanding Film – Limited Release award.
Co-writer and Director of the film Wanuri said she was honoured to win the GLAAD award.
“It reminds us that love is love regardless of where you are in the world,” Wanuri responded via video acceptance.
“Thank you so much for this honour.”
The #GLAADawards for Outstanding Film – Limited Release goes to… @rafikimovie! Watch @wanuri‘s acceptance speech.
Stream the GLAAD Media Awards on our Facebook and YouTube tomorrow at 8pm ET. pic.twitter.com/mT1XkcXZbW
— GLAAD (@glaad) July 29, 2020
Due to the coronavirus pandemic, the awards were streamed live online with the event featuring appearances from the likes of Kandi Burruss, Cara Delevingne, Jennifer Garner, Demi Lovato, Dolly Parton, Charli XCX, Gabrielle Union and Lena Waithe.
Openly gay chart-topping rapper Lil Nas X took home the award for Outstanding Music Artist while the cast and producers of Pose accepted the award for Outstanding Drama Series for the second year in a row.
Schitt’s Creek won for Outstanding Comedy Series and Booksmart took home the award for Outstanding Film – Wide Release.
The awards also recognised a host of other winners in areas including television, newspaper and online journalism, individual episodes of shows, reality TV, video games and even comics.
Since its inception in 1990, the awards have grown to be the most visible annual LGBTQ awards show in the world.
“During this era of political and cultural division, LGBTQ images in media are crucial in accelerating acceptance for the LGBTQ community and countering the dangerous rise in anti-LGBTQ rhetoric,” said GLAAD President & CEO Sarah Kate Ellis.
“This year’s award recipients, including Pose and Schitt’s Creek, continue to bring necessary mainstream visibility to diverse voices within the LGBTQ community, ultimately raising the bar for LGBTQ inclusion and representation in media,” she added.
During the virtual ceremony, GLAAD spotlighted the award recipients for the following categories:
Outstanding Film – Wide Release: Booksmart (United Artists Releasing)
Outstanding Drama Series: Pose (FX)
Outstanding Comedy Series: Schitt’s Creek (Pop)
Outstanding Individual Episode (in a series w/o a regular LGBTQ character): “Two Doors Down” Dolly Parton’s Heartstrings (Netflix)
Outstanding Music Artist: Lil Nas X, 7 (Columbia)
Outstanding TV Journalism Segment: “One-on-One with Mayor Pete Buttigieg” The Rachel Maddow Show (MSNBC)
Outstanding Magazine Article: “The Trans Obituaries Project” by Raquel Willis (OUT)
Special Recognition: Special (Netflix)
Special Recognition: Karen Ocamb, former news editor, Los Angeles Blade
Special Recognition: Mark Segal, founder and publisher, Philadelphia Gay News
Last Updated on Aug 4, 2020
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