A new study shows that LGBTQ characters are represented on the small screen in record numbers but diversity is still lacking.
The annual “Where We Are on TV” report from Glaad shows that out of the 901 regular characters appearing on broadcast television in the last year, 58 are either gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgender, queer, non-binary or asexual. This marks a 6.4% showing, the highest it has been since the association started the study.
“As LGBTQ acceptance in government and the broader American culture reverses course, television is a critical home for LGBTQ stories and representation matters more than ever,” said Glaad’s president, Sarah Kate Ellis. “At a time when the Trump administration is trying to render LGBTQ people invisible, representing LGBTQ people in all of our diversity in scripted TV programs is an essential counterbalance that gives LGBTQ people stories to relate to and moves the broader public to support LGBTQ people and families.”
The report also found that on scripted cable shows, there were 103 LGBTQ characters (up 92 the year before) while on streaming platforms, there were 51 (up from 45).
But in all forms, there remains a lack of diversity within the characters. On streaming platforms, 77% of the characters are white gay men while there are only 17 transgender characters across all mediums.
“While we’re pleased to see numbers on the rise, consideration of how LGBTQ characters are woven into storylines and whose stories are making it to screen is crucial for judging progress of the industry,” said Megan Townsend, Glaad’s director of entertainment research. “And there is still work to be done.”
Earlier this year, Glaad’s report on cinema found that studios were still failing with LGBTQ representation with characters largely on the outskirts, receiving less than one minute of screen time. “It is not getting better,” said Ellis. “The bars are not being moved.”
