GLAAD reports LGBTQ film representation falls for third year in a row

The Gay and Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation (GLAAD)’s latest report on LGBTQ representation in movies on Thursday found that the percentage of “LGBTQ-featured movies” has decreased for the third year in a row.

in 2023 GLAAD reported A record 28.5% (100 of 350 films released in 2022) featured LGBTQ characters. This rate dropped to 27.3% for 2023 films and 23.6% in 2024.

By 2025, that number dropped to just 20.4%; that is, 46 out of 225 films featured LGBTQ characters, with a total of zero transgender characters in cinemas and streaming.

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GLAAD also found that of the 19 films on the list classified as animated/family films rated PG and below, there were zero LGBTQ characters, compared to two “inclusive” films out of 26 a year ago. The agency called this finding “particularly concerning,” as the Federal Communications Commission (FCC), under this administration, has launched a public investigation into whether new TV ratings should be created that would apply warning labels to television programs featuring transgender and nonbinary characters.

“Everyone’s audience is looking for original and inclusive stories,” GLAAD President and CEO Sarah Kate Ellis said in a statement. “Our study found that LGBTQ stories in films were both commercially and critically successful. In fact, every LGBTQ-inclusive horror film released theatrically grossed more than twice the film’s production budget. If the industry does not prioritize investing in films featuring LGBTQ characters, it risks losing a generation that will go elsewhere to find entertainment that includes our community.”

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GLAAD found that zero of the 225 movies released in 2025 feature prominent transgender characters. (Mario Tama/Getty Images)

However, GLAAD added that there have been some “success stories” in 2025, especially through horror movies such as “I Know What You Did Last Summer,” “Parenthood,” “Comrades” and “Guns.” The organization found that every horror film featuring LGBTQ characters for which production budget information was publicly available earned more than double its budget upon release.

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

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

“If studios want to stay connected with young audiences and generate box office revenue, they can’t afford to ignore nearly a quarter of their most enthusiastic ticket buyers,” Townsend said.

A Gallup poll found that support for LGBTQ relationships overall declined in June. (Joshua Stanyer/SOPA Images/LightRocket via Getty Images)

Newsbusters Senior Research Analyst Bill D’Agostino celebrated the report as a win for casual moviegoers in a comment to Fox News Digital.

“For anyone who truly loves movies, this is a positive sign. It means fewer filmmakers are feeling pressure to shoehorn gay characters into their scripts to appease the likes of GLAAD. If far-left activist groups are scrambling to force artists to comply with their demands, that’s certainly a win for art consumers,” D’Agostino said.

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GLAAD’s report followed a similar pattern to a Gallup poll released last month that showed declining support for same-sex marriage or same-sex relationships. Gallup reports that moral acceptance of gay and lesbian relationships has fallen to 62%, the lowest recorded since 2016.