The Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC) has won an International award for its fair, accurate and inclusive representation of LGBTQ people and the issues that affect their lives.
ABC ME series, First Day (pictured) about a transgender girl starting high school, was joint winner of the award for Outstanding Kids & Family Programming at the 2021 GLAAD Media Awards.
The ABC said First Day was the only Australian program recognised at the annual awards, which promote diverse and inclusive representations of the lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and queer community, sending powerful messages of acceptance to audiences globally.
Head of Children’s Content at the ABC, Libbie Doherty said the multi award-winning First Day resonated strongly with young people and the international transgender community.
“GLAAD is an incredibly respected organisation in the LGBTQI community and to have the nod from it in a very strong field is really exciting,” Ms Doherty said.
“Congratulations to the ABC ME team, along with writer-director, Julie Kalceff, producers, Kirsty Stark and Kate Croser, Epic Films and the talented transgender actor, Evie Macdonald.”
Ms MacDonald, the first transgender actor to play the lead role in an Australian scripted drama, said the award meant the world to her.
“Thank you so much to everyone for just being so amazing and showing love and support,” Ms MacDonald said.
First Day, produced by Epic Films for the ABC and subsequently broadcast on Hulu in the United States, has won multiple international awards for its powerful story about a transgender girl finding the courage to live as her most authentic self.
