A report from advocacy group GLAAD found decreases in LGBTQ representation on television for the second consecutive year.
The 2023-2024 season is projected to have 468 LGBTQ characters, down from 596 the previous year, with 36% of those characters not returning.
“GLAAD’s Where We Are on TV study found a number of concerning decreases across the board in the past two years, alongside a changing industry on all fronts which is seeing increased vertical integration and contracting budgets and staff,” GLAAD senior director of entertainment research and analysis Megan Townsend stated.
Specifically, there were 39 regular LGBTQ characters on primetime broadcast TV, down 44%, and 77 such characters on cable TV, down 45%.
Transgender representation dropped from 32 to 24 characters.
The number of LGBTQ characters of color also decreased significantly.
While overall representation has increased dramatically since GLAAD began tracking in 1996-97, up 1276%, the group expressed concern over the recent declines.
GLAAD called on networks to continue casting LGBTQ characters to provide positive and accurate portrayals that counter harmful rhetoric, especially for transgender and younger audiences.
“We know that LGBTQ-inclusive series can indeed be successful, as demonstrated by shows like ‘The Last of Us’ and ‘Yellowjackets,’” GLAAD president and CEO Sarah Kate Ellis said. “We know it is imperative for the queer community, especially transgender people, to see our lives reflected on screen to counteract the misinformation and harmful rhetoric going unchecked by politicians and journalists. And we know that younger audiences are hungry for shows that truly reflect the world around them.”
