In honor of National Coming Out Day (October 11) and Spirit Day (October 17), GLAAD together with eharmony has released a report which explores the ways dating apps and pop culture intersect with how the LGBTQ community shares their identities in their dating lives.
The report unpacks brand new insights from the LGBTQ community (age 18+) and includes tips from Alex Schmider, GLAAD’s Senior Director of Entertainment & Transgender Inclusion.
eharmony.com
Some key findings from the report include:
Trans and Nonbinary daters:
The #1 reason transgender and nonbinary people reported not disclosing their gender is that they might be fetishized (45%)
Concerns of being bullied rose 3x higher among transgender participants compared to cis participants
58% find it hard to know who will be accepting of their gender
53% feel like an after-thought by dating app companies
41% feel unwanted by cis people
Bi+ Daters:
74% of all LGBTQ+ respondents say that bisexuality is still misunderstood in our society
When cis gay men and lesbians were asked about their feelings dating a bisexual person, 87% said they were open to it
43% said that indicating their sexuality on dating profiles gives them more options and helps them confirm who is interested in them
42% said they don’t like having to interact with straight people on dating apps
30% reported men tend to fetishize them
26% reported feeling judged by others in the LGBTQ+ community
eharmony.com
WLW Daters:
Many cis women are turning to dating apps to not only explore their sexual orientation and gender identity (41%), but to authentically express themselves when dating someone as their true selves (45%)
61% report having deeper emotional intimacy when dating women
Several myths and stereotypes about sapphic relationships were debunked by the study as well:
U-Hauling: Only 26% of cis lesbian and gay women report moving in together too quickly. “U-Hauling” isn’t as pervasive as we thought.
Lesbian Bed Death: Only 33% of cis lesbian and gay women said sex life declines over time when dating the same person, and 43% said they have a better sex life because their partners understand their body.
Friend-zoning: Just over one-quarter, 28% said they can’t get out of the friendzone.
Is there really a Masc Lesbian shortage? This past summer there was social media chatter regarding a lack of masc lesbians, but only 17% said they have experienced this
“eharmony continues to be an incredible example of what brands can achieve when choosing to responsibly support and serve their LGBTQ audiences and consumers, especially in the face of anti-LGBTQ attacks on corporate inclusion,” said GLAAD President and CEO Sarah Kate Ellis. “Together with GLAAD, eharmony’s new study measuring dating and pop culture sentiment will have a profound impact on expanding our understanding of the roles dating apps play in the coming out process and sharing identities. Coinciding with National Coming Out Day and Spirit Day, organized by GLAAD, this research underscores the fact that while there is no correct timeline for coming out, LGBTQ people must feel safe and supported in the coming out process, no matter how or where they decide to.”
via Getty Images
“Younger generations are more likely to be LGBTQ than the generations before them. While the LGBTQ community, including our corporate allies, is facing extraordinary levels of legislative and cultural backlash, LGBTQ people are wanting places to feel safe and be able to be fully themselves,” Ellis said. “Providing places that not only invite and welcome LGBTQ people, but also take measures to protect and support their belonging will not only bring about connection online but create a more accepting world outside.”
via Getty Images
“While we know that storytelling allows LGBTQ+ people to more clearly see themselves and be seen by others, we cannot underestimate the power of out and visible LGBTQ+ people in our culture who impact the way LGBTQ+ people feel about themselves, particularly those who are transgender,” Alex Schmider stated. 75% of respondents said that seeing transgender people in the media gives them more confidence. According to Schmider, “It’s not always been the case that LGBTQ+ people could be out as public figures but as they are, more LGBTQ+ people relate to and can find confidence in their examples.”
In 1991, the Filipino American National Historical Society proposed the first annual Filipino American History Month to commemorate the arrival of the first Filipinos on October 18, 1587. It became official when the 111th Congress introduced and passed a resolution in 2009 officially recognizing Filipino American History Month.
