Queer Representation Dips on TV
Percentage of queer characters decreases in 2020-21
BY TAT BELLAMY-WALKER
LGBTQ representation on
television has dipped for
the fi rst time in fi ve years,
according to GLAAD’s
annual “Where We Are on TV” report
for 2020-21.
Queer characters represented
9.1 percent of regular characters
on primetime television after
reaching an all-time high of 10.2
percent in 2019, according to the
report, which evaluated broadcast,
streaming, and cable shows slated
between June of last year and May
of this year.
Seventy out of 770 regular characters
were LGBTQ and there were
an additional 31 LGBTQ recurring
characters — or those who
reappear but not necessarily as
frequently — on broadcast, which
combined for a total of 101 queer
characters. There was a steep
dip in regular queer characters
on primetime cable shows, which
had 121 LGBTQ characters in last
year’s report but just 81 this year.
The pandemic is contributing
toward the reduction in LGBTQ
representation, according to the
report, though the pandemic
also impacted shows without
LGBTQ representation. Because
of COVID-19, several productions
and new series that could
have added in queer characters
ended.
The group is reporting a similar
decline on streaming platforms
such as Amazon, Hulu, and Netflix.
“There are 95 regular LGBTQ
characters on original scripted
series, a decrease from last year,
as well as 46 LGBTQ recurring
characters,” the study states. “This
brings the total to 141 LGBTQ
characters.”
Their fi ndings show little representation
of asexual characters,
according to GLAAD. Last year,
there was one asexual character
on the now-canceled Netfl ix series,
BoJack Horseman. This spring,
one asexual character is slated
to appear on a cable series. However,
the character’s identity has
Dominique Jackson of “Pose,” an FX show that has drewn high praise for bolstering the visibility of transgender women of color on television.
been under embargo since the
report was released, according to
GLAAD.
Although LGBTQ characters
took a hit this year, there was some
progress.
On streaming platforms, bisexual
characters are seeing more
visibility. In the 2020-21 season,
bisexual characters accounted for
28 percent of all LGBTQ characters
on all three platforms, marking
a two-percentage increase from
2019. Women outpace other genders
in bisexual representation,
with 65 women, 33 men, and one
non-binary character identifying
as bisexual.
According to GLAAD, there are
29 regular or recurring trans characters
across all platforms, including
15 trans women, 12 trans men,
and two trans characters who identify
as non-binary. Overall, trans
people are the only LGBTQ group
to see an uptick in the number of
characters on broadcast.
Women characters held steady
on primetime scripted television
when compared to last year. However,
GLAAD found a slight drop
in the number of LGBTQ people
of color on broadcast television
in 2020. Despite this drop, racial
diversity appears to be growing
among LGBTQ characters.
More characters have a disability
on all media platforms,
but this is still lagging behind
real-life statistics. According to
GLAAD, the number of characters
with a disability increased
from 3.1 percent in 2019 to 3.5
percent in 2020-21.
“This number continues to severely
underrepresent the actual
U.S. population living with disabilities,”
the report states. “The
number of characters with HIV/
AIDS has signifi cantly decreased
from nine to three, all characters
counted appear on FX’s Pose.”
Experts at GLAAD recommend
including more LGBTQ majority
casts. Several major broadcast networks
have not produced a primetime
scripted series with majority
LGBTQ characters, researchers
wrote. According to researchers,
LGBTQ characters are all too often
tokenized among several straight,
cisgender characters.
TELEVISION
REUTERS/DANNY MOLOSHOK
“The trend is even more obvious
this year as several shows were either
canceled or are not expected to
return in this research period, and
the new programming premiering
has not made up for this loss,”
the report shows. “We’d like to see
broadcast produce an outstanding
series with an LGBTQ-centric cast
like ‘Pose,’ ‘The L Word,’ ‘Queer as
Folk,’ ‘Looking,’ ‘Banana,’ ‘Cucumber,’
and ‘Tales of the City’ which
have been both fan and critical favorites.”
In 2019, GLAAD and Harris
Poll’s Accelerating Acceptance
study found that more people ages
18 to 34 identify as LGBTQ. These
growing demographics prove that
increasing diversity and including
queer characters could improve
their bottom line.
“If broadcast series want to win
audiences — discerning consumers
with multiple options — they
must include LGBTQ characters,”
the report shows. “Whose stories
are new, interesting, told with
depth, nuance, and authenticity,
which refl ect the full diversity of
the LGBTQ community.”
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