The 2024 GLAAD Studio Responsibility Index, released in mid-2025, reveals a significant decline in LGBTQ+ representation across major film studios. The report found that while 33 of 125 domestic releases contained LGBTQ+ characters, the industry saw a drop in queer people of color and a complete absence of transgender characters in mainstream theatrical films for the 2024 calendar year.
Declining Representation Metrics
According to the GLAAD report, the total number of films featuring LGBTQ+ characters fell to 33 in 2024, down from 46 the previous year. This 26% decrease marks a regression in the industry’s efforts to mirror diverse audiences.
The report highlights two specific areas of concern regarding the quality and breadth of inclusion:
- Transgender Characters: For the first time in recent years, GLAAD identified zero transgender characters in the 125 films analyzed.
- Queer People of Color: The percentage of LGBTQ+ characters who are also people of color saw a notable decline, dropping from 52% in the previous study to 39% in the 2024 data.
Industry Standards and the Vito Russo Test
GLAAD evaluates film inclusion using the Vito Russo Test, a metric designed to measure the quality of queer representation. To pass, a film must include a character who is identifiably LGBTQ+, not solely defined by their sexual orientation or gender identity, and whose removal from the plot would significantly impact the story.
In 2024, only 14 of the 33 inclusive films managed to pass the Vito Russo Test. This indicates that even when LGBTQ+ characters appear, they are frequently relegated to background roles or "token" status rather than driving the narrative.
Historical Context of Inclusion Trends
This year’s findings contrast with the industry’s trajectory between 2017 and 2022, a period during which major studios were under pressure to increase both the quantity and depth of diverse storytelling. GLAAD’s data suggests that the post-pandemic shifts in theatrical distribution and budget tightening have disproportionately impacted diverse casting.
The report serves as a benchmark for studios, which are graded on a scale ranging from "Excellent" to "Failing." In the 2024 index, no studio achieved an "Excellent" rating, reflecting a broad-based industry slowdown in prioritizing inclusive casting and queer-led narratives.
Key Takeaways
- Reduced Visibility: Only 26% of major studio films released in 2024 featured at least one LGBTQ+ character.
- Zero Trans Representation: Major theatrical releases failed to include any transgender characters during the study period.
- Quality Gap: Less than half of the films that included LGBTQ+ characters met the criteria for the Vito Russo Test, suggesting a lack of substantive representation.
- Diversity Decline: The intersectional representation of queer people of color dropped by 13 percentage points compared to the prior year.