This Filipino-American History Month, GLAAD is shining a spotlight on the queer Filipino-Americans history makers! With activists, producers, journalists, film and television directors, and more, Filipino-Americans are everywhere making their mark upon the world. Join us on GLAAD social media to hear from current Filipino-Americans who are making this world queer, one day at a time.
Alec Mapa
One of the original queer Filipino faces in Hollywood. He hosted hosted GLAAD Media Award winning show “Transamerican Love Story” and had roles in shows like “Desperate Housewives,” “Ugly Betty,” and “Half-And-Half.” He has also been a judge multiple times on RuPaul’s Drag Race, RuPaul’s Drag Race: All Stars, and other branches of the franchise.
Geena Rocero
Geena is an international model and TV producer who shot to world acclaim with her vulnerable TEDx Talk where she came out as a transgender woman. Since then, she has advocated for transgender rights at the United Nations headquarters and the World Economic Forum, and the White House, graced the pages of Playboy as Playmate of the Month in August 2019 (and also becoming the first openly transgender Filipina model on the publication), and produced-and-directed the four part documentary series, “Caretakers” – which highlighted Filipino Americans during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Glamour Magazine – Geena Rocero
Maria Ressa
Being a Filipino American often means always having ties and work back home. As editor-in-chief and CEO of the Philippine news site Rappler, she led her team in dauntlessly seeking and speaking the truth – even in the face of a government and environment that has been fatally dangerous to journalists. She was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in 2021 for her heroic work and, along with her company Rappler, was the subject of the Sundance Film Festival documentary, A Thousand Cuts (available to stream on PBS). She is currently on GLAAD’s Social Media Safety Index Advisory Committee.
Maria Ressa (courtesy of Denise Applewhite of Princeton University)
Richard Adams
In 1975, Richard Adams made history when he and his partner, Anthony Sullivan, got married in Boulder, Colorado. They are one of the first gay couples in the country to be granted a marriage license. Through this license, Adams, a Filipino-American, hoped to get permanent residency for Sullivan, an Australian. However, they were denied and the notification from the Immigration and Naturalization Service used a slur as part of their reasoning why. In 1979, Adams filed the first lawsuit in America to seek recognition of a same-sex marriage by the federal government. Adams v Howerton was ultimately denied in 1982. It wasn’t until 2014, after Adams had died in 2012, that the USCIS approved the 1975 visa petition. Sullivan received his permanent residency status in 2016. The documentary, Limited Partnership, is a documentary telling the couple’s story.
Richard Adams (left) and Anthony Sullivan (right)
Ongina
RuPaul’s Drag Race is a global phenomenon that has earned multiple Emmy Awards and GLAAD Media Awards over its 15-year-and-counting run. Before it became the media powerhouse that it was, it started off as an aspiring competition show with a now infamous “season 1 filter.” Among the very first set of contestants was Ongina – a proud Filipina drag queen known for her signature bald head. She may not have won the crown but she won many of the audience’s hearts for her advocacy as an HIV positive individual on national television back in 2009 when stigma was a lot higher than it is today.
Jose Antonio Vargas
A Pulitzer Prize winning journalist, film maker and immigration rights activist, Jose Antonio Vargas is the founder of Define American, a non-profit dedicated to “humanizing the immigrant narrative, one store at a time.” Born in the Philippines, he moved to America at the age of 12. In 2011, he revealed his undocumented immigrant status. A year after his Time cover story about his immigration status, the Obama administration announced it would be halting the deportation of undocumented immigrants age 30 and under, for they would qualify for the DREAM Act. Vargas, who was 31, did not qualify. Additionally, in 2015, Vargas directed and starred in the Daytime Emmy nominated documentary, White People. He was co-producer for the first Broadway production to feature an all Filipino cast, Here Lies Love.
The 2024 election is consequential for LGBTQ people and our equality. LGBTQ voters are poised again to be the decisive edge in close-contest states in the presidential race as well as the elections that will determine the balance of power in the U.S. Senate and U.S. House of Representatives.
But it’s not just about choosing candidates. Here are issues and proposals up for a vote that will have an impact on the LGBTQ community, including in the battleground states and states that have passed legislation targeting LGBTQ people.
