Following outcry from members of the LGBT community, GLAAD today announced it will reinstate the Outstanding Blog category in its lineup for the 28^th Annual GLAAD Media Awards to be held in 2017. GLAAD also released the following statement:

It’s become abundantly clear that we were wrong to remove the Outstanding Blog category, and we apologize. Although we cannot make changes to this year’s slate of categories and nominees, the Outstanding Blog category will be reinstated in 2017 with improved selection criteria that ensures grassroots LGBT voices are given the recognition they’re due. And like in years past, there will be no submission fee required in the category.

The contributions of LGBT bloggers and independent media have been critical to the advancement of this movement and, indeed, GLAAD’s mission. Eliminating the Outstanding Blog category was an affront to the tireless efforts of those whose work has been essential to putting a spotlight on the issues LGBT people face, and which too often goes overlooked. Removing the category was wrong, and we are committed to doing better.

A coalition of LGBT advocates, bloggers, independent media, and journalists called on GLAAD to reinstate the category in an open letter published to several news outlets and blogs, including Holy Bullies and Headless Monsters.

The GLAAD Media Awards recognize and honor media for their fair, accurate, and inclusive representations of the LGBT community and the issues that affect their lives.