BBC recognised in British LGBT Awards shortlist

Transgender actress Rebecca Root is shortlisted for the Celebrity Rising Star Award

The shortlist for the annual British LGBT Awards has been announced with the BBC nominated multiple times.

BBC Two sitcom Boy Meets Girl and EastEnders have both been shortlisted for their portrayal of transgender issues.

Transgender actress Rebecca Root and the first ever transgender actor in a TV soap opera, Riley Carter Millington, have also been nominated.

Nick Grimshaw, Boy George and Sue Perkins are among the other nominees.

Riley Carter Millington is the first transgender actor in a TV soap opera

Sarah Garrett, founder of the awards, explained: "The British LGBT Awards are vital in highlighting those who have done good by the LGBT community and are also important in promoting LGBT acceptance."

"The commissioning of Boy Meets Girl was a particularly landmark moment in British television history as was the introduction of a transgender character to Eastenders.

"The BBC should be proud of its commitment to diversity and groundbreaking coverage of LGBT issues," she said.

Speaking in August last year, actress Rebecca Root, who plays Judy in Boy Meets Girl said: "I really believe that it will demystify my community, it will increase the visibility of the trans population.

"In a way it's a shame, it's 2015 for goodness sake, and we're only having this conversation now. But better late than never."

The British LGBT Awards take place at London's Grand Connaught Rooms on 13 May.

Here are the nominees...

LGBT Celebrity of the Year:

Alan Carr

Boy George

Caitlyn Jenner

Ru Paul

Kieron Richardson

Ruby Rose

Ben Whishaw

Dustin Lance Black

Music Artist of the Year:

Adele

Jess Glynne

Halsey

Little Mix

Zayn Malik

Frank Ocean

Sam Smith

Years and Years

Global Icon:

Cher

Jennifer Saunders

Hillary Clinton

Stephen Fry

Lady Gaga

Sir Ian McKellen

Bette Midler

George Takei

Celebrity Straight Ally of the Year:

Eddie Redmayne

Danny Dyer

Nigella Lawson

Holly Willoughby

Brian May

Kim Cattrall

James Sutton

Zoe Sugg (Zoella)

Celebrity Rising Star of the Year:

Olly Alexander

Rebecca Root

Jake Graff

Hannah Hart

Sean Miley Moore

Philip Armstrong

David Morgan

Rose and Rosie

Broadcaster of the Year:

Clare Balding

Vicki Beeching

Nick Grimshaw

Evan Davis

Paul O'Grady

RuPaul

Sue Perkins

Gok Wan

Media Moment:

Boy Meets Girl, BBC

Caitlyn Jenner, Vanity Fair cover

Eastenders transgender storyline, BBC

Hollyoak HIV storyline, Lime Pictures/ Channel 4

London Spy, BBC

Mhairi Black MP elected to Parliament

Ireland votes for marriage equality

Gay marriage in USA

Sports Person of the Year:

Nicola Adams

John Amaechi

Keegan Hirst

Nigel Owens

Mark McAdam

Sam Stanley

Heather Stanning

Casey Stoney