GLAAD releases 'particularly concerning' report showing shrinking LGBTQ representation third year in a row

The Gay & Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation's (GLAAD) latest report on LGBTQ representation in film on Thursday revealed that the percentage of "LGBTQ inclusive films" has decreased for the third year in a row.

In 2023, GLAAD reported a record 28.5% —or 100 out of 350 films released in 2022—featured LGBTQ characters. The number dropped to 27.3% for 2023 films before plunging to 23.6% in 2024.

In 2025, the number dropped to only 20.4%, or 46 out of 225 films, featured LGBTQ characters with a total of zero transgender characters across theatrical and streaming releases.

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GLAAD also found that out of the 19 films on the list classified as animated/family films rated PG and under, there were zero LGBTQ characters, compared to two "inclusive" films out of 26 one year prior. The organization called this finding "particularly concerning" as the "Federal Communications Commission (FCC) under this administration opened a public inquiry about whether to create new TV ratings that would apply warning labels to television programming featuring transgender and nonbinary characters." 

"Audiences across the board are seeking out original and inclusive stories," GLAAD President & CEO Sarah Kate Ellis said in a statement. "Our study found LGBTQ stories in film that are both commercially and critically successful. In fact, every theatrically released LGBTQ-inclusive horror film made back over double the film’s production budget. If the industry doesn’t prioritize investing in films with LGBTQ characters, it risks losing a generation that will go elsewhere to find entertainment that does include our community."

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However, GLAAD added that there were some "success stories" in 2025, particularly through horror films like "I Know What You Did Last Summer," "The Parenting," "Companions" and "Weapons." The organization found that every horror film that featured LGBTQ characters with publicly available production budget information earned more than twice its budget back upon theatrical release.

GLAAD also found that independent studios and mid-budget films continued to be the driving force of representation compared to big-budget releases.

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In a statement, GLAAD Senior Director, Entertainment Research & Analysis Megan Townsend emphasized the importance of LGBTQ representation to reach Gen Z audiences, remarking that approximately 23% of Americans under 30 were LGBTQ.

"If studios want to stay relevant with younger audiences and bring in box office dollars, they can’t afford to ignore nearly one-quarter of their most enthusiastic ticket buyers," Townsend said.

In a comment to Fox News Digital, Newsbusters Senior Research Analyst Bill D'Agostino celebrated the report as a win for ordinary moviegoers.

"For anyone who actually likes movies, this is a positive sign. It means fewer filmmakers feel pressured to shoehorn gay characters into their scripts to appease the likes of GLAAD. If far-left activist groups are struggling to force artists to comply with their demands, that's categorically a win for the art consumers," D'Agostino said.

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GLAAD's report followed a similar trajectory to a Gallup poll released last month that showed declining support for same-sex marriage or gay relationships. Gallup reported that moral acceptance of gay and lesbian relationships dropped to 62%, the lowest percentage recorded since 2016.