This past week, the ATX TV Festival in Austin, Texas, marked its 14th season with a vibrant celebration of all things television. Spanning four days, the festival featured panels, readings, reunions, awards, and more, highlighting the evolving landscape of television entertainment. GLAAD has consistently been a partner at the festival, promoting LGBTQ-inclusive programming. Notable events included discussions about the Amazon Prime comedy "Clean Slate," which starred Laverne Cox and George Wallace, and a panel on the future of queer storytelling featuring industry professionals.

The festival opened with a discussion on "Clean Slate," moderated by Ryan Mitchell, GLAAD’s Special Entertainment Consultant. The show, canceled after one season, was Amazon's top comedy upon launch and Norman Lear's final executive production. Panelists, including George Wallace, Brent Miller, and Dan Ewen, reflected on Lear’s legacy, the importance of transgender narratives, and the transformative power of comedy in shifting cultural attitudes.

Furthering the dialogue around "Clean Slate," Mitchell invited Cox to his podcast “HIGHKEY!” for an in-depth conversation about her work and career impact. On the concluding day, Raina Deerwater from GLAAD led a panel titled "The Future of Queer Storytelling." Industry experts like Jeffrey Bowyer-Chapman, Dan Bucatinsky, Nathan Lee Graham, and Ben Roy shared insights into their careers, upcoming projects, and the necessity of diverse LGBTQ stories across different backgrounds.

Various LGBTQ-inclusive events at the festival featured talent who participated in GLAAD’s panel. These included a 10-year reunion of "UnReal," a live reading of "The Golden Girls," and discussions about "Finding Mr. Christmas." The festival plans to release full videos of these panels on their social media and YouTube channels, allowing audiences worldwide to engage with the conversations.

Austin’s ATX TV Festival continues to be a pivotal platform for showcasing the evolution of storytelling in television, emphasizing the need for inclusivity and representation. Through engaging discussions and interactive events, it underscores the importance of diverse voices in shaping the future of entertainment, fostering a more inclusive industry that resonates with global audiences.