Jun 26
GLAAD Report Finds Drop in LGBTQ Representation in Major Studio Films Amidst Industry Backlash
READ TIME: 2 MIN.
Hollywood’s track record on LGBTQ inclusion in film is back in the spotlight after GLAAD’s latest report showed a marked decrease in LGBTQ-inclusive movies from the major studios in 2024, continuing a trend that began the previous year. The decline comes at a time when one in five Gen Z adults in the U.S. identify as LGBTQ, according to Gallup, signaling a disconnect between movie studios and a growing segment of their audience.
GLAAD’s data show that in 2024, only 59 out of 250 films from top studios included any LGBTQ characters, compared to 70 out of 256 films in 2023. This decrease followed what had been a record high for LGBTQ representation just two years prior. While the absolute number of LGBTQ characters increased slightly from 170 to 181, the proportion of films featuring those characters declined. Notably, the number of LGBTQ characters of color also dropped from 78 in 2023 to 66 in 2024, highlighting ongoing challenges around intersectional representation.
A particularly sharp decline was seen in LGBTQ-inclusive animated and family films. In 2022, eight out of 39 such films included LGBTQ characters; by 2024, that figure had dropped to just two out of 26, raising questions about the industry’s commitment to inclusive storytelling for younger audiences
The report points to broader industry headwinds. Several major distributors, including Disney, Netflix, and Paramount, reduced their Pride Month messaging and scaled back visible diversity and inclusion initiatives in 2024. This shift is widely seen as a reaction to mounting pressure from certain consumer groups and political figures, as well as a perceived desire to avoid controversy in polarized markets.
Megan Townsend, GLAAD’s senior director of entertainment research, underscored the long-term risks: “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.
While some studios have retreated, others continue to prioritize LGBTQ storytelling. NBCUniversal’s Focus Features, for example, included more than 20 LGBTQ characters in its 2024 feature slate, earning recognition from GLAAD for a more inclusive approach.
Elsewhere, independent filmmakers and film festivals remain a vibrant space for LGBTQ voices. The 2025 Sundance Film Festival, for example, is showcasing projects by 53 LGBTQ-identified filmmakers, spanning genres and geographies, from Bill Condon’s Argentine-set drama to Elegance Bratton’s exploration of Chicago’s house music scene.
The independent sphere is also seeing a wave of highly anticipated LGBTQ films in 2025, including “The History of Sound,” a World War I romance starring Paul Mescal and Josh O’Connor, set to premiere at Cannes.
The drop in LGBTQ representation is causing concern not only among advocacy groups but also among market analysts who see Gen Z’s growing diversity as a bellwether for future box office success. As GLAAD’s report warns, Hollywood studios risk alienating a generation that increasingly expects to see their identities and experiences reflected on screen.
Advocates urge studios to recommit to authentic, intersectional LGBTQ representation—not just as a matter of social responsibility, but as a business imperative in an evolving cultural landscape.
