# GLAAD Media Award for Outstanding Drama Series

The GLAAD Media Award for Outstanding Drama Series is an annual award that honors drama series for excellence in the depiction 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 founded in 1985, formerly called the Gay & Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation—at ceremonies in New York City, Los Angeles, and San Francisco between March and June.
The award is one of the few to date back to the 1st GLAAD Media Awards in 1990, where the ABC series HeartBeat and NBC series L.A. Law won—one of only two instances in the award's history where there was a tie. It was not given in 1992, but has been awarded every year since 1993. That year also saw a tie, with Fox's Melrose Place and ABC's One Life to Live winning; the only instance when a soap opera won the award. For the 7th GLAAD Media Awards in 1996, the category was merged with Outstanding Comedy Series to create Outstanding Television Series, but this was reverted the following year.
For a drama series to be eligible, it must include at least one LGBT character in a leading, supporting, or recurring capacity. The award may be accepted by the show's producers, writers, and/or actors. Drama series 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 drama series will be nominated, while also issuing a Call for Entries that encourages media outlets to submit programs for consideration. Dramatic programs created by and for an LGBT audience must be submitted in order to be considered for nomination, as GLAAD does not monitor such works for defamation. Winners are determined by a plurality vote by GLAAD staff and board, Shareholders Circle members, as well as volunteers and affiliated individuals.
Since its inception, the award has been given to 26 drama series. With four consecutive wins out of five nominations, Brothers & Sisters has received the award more than any other program. Pose and Six Feet Under have won the award three times, while Chicago Hope, L.A. Law, and NYPD Blue have each won twice. With six nominations, Degrassi: The Next Generation is the series that has been nominated the most often without a win. The most recent recipient is Showtime's Yellowjackets, which was honored at the 35th GLAAD Media Awards in 2024.

## Winners and nominees

Table key :
| ‡ | Indicates the winner |

### 1990s

1990s winners and nominees :
| Award year | Series | Network | Ref(s). |
| 1990 (1st) | HeartBeat ‡ | ABC | [6] [7] |
| 1990 (1st) | L.A. Law ‡ | NBC | [6] [7] |
| 1991 (2nd) | L.A. Law ‡ | NBC | |
| 1993 (4th) | Melrose Place ‡ | Fox | |
| 1993 (4th) | One Life to Live ‡ | ABC | |
| 1994 (5th) | Sisters ‡ | NBC | |
| 1995 (6th) | My So-Called Life ‡ | ABC | |
| 1996 (7th) | NYPD Blue ‡ | ABC | [11] [12] |
| 1996 (7th) | Courthouse | CBS | [11] [12] |
| 1996 (7th) | Friends | NBC | [11] [12] |
| 1996 (7th) | Party of Five | Fox | [11] [12] |
| 1996 (7th) | Sisters | NBC | [11] [12] |
| 1997 (8th) | Chicago Hope ‡ | CBS | [13] [12] |
| 1997 (8th) | Bedtime | Showtime | [13] [12] |
| 1997 (8th) | Relativity | ABC | [13] [12] |
| 1998 (9th) | NYPD Blue ‡ | ABC | [14] [15] [12] |
| 1998 (9th) | ER | NBC | [14] [15] [12] |
| 1998 (9th) | 413 Hope St. | Fox | [14] [15] [12] |
| 1999 (10th) | Chicago Hope ‡ | CBS | [16] [17] |
| 1999 (10th) | Homicide: Life on the Street | NBC | [16] [17] |
| 1999 (10th) | Linc's | Showtime | [16] [17] |

