Full Breakdown
GLAAD Report Shows Continued Decline in LGBTQ Representation Across Major-Studio Films in 2025
7/10/2026, 5:53:17 PM
Decline in Representation – Core Findings
GLAAD’s 14th annual “Where We Are in Film” study examined every feature released in 2025 by the ten largest U.S. studio distributors—A24, Amazon Studios, Apple TV, Lionsgate, NBCUniversal, Netflix, Paramount Global, Sony Pictures Entertainment, The Walt Disney Company, and Warner Bros. Out of 225 titles, only 46 (20.4 %) featured LGBTQ characters, a drop from 59 of 250 (23.6 %) in 2024 and from the 28.5 % peak recorded in 2023. The total number of LGBTQ characters fell to 112, down from 181 the previous year. No transgender characters were identified, and none of the 19 animated or family-rated (PG and under) films included LGBTQ representation.
Recent Trends and Historical Context
The report marks the third consecutive year of decline after a record-high in 2023. In 2024, LGBTQ characters appeared in 23.6 % of films; in 2023 they appeared in 28.5 %. The downward trajectory is mirrored across sub-categories: characters of color dropped 36 % from 2024, bisexual characters fell from 25 % to 22 % of LGBTQ-inclusive films, and animated/family titles went from two inclusive entries in 2024 to none in 2025.
Key Statistics
- Films surveyed: 225 (major-studio releases)
- Films with LGBTQ characters: 46 (20.4 %)
- Total LGBTQ characters: 112 (down 69 from 2024)
- Transgender characters: 0
- Characters of color: 34 (30 % of LGBTQ characters) – a decline from 36 % in 2024
- Bisexual characters: 10 films (22 % of LGBTQ-inclusive titles)
- Animated/family (PG- and under) films: 0 LGBTQ characters out of 19 titles
- Horror genre: All four highlighted titles—*I Know What You Did Last Summer*, *The Parenting*, *Companion*, and *Weapons*—earned more than double their production budgets.
Industry Impact and Business Argument
GLAAD notes that Gen Z now comprises the largest share of North-American moviegoers, with Gallup reporting that more than one-in-five Americans under 30 identify as LGBTQ (23 %). The organization estimates LGBTQ audiences wield roughly $1.4 trillion in purchasing power. Horror titles that featured queer characters demonstrated strong commercial returns, suggesting that inclusive storytelling can align with profitability. GLAAD warns that continued under-representation risks alienating a demographic that drives box-office revenue and ancillary fandoms across music, video games, and merchandise.
Official Statements & Responses
GLAAD President and CEO Sarah Kate Ellis emphasized that the industry “risks losing a generation that will go elsewhere to find entertainment that does include our community.” Senior Director Megan Townsend highlighted Gen Z’s market significance and urged studios not to ignore “nearly one-quarter of their most enthusiastic ticket buyers.” The study also condemned the “misrepresentation and exclusion of transgender characters and stories” as “unconscionable” amid broader anti-trans political attacks.
Criticism & Opposition
A right-leaning commentary described GLAAD as a “radical gay advocacy group” and framed the decline as evidence that “woke” priorities are harming popular cinema. The piece argued that the organization’s focus on representation reflects an ideological agenda rather than market demand.
Conflicting Reports & Gaps
All cited sources concur on the quantitative findings; no contradictory figures appear. The study, however, excludes independent productions and does not separate theatrical releases from streaming-only titles, leaving a gap in understanding representation across the full film ecosystem.
Verbatim Quotes
- “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.” — Sarah Kate Ellis, President and CEO, GLAAD
- “Gen Z represents the largest share of moviegoers in North America. Gen Z also has the highest percentage of people who say they are part of the LGBTQ community, with Gallup reporting that more than 1 in 5 (23 percent) of Americans under the age of 30 are 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.” — Megan Townsend, Senior Director of Entertainment Research & Analysis, GLAAD
- “The misrepresentation and exclusion of transgender characters and stories in entertainment, while politicians and anti-LGBTQ activists are fixated on targeting trans people through misinformation, anti-trans legislation and violence, is unconscionable,” — GLAAD study
- “Audiences across the board are seeking out original and inclusive stories. 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.” — Sarah Kate Ellis, President and CEO, GLAAD
