LGBTQ+ Representation in Movies Declines for Third Consecutive Year as GLAAD Report Reveals

A recent report from GLAAD indicates that LGBTQ+ representation in major studio films has fallen for the third consecutive year. The organization’s latest study reveals that fewer films released by leading distributors featured LGBTQ+ characters compared to previous years.

The report, titled ‘Where We Are in Film’, analyzed movies released between January 1 and December 31, 2025. GLAAD examined films from 10 major distributors, including Disney, Netflix, Warner Bros., Universal, Paramount, Sony, A24, Lionsgate, Amazon, and Apple.

Out of 225 films reviewed, only 46 included LGBTQ+ characters, representing 20.4 percent of all releases. This marks a decline from 2024, when 59 out of 250 films featured LGBTQ+ representation, accounting for 23.6 percent of releases.

This decrease continues a trend that began after 2023, which remains the strongest year for LGBTQ+ representation in the report’s history, with 28.5 percent of major studio films including LGBTQ+ characters. The overall number of LGBTQ+ characters also fell, decreasing from 181 in the previous report to 112.

GLAAD highlighted several areas where representation was particularly lacking. Notably, none of the 19 animated or family films rated PG or below included LGBTQ+ characters. Additionally, the report indicated that there were no transgender characters among the 225 films analyzed.

Representation for LGBTQ+ characters of color also saw a significant decline. According to GLAAD’s findings, the number of these characters dropped by 36 percent compared to the previous year.

Bisexual representation was also affected. Of the 46 films that included LGBTQ+ characters, only 10 featured bisexual characters, making up 22 percent of those films, down from 25 percent in the last report.

Despite the overall decline, GLAAD noted that certain genres continued to offer more opportunities for LGBTQ+ narratives. The organization pointed to horror films as a positive area for representation, citing titles like ‘I Know What You Did Last Summer’, ‘The Parenting’, ‘Companions’, and ‘Weapons’.

The report also emphasized that mid-budget films, particularly those with budgets ranging from $15 million to $90 million, remain crucial for LGBTQ+ characters and stories.

GLAAD president and CEO Sarah Kate Ellis cautioned that studios risk losing younger audiences if they continue to diminish LGBTQ+ representation.

“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,” Ellis stated.

Megan Townsend, GLAAD’s senior director of entertainment research and analysis, also highlighted the importance of younger moviegoers. She noted that Gen Z constitutes a significant portion of the movie audience, including many who identify as 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 remarked.

In addition to renaming the report, GLAAD has updated its methodology for measuring representation. The focus has shifted from screen time to the significance of each character’s role in the story, categorizing them as lead, significant supporting, supporting, or background.

The latest findings underscore an ongoing discussion about representation in Hollywood and how studios approach diverse storytelling. GLAAD asserts that the full report offers deeper insights into where LGBTQ+ characters appear in film and where further progress is necessary.

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