### 2000s

2000s winners and nominees :
| Award year | Series | Network | Ref(s). |
| 2000 (11th) | Dawson's Creek ‡ | The WB | [18] [19] |
| 2000 (11th) | Felicity | The WB | [18] [19] |
| 2000 (11th) | Oz | HBO | [18] [19] |
| 2000 (11th) | Undressed | MTV | [18] [19] |
| 2001 (12th) | Queer as Folk ‡ | Showtime | [20] [21] |
| 2001 (12th) | Buffy the Vampire Slayer | UPN | [20] [21] |
| 2001 (12th) | Dawson's Creek | The WB | [20] [21] |
| 2001 (12th) | Felicity | The WB | [20] [21] |
| 2001 (12th) | Undressed | MTV | [20] [21] |
| 2002 (13th) | Six Feet Under ‡ | HBO | [22] [23] |
| 2002 (13th) | Buffy the Vampire Slayer | UPN | [22] [23] |
| 2002 (13th) | The Education of Max Bickford | CBS | [22] [23] |
| 2002 (13th) | ER | NBC | [22] [23] |
| 2002 (13th) | Queer as Folk | Showtime | [22] [23] |
| 2003 (14th) | Six Feet Under ‡ | HBO | [24] [25] |
| 2003 (14th) | Once and Again | ABC | [24] [25] |
| 2003 (14th) | Queer as Folk | Showtime | [24] [25] |
| 2003 (14th) | The Shield | FX | [24] [25] |
| 2003 (14th) | The Wire | HBO | [24] [25] |
| 2004 (15th) | Playmakers ‡ | ESPN | [26] [27] |
| 2004 (15th) | Degrassi: The Next Generation | The N | [26] [27] |
| 2004 (15th) | Nip/Tuck | FX | [26] [27] |
| 2004 (15th) | Queer as Folk | Showtime | [26] [27] |
| 2004 (15th) | Six Feet Under | HBO | [26] [27] |
| 2005 (16th) | Six Feet Under ‡ | HBO | [28] [29] |
| 2005 (16th) | Kevin Hill | UPN | [28] [29] |
| 2005 (16th) | The L Word | Showtime | [28] [29] |
| 2005 (16th) | Queer as Folk | Showtime | [28] [29] |
| 2005 (16th) | The Wire | HBO | [28] [29] |
| 2006 (17th) | The L Word ‡ | Showtime | [30] [21] |
| 2006 (17th) | Commander in Chief | ABC | [30] [21] |
| 2006 (17th) | Queer as Folk | Showtime | [30] [21] |
| 2006 (17th) | Six Feet Under | HBO | [30] [21] |
| 2006 (17th) | South of Nowhere | The N | [30] [21] |
| 2007 (18th) | Brothers & Sisters ‡ | ABC | [31] [32] |
| 2007 (18th) | Hex | BBC America | [31] [32] |
| 2007 (18th) | The L Word | Showtime | [31] [32] |
| 2007 (18th) | The Sopranos | HBO | [31] [32] |
| 2007 (18th) | South of Nowhere | The N | [31] [32] |
| 2008 (19th) | Brothers & Sisters ‡ | ABC | [33] [34] |
| 2008 (19th) | Degrassi: The Next Generation | The N | [33] [34] |
| 2008 (19th) | Dirty Sexy Money | ABC | [33] [34] |
| 2008 (19th) | Greek | ABC Family | [33] [34] |
| 2008 (19th) | The L Word | Showtime | [33] [34] |
| 2009 (20th) | Brothers & Sisters ‡ | ABC | [35] [36] |
| 2009 (20th) | The L Word | Showtime | [35] [36] |
| 2009 (20th) | South of Nowhere | The N | [35] [36] |
| 2009 (20th) | Torchwood | BBC America | [35] [36] |
| 2009 (20th) | True Blood | HBO | [35] [36] |

