This Major Movie Studio Just Got a Failing Grade in LGBTQ Representation From GLAAD

Representation is a big topic of conversation within the entertainment industry, and it is always evolving. While the industry has made strides in the right direction, another glance shows that there is certainly more work to do. For its annual LGBTQ representation study, GLAAD looked at the 2023 movies released by 10 of the major studios, and sadly, only one of them received a passing grade from the organization, demonstrating that more work needs to be done.

Per The Wrap, Amazon Studios was the only studio to receive a passing grade of “Good.” GLAAD believes that Amazon released several LGBTQ films that showcased inclusivity, including the comedy Bottoms, the popular romantic comedy Red, White & Royal Blue, the Oscar-winning American Fiction, and the wrestling drama Cassandro. Speaking on this further, the study explained why Amazon received a passing grade from the organization.

“These stories all put LGBTQ people front and center, and spanned a number of different genres, with many of them having nuanced and interesting queer people of color at the forefront. While other films released by Amazon had smaller roles for LGBTQ people, it is exciting to see over a third of Amazon’s releases include the community.”

At the opposite end of the spectrum, Apple TV+, received a failing grade in GLAAD’s 12th annual Studio Responsibility Index for its lack of LGBTQ representation. Of the six movies Apple TV+ released in 2023, including Ghosted and The Family Plan, only one was said to feature LGBTQ characters. Sadly, both of the characters were only seen onscreen for less than a minute. The platform’s failing grade of a mere 17 percent is considered “highly disappointing,” according to the study.

Apple TV+ isn’t entirely alone regarding its lack of proper LGBTQ representation. Even though some of the other studios didn’t fail as spectacularly, it’s clear that they need to do better. Warner Bros. Discovery earned a “Poor” rating from the study, while others such as A24, Lionsgate, Paramount Pictures, Sony Pictures, and Walt Disney Company all earned “Insufficient” scores. A24 is especially surprising because it embraces more provocative and unconventional material and seems like it should be more inclusive, but perhaps its 2023 slate didn’t showcase that. The outcome was a bit better for NBCUniversal and Netflix, with both companies earning a “Fair” rating.

There are other interesting aspects of the study to look at. 256 movies from the 10 studios were tracked, and it was found that 27.3 percent of them were LGBTQ-inclusive, representing a 0.8 percent decrease from the previous year. Of the 70 releases that demonstrated proper inclusivity, 170 LGBTQ characters were featured, which resulted in a much bigger drop – down 41.2 percent from 2022. GLAAD president and CEO Sarah Kate Ellis said progress is still inconsistent year to year, but also pointed out that LGBTQ stories that are properly represented can lead to critical and commercial success.

“Though there is inconsistent progress on LGBTQ representation from major distributors year to year, recent films with LGBTQ leads prove that our stories can absolutely be both critical and commercial successes — when they have the full support of the studio behind them. As the film production and distribution model continues to evolve, major distributors must deepen investment and intention in storytelling efforts to retain the attention of growing young diverse audiences, who crave stories that reflect their experience and their values. If LGBTQ representation continues to decline in major releases, these companies will lose relevance with a crucial buying audience. GLAAD is committed to continuing and deepening our work with studios and the creative community to ensure we meet this moment together.”