The activist group GLAAD (Gay & Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation) released its annual report for LGBT representation in television shows, finding that there has been a decrease in LGBT-identifying characters for the second consecutive year.
According to the report, which is titled “Where We Are on TV” and covers the 2023-2024 television season, there were 468 LGBT characters across TV shows, marking a decrease from 596 characters the previous year. Additionally, 36% of these characters will not be returning in the upcoming season of their respective shows.
The report found that among 64 primetime series, there are only 39 regular LGBT characters, indicating a 44% decrease from the previous year. Furthermore, the number of transgender-identifying characters decreased from 32 to 24.
Megan Townsend, GLAAD’s senior director of entertainment research and analysis, expressed concern over the downward trend, citing industry changes as a factor.
“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,” Townsend said.
GLAAD CEO Sarah Kate Ellis also expressed concern about the report’s finding, emphasizing the belief that it is “imperative” for LGBT individuals to see characters that reflect them.
“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,” Ellis said.
While some attribute the decrease in LGBT representation to a general decline in the number of television shows, others speculate that the television industry may be scaling back LGBT characters to avoid alienating more conservative audiences.
However, GLAAD’s long-term data reveals a significant increase in LGBT characters since the 1996-1997 television season, with a striking 1276% rise over the years.