### 2010s

2010s winners and nominees :
| Award year | Series | Network | Ref(s). |
| 2010 (21st) | Brothers & Sisters ‡ | ABC | [37] [38] |
| 2010 (21st) | Grey's Anatomy | ABC | [37] [38] |
| 2010 (21st) | Mad Men | AMC | [37] [38] |
| 2010 (21st) | Skins | BBC America | [37] [38] |
| 2010 (21st) | True Blood | HBO | [37] [38] |
| 2011 (22nd) | True Blood ‡ | HBO | [39] [40] |
| 2011 (22nd) | Brothers & Sisters | ABC | [39] [40] |
| 2011 (22nd) | Degrassi | TeenNick | [39] [40] |
| 2011 (22nd) | Grey's Anatomy | ABC | [39] [40] |
| 2011 (22nd) | Pretty Little Liars | ABC Family | [39] [40] |
| 2012 (23rd) | Grey's Anatomy ‡ | ABC | [41] [42] |
| 2012 (23rd) | Degrassi | TeenNick | [41] [42] |
| 2012 (23rd) | Pretty Little Liars | ABC Family | [41] [42] |
| 2012 (23rd) | Shameless | Showtime | [41] [42] |
| 2012 (23rd) | Torchwood: Miracle Day | Starz | [41] [42] |
| 2013 (24th) | Smash ‡ | NBC | [43] [44] |
| 2013 (24th) | Degrassi | TeenNick | [43] [44] |
| 2013 (24th) | Grey's Anatomy | ABC | [43] [44] |
| 2013 (24th) | The L.A. Complex | The CW | [43] [44] |
| 2013 (24th) | True Blood | HBO | [43] [44] |
| 2014 (25th) | The Fosters ‡ | ABC Family | [45] [46] |
| 2014 (25th) | Grey's Anatomy | ABC | [45] [46] |
| 2014 (25th) | Orphan Black | BBC America | [45] [46] |
| 2014 (25th) | Pretty Little Liars | ABC Family | [45] [46] |
| 2014 (25th) | Shameless | Showtime | [45] [46] |
| 2015 (26th) | How to Get Away with Murder ‡ | ABC | [47] [48] |
| 2015 (26th) | Degrassi | TeenNick | [47] [48] |
| 2015 (26th) | The Fosters | ABC Family | [47] [48] |
| 2015 (26th) | Game of Thrones | HBO | [47] [48] |
| 2015 (26th) | Grey's Anatomy | ABC | [47] [48] |
| 2015 (26th) | Last Tango in Halifax | PBS | [47] [48] |
| 2015 (26th) | Masters of Sex | Showtime | [47] [48] |
| 2015 (26th) | Orphan Black | BBC America | [47] [48] |
| 2015 (26th) | Pretty Little Liars | ABC Family | [47] [48] |
| 2015 (26th) | Shameless | Showtime | [47] [48] |
| 2016 (27th) | Sense8 ‡ | Netflix | [49] [50] |
| 2016 (27th) | Arrow | The CW | [49] [50] |
| 2016 (27th) | Black Sails | Starz | [49] [50] |
| 2016 (27th) | Empire | Fox | [49] [50] |
| 2016 (27th) | The Fosters | ABC Family | [49] [50] |
| 2016 (27th) | Grey's Anatomy | ABC | [49] [50] |
| 2016 (27th) | How to Get Away with Murder | ABC | [49] [50] |
| 2016 (27th) | Nashville | ABC | [49] [50] |
| 2016 (27th) | Orphan Black | BBC America | [49] [50] |
| 2016 (27th) | Shameless | Showtime | [49] [50] |
| 2017 (28th) | Shadowhunters ‡ | Freeform | [51] [52] |
| 2017 (28th) | The Fosters | Freeform | [51] [52] |
| 2017 (28th) | Grey's Anatomy | ABC | [51] [52] |
| 2017 (28th) | Hap and Leonard | SundanceTV | [51] [52] |
| 2017 (28th) | How to Get Away with Murder | ABC | [51] [52] |
| 2017 (28th) | The OA | Netflix | [51] [52] |
| 2017 (28th) | Orphan Black | BBC America | [51] [52] |
| 2017 (28th) | Shameless | Showtime | [51] [52] |
| 2017 (28th) | Supergirl | The CW | [51] [52] |
| 2017 (28th) | Wynonna Earp | Syfy | [51] [52] |
| 2018 (29th) | This Is Us ‡ | NBC | [53] [54] |
| 2018 (29th) | Billions | Showtime | [53] [54] |
| 2018 (29th) | Doubt | CBS | [53] [54] |
| 2018 (29th) | The Handmaid's Tale | Hulu | [53] [54] |
| 2018 (29th) | Nashville | CMT | [53] [54] |
| 2018 (29th) | Sense8 | Netflix | [53] [54] |
| 2018 (29th) | Shadowhunters | Freeform | [53] [54] |
| 2018 (29th) | Star | Fox | [53] [54] |
| 2018 (29th) | Star Trek: Discovery | CBS All Access | [53] [54] |
| 2018 (29th) | Wynonna Earp | Syfy | [53] [54] |
| 2019 (30th) | Pose ‡ | FX | [55] [56] |
| 2019 (30th) | Billions | Showtime | [55] [56] |
| 2019 (30th) | Black Lightning | The CW | [55] [56] |
| 2019 (30th) | Grey's Anatomy | ABC | [55] [56] |
| 2019 (30th) | The Handmaid's Tale | Hulu | [55] [56] |
| 2019 (30th) | Instinct | CBS | [55] [56] |
| 2019 (30th) | Shadowhunters | Freeform | [55] [56] |
| 2019 (30th) | Star | Fox | [55] [56] |
| 2019 (30th) | Supergirl | The CW | [55] [56] |
| 2019 (30th) | Wynonna Earp | Syfy | [55] [56] |

