Full Breakdown
GLAAD Finds Continued Decline in LGBTQ Representation Across Major Studio Films in 2025
7/10/2026, 9:51:18 PM
Study Overview
GLAAD’s 2025 *Where We Are in Film* report examined every feature released between January 1 and December 31, 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. Discovery. Of the 225 films tracked, 46 (20.4 %) included at least one LGBTQ character, a drop from 59 of 250 films (23.6 %) in 2024 and the third consecutive year the share fell below the 2023 record high of 28.5 %. The total number of LGBTQ characters fell to 112, down from 181 the previous year. No transgender characters were counted, and none of the 19 animated or family-rated titles featured LGBTQ representation.
Recent Trends and Methodology
The study, formerly the “Studio Responsibility Index,” now categorizes characters by narrative significance—lead, significant supporting, supporting, or background—rather than screen time, and it no longer assigns grades to studios. This shift aims to assess story quality more directly. The decline follows a 2023 peak and mirrors earlier findings that mid-budget films ($15-90 million) and horror titles remain the most inclusive segments.
Key Statistics
- Characters: 112 total — 59 women (53 %), 46 men (41 %), 7 nonbinary (6 %).
- Sexual orientation: 35 lesbian, 57 gay men, 11 bisexual, 6 queer, 3 unspecified.
- Bisexual representation: 10 films (22 %) featured bisexual characters, down from 25 % in 2024; only 11 of 112 characters (10 %) were bisexual.
- People of color: 34 characters (30 %)—a 36 % decrease from 2024.
- Transgender: Zero characters.
- Horror genre: Every theatrically released LGBTQ-inclusive horror film with public budget data earned more than double its production cost.
- Mid-budget success: 11 of 19 films with budget information were mid-budget titles, averaging over three times their production budget at the box office.
Why It Matters
GLAAD warns that Gen Z, which makes up the largest share of North-American moviegoers, is also the demographic with the highest proportion of LGBTQ-identifying individuals (23 % under age 30, per Gallup). Ignoring this audience could erode box-office revenue and cede cultural influence to alternative media. The report also notes a pending FCC inquiry into warning labels for trans or nonbinary characters in children’s programming, heightening concerns about regulatory pressure on inclusive storytelling.
Official Statements & Responses
GLAAD President and CEO Sarah Kate Ellis emphasized that “audiences across the board are seeking out original and inclusive stories” and highlighted the commercial success of LGBTQ-inclusive horror films. Senior Director of Entertainment Research & Analysis Megan Townsend stressed that “LGBTQ audiences are one of the most quickly developing growth segments for businesses” and that studios risk losing “nearly one-quarter of their most enthusiastic ticket buyers” if they fail to invest in inclusive content. GLAAD also announced continued consulting through its Media Institute, the annual GLAAD List of promising unproduced scripts, and ongoing meetings with studios to improve representation.
Criticism & Opposition
Industry observers point to the complete absence of transgender characters and the decline in animated/family titles as evidence that current studio practices are insufficient. The FCC’s proposed rating warnings for trans or nonbinary characters have been criticized by GLAAD, which mobilized a public comment campaign that yielded a 5:1 ratio of pro-LGBTQ responses.
Conflicting Reports & Gaps
The study’s new categorization system and removal of grades make direct year-over-year comparisons less precise, a limitation acknowledged by GLAAD but not quantified in the report.
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 & 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
- “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 & CEO, GLAAD
- “LGBTQ audiences are one of the most quickly developing growth segments for businesses and it is becoming increasingly unlikely that a company can succeed on a mass scale without speaking to LGBTQ audiences and consumers,” — Megan Townsend, Senior Director of Entertainment Research & Analysis, GLAAD
