The nominees for the NAACP Image Awards were announced this morning and include nods for several LGBT artists and inclusive series and films. The Image Awards celebrate outstanding achievements by people of color in arts as well as those who work to promote social justice through their creative efforts, this year's show will air live Friday, February 6 at 9pm on TV One.
Laverne Cox is nominated in Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series for her portrayal of trans inmate Sophia Burset on the Netflix original series Orange is the New Black. Out actor Guillermo Diaz picked up a nomination in Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Drama Series for his work on Scandal. Andre Braugher is nominated in Outstanding Actor in a Comedy series for his portrayal of out police captain Raymond Holt on Brooklyn Nine-Nine, while Orange is the New Black's Uzo Aduba (Suzanne 'Crazy Eyes' Warren) scored a nod in Outstanding Actress in a Comedy Series. Out Orange is the New Black writer and co-executive producer Sara Hess scored a nod in Outstanding Writing in a Comedy Series. Out director and writer Justin Simien is nominated in Outstanding Writing in a Motion Picture (Theatrical) for Dear White People.
Sam Smith, who picked up six GRAMMY nominations last week, scored an Image Awards nomination in Outstanding Duo, Group or Collaboration for "Stay with Me" with Mary J. Blige. Out jazz artist Dave Koz's newest release Dave Koz and Friends: The 25th of December is nominated in Outstanding Jazz Album. John Legend's "You & I (Nobody in the World)" is nominated in Outstanding Music Video which featured Laverne Cox and out comedian Tig Notaro.
Dear White People received nominations in Outstanding Motion Picture and Outstanding Independent Motion Picture. The Jose Antonio Vargas documentary Documented and Through a Lens Darkly: Black Photographers and the Emergence of a People both picked up nominations in Outstanding Documentary (Theatrical). VH1's Drumline: A New Beat which included the gay son of a pastor and his closeted love interest is nominated in Outstanding Television Movie, Mini-Series or Dramatic Special.
LGBT-inclusive series Orange is the New Black and House of Lies are nominated in Outstanding Comedy Series. Grey's Anatomy, House of Cards, How to Get Away with Murder, and Scandal received nominations in Outstanding Drama Series. The View, which this year saw the return of Rosie O'Donnell, is nominated in Outstanding Talk Series. NBC's The Voice and ABC's Dancing with the Stars are nominated in Outstanding Reality Series.
Don't miss the NAACP Image Awards live on TV One Friday, February 6 at 9pm!