### 2020s

| Award year | Series | Network | Ref(s). |
| 2020 (31st) | Pose ‡ | FX | [57] [58] |
| 2020 (31st) | Batwoman | The CW | [57] [58] |
| 2020 (31st) | Billions | Showtime | [57] [58] |
| 2020 (31st) | Euphoria | HBO | [57] [58] |
| 2020 (31st) | Killing Eve | BBC America | [57] [58] |
| 2020 (31st) | The L Word: Generation Q | Showtime | [57] [58] |
| 2020 (31st) | The Politician | Netflix | [57] [58] |
| 2020 (31st) | Shadowhunters | Freeform | [57] [58] |
| 2020 (31st) | Star Trek: Discovery | CBS All Access | [57] [58] |
| 2020 (31st) | Supergirl | The CW | [57] [58] |
| 2021 (32nd) | Star Trek: Discovery ‡ | CBS All Access | [59] [60] |
| 2021 (32nd) | 9-1-1: Lone Star | Fox | [59] [60] |
| 2021 (32nd) | Killing Eve | BBC America | [59] [60] |
| 2021 (32nd) | P-Valley | Starz | [59] [60] |
| 2021 (32nd) | Ratched | Netflix | [59] [60] |
| 2021 (32nd) | Supergirl | The CW | [59] [60] |
| 2021 (32nd) | The Umbrella Academy | Netflix | [59] [60] |
| 2021 (32nd) | Vida | Starz | [59] [60] |
| 2021 (32nd) | The Wilds | Amazon | [59] [60] |
| 2021 (32nd) | Wynonna Earp | Syfy | [59] [60] |
| 2022 (33rd) | Pose ‡ | FX | [61] [62] |
| 2022 (33rd) | 9-1-1: Lone Star | Fox | [61] [62] |
| 2022 (33rd) | Batwoman | The CW | [61] [62] |
| 2022 (33rd) | The Chi | Showtime | [61] [62] |
| 2022 (33rd) | Doom Patrol | HBO Max | [61] [62] |
| 2022 (33rd) | Good Trouble | Freeform | [61] [62] |
| 2022 (33rd) | Grey's Anatomy | ABC | [61] [62] |
| 2022 (33rd) | The L Word: Generation Q | Showtime | [61] [62] |
| 2022 (33rd) | Star Trek: Discovery | Paramount+ | [61] [62] |
| 2022 (33rd) | Supergirl | The CW | [61] [62] |
| 2023 (34th) | 9-1-1: Lone Star ‡ | Fox | [63] [64] |
| 2023 (34th) | Chucky | Syfy | [63] [64] |
| 2023 (34th) | Good Trouble | Freeform | [63] [64] |
| 2023 (34th) | Gossip Girl | HBO Max | [63] [64] |
| 2023 (34th) | Grey's Anatomy | ABC | [63] [64] |
| 2023 (34th) | The L Word: Generation Q | Showtime | [63] [64] |
| 2023 (34th) | P-Valley | Starz | [63] [64] |
| 2023 (34th) | September Mornings | Prime Video | [63] [64] |
| 2023 (34th) | Star Trek: Discovery | Paramount+ | [63] [64] |
| 2023 (34th) | The Umbrella Academy | Netflix | [63] [64] |
| 2024 (35th) | Yellowjackets | Showtime | |
| 2024 (35th) | 9-1-1: Lone Star | Fox | |
| 2024 (35th) | The Chi | Showtime | |
| 2024 (35th) | Chucky | Syfy / USA Network | |
| 2024 (35th) | Doctor Who | Disney+ | |
| 2024 (35th) | Good Trouble | Freeform | |
| 2024 (35th) | Grey's Anatomy | ABC | |
| 2024 (35th) | Quantum Leap | NBC | |
| 2024 (35th) | Riverdale | The CW | |
| 2024 (35th) | Station 19 | ABC | |

## Multiple wins and nominations
### Programs

| Wins | Program |
| 4 | Brothers & Sisters |
| 3 | Pose |
| 3 | Six Feet Under |
| 2 | Chicago Hope |
| 2 | L.A. Law |
| 2 | NYPD Blue |
| Nominations | Program |
| 12 | Grey's Anatomy |
| 6 | Degrassi: The Next Generation |
| 6 | Queer as Folk |
| 5 | Brothers & Sisters |
| 5 | Shameless |
| 5 | Six Feet Under |
| 5 | Supergirl |
| 5 | The L Word |
| 5 | Star Trek: Discovery |
| 4 | 9-1-1: Lone Star |
| 4 | The Fosters |
| 4 | Orphan Black |
| 4 | Pretty Little Liars |
| 4 | Shadowhunters |
| 4 | True Blood |
| 4 | Wynonna Earp |

### Networks

| Wins | Network |
| 11 | ABC |
| 5 | NBC |
| 4 | HBO |
| 2 | ABC Family / Freeform |
| 2 | CBS |
| 2 | Fox |
| 2 | FX |
| 2 | Showtime |
| Nominations | Network |
| 29 | ABC |
| 26 | Showtime |
| 15 | HBO |
| 15 | ABC Family / Freeform |
| 10 | NBC |
| 10 | The CW |
| 9 | BBC America |
| 9 | The N / TeenNick |
| 9 | Fox |
| 7 | Netflix |
| 6 | CBS |
| 5 | FX |
| 5 | CBS All Access / Paramount+ |
| 5 | Syfy |
| 5 | Starz |
| 4 | The WB |