LOS ANGELES (CBSLA) – More LGBTQ characters are seen on screen than ever before, according to GLAAD’s annual “Where We Are on TV.”
Nearly 12% of regularly appearing characters are members of the LGBTQ community and appear on all broadcast networks. The report analyzes LGBTQ representation in broadcast, streaming and cable series for the 2021-22 season ending in May. GLAAD works with networks and services to confirm which characters are members of the LGBTQ community.
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A record percentage of queer characters in the 26 years since GLAAD began measuring representation on television has been reported. It is up 2.8 percentage points from last year’s report.
Reported performance boosts have not been relegated to broadcast networks. There were 138 LGBTQ community characters on cable series, up from 118 in 2021. There were 637 identified LGBTQ characters on television.
Five new streaming services have been added to this year’s report. These were Apple TV+, Disney+, HBO Max, Paramount+ and Peacock, joining Amazon, Hulu and Netflix. There were 358 LGBTQ characters in streaming shows, up from 217 from last year, according to GLAAD.
Netflix had the most with 155. HBO Max followed with 71, Amazon and Hulu had 36 each, and Apple TV+ had six.
Among the broadcast networks, CW had the most LGBTQ characters, followed by Fox. Of these characters, 56 of them – or 40% – were lesbians.
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“Seeing not only the numbers go up, but more importantly seeing improvements when it comes to the parts of the community that have been cut out of the story and left off-screen is a really big change to see this year, and something we’re very excited,” said Megan Townsend, director of entertainment research and analytics at GLAAD, in a statement.
The report found that 49 characters – or 35% – are gay men, a decrease of five percentage points from last year.
The racial diversity of LGBTQ characters has been reported on broadcast and streaming services, but declining on cable. For a fourth consecutive year, LGBTQ people of color (58%) outweighed white LGBTQ people on broadcast networks.
GLAAD advocated for more than half of LGBTQ characters to be people of color. Representation of LGBTQ people of color on cable has decreased this year to 45% and representation of LGBTQ people of color on streaming has increased to 49%. GLAAD said it continues to reach out to all platforms to ensure that at least half of LGBTQ characters are also people of color.
“The growing state of LGBTQ representation on television is a signal that Hollywood is really starting to recognize the power of telling LGBTQ stories that audiences around the world connect with,” said GLAAD President and CEO. , Sarah Kate Ellis, in a press release. “At a time when anti-LGBTQ legislation and violence continue to rise, it is cultural institutions like television that are taking on the crucial role of changing hearts and minds through diverse and inclusive storytelling. Networks and platforms must continue to prioritize telling LGBTQ stories that have long been neglected, with a particular focus on the trans community, LGBTQ people of color, people living with HIV, and LGBTQ people with disabilities. .
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The GLAAD report counts characters who appeared or are scheduled to appear in prime time series between June 21, 2021 and May 31, 2022.