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    GLAAD: Films dip, comic books up in award-worthy gay content 

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    In this image released by Paramount Pictures, Zoe Saldana, left, as Uhura and John Cho as Sulu appear in a scene from, "Star Trek Beyond." (Kimberley French/Paramount Pictures via AP)

    By Lynn Elber, Television Writer

    LOS ANGELES (AP) --

    "Moonlight" and "Star Trek Beyond" are the only major films found worthy of GLAAD Media Awards nominations, the fewest nods for gay-inclusive movies since 2003.

    The gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender advocacy group called the outcome disappointing and a reflection of the mainstream film industry's dearth of LGBT story lines.

    While three of the category's five spots went unfilled, the picture was far different when it came to music artists and comic books: The categories for both were expanded from five to 10 nominees for the 28th annual awards.

    A downturn in major-movie depictions also goes counter to TV, which has brought gay and transgender stories to the fore and has 10 contenders each in the TV comedy and drama series categories.

    Streaming service Netflix received a leading four nods for shows including "Transparent" and "Grace and Frankie."

    "At a time when progress is at a critical juncture, it is imperative that Hollywood tell more LGBTQ stories that reflect the community's rich diversity and build understanding that brings all communities closer together," GLAAD chief executive Sarah Kate Ellis said in a statement.

    "Moonlight," a coming-of-age story about a gay black man, is up for eight Academy Awards nominations on Feb. 26, including best picture.

    The GLAAD awards honor outstanding images of the LGBT community in music, movies, TV and journalism. Ceremonies are set for April 1 in Los Angeles and May 6 in New York.

    Among the 115 nominees in 21 English-language categories are Ta-Nehisi Coates' "Black Panther" comic book; Lady Gaga; "The Daily Show with Trevor Noah"; and NewYorker.com and the Tampa Bay Times for stories on the Orlando, Florida, nightclub mass shooting.

    The 41 Spanish-language nominees in 11 categories include Kany García with the sole music artist nod and, for best TV journalism segment, Orlando reports from NTN 24; Telemundo; Univision; CNN en Espanol; and TV Azteca.

    In the limited-release film category, nominees are "The Handmaiden," ''Naz & Maalik," ''Other People," ''Spa Night" and "Those People."

    Tags:GLAADGLAAD Media AwardsMoonlightStar Trek Beyond



    Ex-OpenAI engineer who raised legal concerns about the technology he helped build has died

    Saturday, December 21, 2024
    Suchir Balaji poses for a photo in Hawaii in 2018. Balaji was a former OpenAI engineer and whistleblower who died in November 2024. (Balaji Ramamurthy via AP)

    Suchir Balaji, a former OpenAI engineer and whistleblower who helped train the artificial intelligence systems behind ChatGPT and later said he believed those practices violated copyright law, has died, according to his parents and San Francisco officials. He was 26.

    Balaji worked at OpenAI for nearly four years before quitting in August. He was well-regarded by colleagues at the San Francisco company, where a co-founder this week called him one of OpenAI's strongest contributors who was essential to developing some of its products.

    "We are devastated to learn of this incredibly sad news and our hearts go out to Suchir's loved ones during this difficult time," said a statement from OpenAI.

    Balaji was found dead in his San Francisco apartment on Nov. 26 in what police said "appeared to be a suicide. No evidence of foul play was found during the initial investigation." The city's chief medical examiner's office confirmed the manner of death to be suicide.

    His parents Poornima Ramarao and Balaji Ramamurthy said they are still seeking answers, describing their son as a "happy, smart and brave young man" who loved to hike and recently returned from a trip with friends.

    Balaji grew up in the San Francisco Bay Area and first arrived at the fledgling AI research lab for a 2018 summer internship while studying computer science at the University of California, Berkeley. He returned a few years later to work at OpenAI, where one of his first projects, called WebGPT, helped pave the way for ChatGPT.

    "Suchir's contributions to this project were essential, and it wouldn't have succeeded without him," said OpenAI co-founder John Schulman in a social media post memorializing Balaji. Schulman, who recruited Balaji to his team, said what... Read More

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