Jul 29
GLAAD Report Warns of Declining Queer Representation in Hollywood
READ TIME: 3 MIN.
LGBTQ representation in major studio films is declining for the second year in a row, according to a new report from GLAAD, the leading LGBTQ media advocacy organization. The 2024 Studio Responsibility Index, released in June, details a sharp drop in the percentage of films featuring LGBTQ characters, even as the number of LGBTQ-identifying Americans, especially among Gen Z, continues to rise .
The GLAAD study analyzed 250 films released by the ten largest U.S. distributors in 2024. Only 59 of these included LGBTQ characters, a drop from 70 out of 256 films the previous year. This marks the lowest level of inclusion since before the pandemic era, despite previous years showing steady growth .
This decline comes against a backdrop of increased political pressure and anti-LGBTQ legislation in the United States and abroad. The American Civil Liberties Union reports that over 580 anti-LGBTQ bills have been introduced in U.S. legislatures so far in 2025 . Several major studios and streaming platforms, including Disney, Netflix, and Paramount, scaled back their Pride Month campaigns and other diversity messaging this year, reflecting a broader industry retreat on public support for LGBTQ inclusion .
Megan Townsend, GLAAD’s senior director of entertainment research, warned that these moves could have lasting consequences for Hollywood. “It is very hard to change your brand perception and win people back after they have decided that your brand is not for them, doesn't look like them, doesn't look like their friends, their family,” Townsend told Axios .
The decline in inclusive films stands in stark contrast to demographic shifts. According to a recent Gallup poll, one in five Gen Z U.S. adults now identifies as LGBTQ, a proportion that is expected to grow as the cohort matures . GLAAD and other advocacy groups warn that not seeing themselves represented on screen can have real impacts for LGBTQ youth, including feelings of isolation and increased mental health risks .
A GLAAD study found that LGBTQ youth who see characters like themselves in media are better equipped to cope with the social challenges of living as a sexual or gender minority. Conversely, reductive or absent representation reinforces harmful stereotypes and can negatively affect well-being .
Further compounding concerns, the GLAAD report highlights a decline in intersectional representation. The number of LGBTQ characters of color in major studio releases fell from 78 in 2023 to 66 in 2024, even as the overall number of LGBTQ characters slightly increased from 170 to 181 . Animated and family films, once seen as a bright spot for inclusive storytelling, also saw a drop: only 2 out of 26 such films in 2024 featured LGBTQ characters, compared to 8 out of 39 in 2022 .
Despite these challenges, LGBTQ filmmakers and allies in Hollywood continue to push for authentic stories. Recent and upcoming releases by directors such as Andrew Ahn, Bill Condon, and Ethan Coen address issues ranging from same-sex marriage to anti-transgender legislation, showing that demand for diverse voices remains strong . Independent films and streaming platforms have also emerged as vital spaces for LGBTQ stories, even as major studios pull back .
GLAAD and its partners urge audiences to support LGBTQ-inclusive films at the box office and through streaming, emphasizing that economic success is a key driver for industry change. “Now more than ever, it’s important to show film production companies that queer-centered projects are wanted and profitable,” states The Daily Fandom .
