Today the Gay and Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation and the NAACP both announced their annual awards nominations. While there are several gay and African-American characters on TV, these awards usually highlight the lack of diversity by picking out such obscure nominees. The effect only emphasizes how few roles for African-Americans there really are on mainstream television.
Still, between the GLAAD and NAACP Image Awards, there are a few nominations that are truly exciting. Here are my five highlights from the two awards show nominations.

Happy Endings

This ABC comedy is quickly becoming one of the funniest shows on TV, and the show earned nominations for Best Comedy Series from GLAAD (thanks to Adam Pally as Max) and individual recognition for Damon Wayans, Jr. for an NAACP Image Award. Both are truly deserving and might help to bring even more attention to a hilarious show.

Treme

The acting on Treme is first-rate, and I'm happy the NAACP Image Awards nominated Wendell Pierce and Khandi Alexander, both of whom should be getting a lot more attention from other awards shows as well.

Conan Wedding

When Conan O'Brien officiated a gay wedding on his show, it was very cool, and I'm happy to see that moment get singled out by the GLAAD Awards.

Shameless

I suppose it was expected that this Showtime series with a major gay character (Fiona's teenage brother Ian) would get nominated for a GLAAD Award, but it still makes me happy because it's an amazing show that deserves a lot more recognition than its currently getting.

Anika Noni Rose

I absolutely adore this actress (she was amazing on HBO's The No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency) and I'm happy to see her nominated, but I can't help but wonder why it was for her one-episode guest appearance on Law and Order: SVU and not her strong recurring role on The Good Wife.


Here are the major TV nominations for this year's GLAAD and NAACP Image Awards.

GLAAD Awards

Drama
Degrassi
Grey's Anatomy
Pretty Little Liars
Shameless
Torchwood: Miracle Day

Comedy
The Big C
Exes and Ohs
Glee
Happy Endings
Modern Family

Individual Episode
 "Acceptance" Man Up!
"Beards" Hot in Cleveland
"The Boy Has Style" Are We There Yet?
"Prom" Drop Dead Diva
"Recruited" NCIS

Miniseries or TV Movie
Cinema Verite

Reality Program
Dancing with the Stars
Girls Who Like Boys Who Like Boys
The Glee Project
The Real L Word
The Voice

Talk Show Episode
"Chaz Bono," Late Show with David Letterman
"Children and Teens Caught in the Wrong Bodies," Anderson
"Coming Out on the Oprah Show: 25 Years of Unforgettable Guests," The Oprah Winfrey Show
"The Wedding of Scott Cronick and David Gorshein," Conan
"Zach Wahls," The Ellen DeGeneres Show


NAACP Image Awards

Comedy
Love That Girl!
Modern Family
Reed Between the Lines
The Game
Tyler Perry's House of Payne

Lead Actor in a Comedy
Dule Hill, Psych
Malcolm-Jamal Warner, Reed Between the Lines
Phil Morris, Love That Girl!
Pooch Hall, The Game
Terry Crews, Are We There Yet?

Lead Actress in a Comedy
Tatyana Ali, Love That Girl!
Tia Mowry-Hardrict, The Game
Tracee Ellis Ross, Reed Between the Lines
Vanessa Williams , Desperate Housewives
Wendy Raquel Robinson, The Game

Supporting Actor in a Comedy
Craig Robinson, The Office
Damon Wayans, Jr., Happy Endings
J.B. Smoove, Curb Your Enthusiasm
Nick Cannon, Up All Night
Tracy Morgan, 30 Rock

Supporting Actress in a Comedy
Amber Riley, Glee
Gabourey Sidibe, The Big C
Keshia Knight Pulliam, Tyler Perry's House of Payne
Maya Rudolph, Up All Night
Sofia Vergara, Modern Family

Drama
Boardwalk Empire
Grey's Anatomy
Law and Order: Special Victims Unit
The Good Wife
Treme

Lead Actor in a Drama
Andre Braugher, Men of a Certain Age
Hill Harper, CSI: NY
L.L. Cool J, NCIS: Los Angeles
Taye Diggs, Private Practice
Wendell Pierce, Treme

Lead Actress in a Drama
Chandra Wilson, Grey's Anatomy
Khandi Alexander, Treme
Regina King, SouthLAnd
Sandra Oh, Grey's Anatomy
Taraji P. Henson, Person of Interest

Supporting Actor in a Drama
Corey Reynolds, The Closer
Ice T, Law and Order: Special Victims Unit
James Pickens, Jr., Grey's Anatomy
Nelsan Ellis, True Blood
Omar Epps, House

Supporting Actress in a Drama
Alfre Woodard , Memphis Beat
Anika Noni Rose, Law and Order: Special Victims Unit
Archie Panjabi, The Good Wife
Diahann Carroll, White Collar
Loretta Devine, Grey's Anatomy


(Image courtesy of ABC)