The nominees for this year’s GLAAD Media Awards have just been announced, with Sam Smith, 'Transparent' and The Imitation Game all being recognised. The annual awards, which recognises and honours media for their fair, accurate and inclusive representations of the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender community, are now in their 26th year.

Sam SmithSam Smith has been nominated in the outstanding music artist category

ABC leads as the broadcast network with the most nominations at six, while HBO has the most nods of any cable network with five. For the first time in the award's history the outstanding drama series and comedy series categories have been expanded, taking the maximum nominees from five to 10.

The Imitation Game, Love is Strange, Pride, The Skeleton Twins and Tammy have all been nominated for outstanding film. While 'How to Get Away with Murder', 'Grey's Anatomy', 'Game of Thrones' and 'Pretty Little Liars' were among the nominees for best drama series,

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Netflix’s 'Orange is the New Black' picked up a nomination for best comedy series for the second year in a row, along with 'Modern Family', 'Glee' and Amazon's Golden Globe winner 'Transparent'.

In the outstanding music artist category, Against Me!, Angel Haze, Mary Gauthier, Mary Lambert have all received nominations alongside British singer Sam Smith

Orange is the New BlackOrange Is The New Black

"For nearly 30 years, the GLAAD Media Awards have raised the bar for inclusion in news and entertainment, transforming LGBT representation in media and moving the dial for acceptance across the globe. It's been a remarkable year for equality, and nowhere is that more evident than in the visibility LGBT people have gained across media,” said GLAAD President & CEO Sarah Kate Ellis in a statement.

Adding, "This year's nominees, including expanded categories in Outstanding Comedy and Drama Series, reflect the widening diversity of LGBT images and storylines that are closing the gap to full acceptance.”

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The award ceremonies will be held in L.A. on March 21 at the Beverly Hilton and in New York City on May 9 at the Waldorf Astoria New York. Special honourees for each city will be announced in coming weeks.

The full list of nominees can be read on GLAAD’s website.

imitation GameBenedict Cumberbatch in The Imitation Game