LOS ANGELES – For the third year running, ABC leads nominees for awards from the Gay and Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation. The network earned six nominations for the 20th annual GLAAD Media Awards, with "Brothers & Sisters," "Desperate Housewives" and "Ugly Betty" among its contenders.

The awards recognize fair and inclusive portrayals of the gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender community and issues affecting them.

"How our lives are portrayed in the media doesn't make a bit of difference, it makes all the difference," said GLAAD president Neil G. Giuliano.

The organization announced its 185 nominees in 41 categories Tuesday.

CBS earned four nominations and NBC nabbed two. Nominees for feature film in wide release include "Brideshead Revisited," "Milk," "Nick and Norah's Infinite Playlist," "RocknRolla" and "Vicky Cristina Barcelona."

"The nominees this year prove that the stories of LGBT Americans are interesting, compelling and will touch not only LGBT audiences, but broader audiences as well," Giuliano said.

Special prizes will be presented to Tyra Banks and Suze Orman. Banks will receive the Excellence in Media award, and Orman will receive the Vito Russo award.

The GLAAD Media Awards — which also recognize magazine and newspaper content, theater performances, advertising and Spanish programming — will be presented at three separate ceremonies: in New York on March 28, in Los Angeles on April 19 and in San Francisco on May 9.

Source: AP