LGBTQ Representation on TV Hits Record High, New Study Finds

CBR

By Brandon Zachary

Published Oct 25, 2018

A new study by GLADD has found that LGBTQ representation on television has hit a new record high.

A new study has found that LGBTQ representation on television is at an all-time high.

The study was conducted by GLADD as part of the organization's annual “Where We Are on TV” report, which charts the number of lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer characters on television. This is the fourteenth such report, and the findings are incredibly positive.

The study found that of the 857 regular characters appearing in broadcast primetime scripted television series this season, 75 are considered LGBQT. That accounts for 8.8% of all characters, making it the highest percentage of major characters on TV who fall under that classification. The CW accounts for the highest number across the five major broadcast networks.

The number of LGBTQ regular characters on cable also increased this year, up to 120. The same goes for scripted streaming originals, which has risen to 112 LGBTQ characters.

Another notable aspect of the study found that LGBTQ characters of color actually were slightly better represented than white LGBTQ characters, and that the gender split is equal (male and female) with a single non-binary character in the mix (Taylor from Billions).

The only demographic that wasn’t expanded was asexual characters. Only two characters -- Todd from Bojack Horseman and Raphael from Shadowhunters -- identify as asexual and are major characters on scripted series.

(via GLADD)