GLAAD Says LGBTQ Film Inclusion Fell to 20.4% in 2025 as Trans Characters Vanished
Updated
Updated · Fox News · Jul 10
GLAAD Says LGBTQ Film Inclusion Fell to 20.4% in 2025 as Trans Characters Vanished
3 articles · Updated · Fox News · Jul 10
Summary
46 of 225 films released in 2025 featured LGBTQ characters, GLAAD said, extending a three-year slide and leaving theatrical and streaming releases with zero prominent transgender characters.
20.4% representation marked another drop from 23.6% for 2024 films, 27.3% for 2023 films and the 28.5% peak reported in 2023 for 2022 releases.
19 animated or family films rated PG and under included no LGBTQ characters, a result GLAAD called especially concerning as the FCC has opened a public inquiry on warning labels for TV content featuring transgender and nonbinary characters.
GLAAD argued inclusive films can still pay off commercially, saying every theatrically released LGBTQ-inclusive horror film with public budget data earned more than double its production budget, while independent and mid-budget studios drove most representation.
The report lands amid softer public sentiment: a June Gallup poll found moral acceptance of gay and lesbian relationships at 62%, the lowest level since 2016.
Why is Hollywood erasing LGBTQ+ characters when its largest audience, Gen Z, is demanding more representation?
What is the secret formula allowing indie films to profit from the LGBTQ+ stories that major studios now fear?
LGBTQ Representation in Major Studio Films Hits Three-Year Low: Key Findings and Urgent Calls to Action from GLAAD’s 2025 Report
Overview
GLAAD’s 2025 Studio Responsibility Index reveals a troubling decline in LGBTQ inclusion in major studio films, reaching a three-year low. The report, which analyzed 2024 releases from ten top distributors, found not only fewer LGBTQ characters but also a drop in the quality of their representation. Alarmingly, 37% of LGBTQ characters appeared on screen for less than one minute, making meaningful storytelling nearly impossible. This regression highlights that fleeting appearances are replacing authentic roles, signaling a significant setback for diversity and inclusion in the film industry.