ABC, whose biggest show has made headlines over an anti-gay slur used by star Isaiah Washington, nevertheless led nominees for this year's awards from an organization that monitors depictions of gays and lesbians in the media and encourages equality and fair representation.

The network landed eight nominations from the Gay and Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation (GLAAD), the group announced Sunday.

CBS garnered five nods, NBC three and PBS two. Among cable networks, CNN received four, Bravo and HBO three, and BBC America two, according to the Cleveland Plain Dealer.

The medical drama is nominated for outstanding individual episode.

The show itself has gotten unwanted attention since Washington used a slur to describe castmate T.R. Knight in an on-set dustup with co-star Patrick Dempsey in October, then used it again at this month's Golden Globes as he denied ever uttering it.

Washington apologized Thursday after the network admonished him.

Nominees for feature film in wide release include Little Miss Sunshine, The Night Listener, Running with Scissors, Talladega Nights: The Ballad of Ricky Bobby and V for Vendetta. Special prizes will go to singer Patti LaBelle, fashion designer Tom Ford and tennis great Martina Navratilova.

The 18th annual GLAAD Media Awards - consisting of 42 categories - are split into four ceremonies, held in Los Angeles, New York, Miami and San Francisco. The awards recognize and honor mainstream media outlets for their fair, accurate and inclusive representations of the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender community and the issues that affect their lives.

Steve Marsi is the Managing Editor of TV Fanatic. Follow him on Google+ or email him here.