Glaad Says LGBTQ+ Inclusion Fell to 20.4% of 2025 Films, Lowest in 3 Years
Updated
Updated · The Guardian · Jul 9
Glaad Says LGBTQ+ Inclusion Fell to 20.4% of 2025 Films, Lowest in 3 Years
3 articles · Updated · The Guardian · Jul 9
Summary
Only 46 of 225 films released in 2025 included LGBTQ+ characters, Glaad said, extending a three-year slide from a 28.5% peak in its 2023 study.
Trans representation fell to zero across the 200-plus films analyzed, while the decline hit LGBTQ+ characters of color disproportionately, according to the report.
Horror and mid-budget releases stood out as exceptions: films including The Parenting, Companion and Weapons featured queer characters and each earned more than double their production budgets.
Glaad said major studios risk losing younger audiences by underinvesting in queer stories, noting Gallup data that 23% of Americans under 30 identify as LGBTQ+.
Why is Hollywood erasing LGBTQ+ characters when its largest audience, Gen Z, is demanding more representation?
What is the secret formula allowing indie films to profit from the LGBTQ+ stories that major studios now fear?
LGBTQ Representation in Major Studio Films Hits Three-Year Low: Key Findings and Urgent Calls to Action from GLAAD’s 2025 Report
Overview
GLAAD’s 2025 Studio Responsibility Index reveals a troubling decline in LGBTQ inclusion in major studio films, reaching a three-year low. The report, which analyzed 2024 releases from ten top distributors, found not only fewer LGBTQ characters but also a drop in the quality of their representation. Alarmingly, 37% of LGBTQ characters appeared on screen for less than one minute, making meaningful storytelling nearly impossible. This regression highlights that fleeting appearances are replacing authentic roles, signaling a significant setback for diversity and inclusion in the film industry.