According to the results of a GLAAD and Pathfinder poll released earlier this year, abortion is the second most important issue for LGBTQ voters in the 2024 election. LGBTQ people can and do get pregnant and need reproductive health care. Many of the same states with abortion bans also have enacted bans and restrictions on transgender health care.
According to the results of a GLAAD and Pathfinder poll conducted earlier this year, abortion is the second most important issue in the 2024 election.
Ten states have ballot initiatives to protect access to abortion, including the battlegrounds of Arizona and Nevada, as well as Colorado, Florida, Maryland, and New York. Nebraska has competing ballot initiatives – one expanding access to abortion, one restricting it to the first trimester of pregnancy. Since the Dobbs decision, voters in every state with ballot initiatives have passed expanded protections and access to reproductive care – eight elections and counting.
Arizona
Proposition 139: Amend the state constitution to define as fundamental the right to abortion“through fetal viability,” or about 24 weeks. Current law allows for abortions “until 15 weeks of pregnancy.” In April, the Arizona Supreme Court ruled 4-2 to uphold an 1864 law “prohibiting abortion in most circumstances except to save the life of the mother.” The following month, Arizona Gov. Katie Hobbs cast her signature to revoke the law.
“This election is more than a presidential election. In Arizona, like many states, the outcomes of these ballot initiatives could drastically change rights and freedoms granted to individuals in our state including the quality and availability of reproductive health care for Arizona families,” said Michael Soto, president of Equality Arizona.
“Make sure you don’t forget to vote on the ballot initiatives like Prop 139, in fact the most effective way to vote this year in Arizona is to start with the propositions and work your way up to the presidential race. Our rights and freedoms are on the line, and your vote will matter more than it ever has in this election.”
Arizona’s U.S. Senate race features Rep. Ruben Gallego and former gubernatorial candidate Kari Lake. Lake has promised to make Arizona a “sanctuary state” for the unborn, called abortion the “ultimate sin” and endorsed a federal ban on abortion before flipping support. Rep. Gallego supports Prop 139 and “restoring abortion access” in Arizona.
GLAAD has documented the LGBTQ records of Gallego and Lake.
Colorado
Amendment 79: Protect Coloradans’ right to abortion and prevent governmental interference, denial, or discrimination. Allow for Medicare and other state-funded insurance to “cover abortion services.” As a constitutional amendment, this proposal requires at least 55% voter approval to pass.
Florida
Amendment 4: Add abortion protections to the Florida Constitution’s Declaration of Rights. A “yes” vote would enshrine abortion protections “before viability” or to protect the health of the patient. Unchanged will be a current provision requiring parents “to be notified before a minor can receive an abortion.” Recent polling shows 76% of voters expressed support for the proposal. Florida currently has a ban on abortions after six weeks of pregnancy, one of the strictest bans in the country, as well as a ban on health care for transgender people, which can currently be enforced as the law is appealed.
Florida’s incumbent Sen. Rick Scott is running for re-election to the U.S. Senate. Scott has backed Florida-based anti-LGBTQ extremist book banning group Moms for Liberty, and opposes Florida’s Amendment 4.
In recent years, The Hill reports, Floridians passed amendments restoring voting rights to felons who have served their time, voted to increase the minimum wage, and legalized medicinal marijuana.
In 2023, Illinois’ legislature passed, and Gov. J.B. Pritzker signed into law, a bill enshrining the right to abortion and maternity care. The bill was sponsored by out state Rep. Kelly Cassidy, who said: “While all around us opponents are using misinformation and misogyny to justify attacks on bodily autonomy, I’m proud that here in Illinois, we’ve declared unequivocally that we trust patients and doctors to make these decisions safely and privately.”
Maryland
Question 1: Enshrine reproductive freedom rights within the Maryland Constitution’s Declaration of Rights. The right to reproductive freedom includes, “the ability to make and effectuate decisions to prevent, continue, or end one’s own pregnancy.” A simple majority is needed for the measure to pass.
Maryland’s race for U.S. Senate includes former Gov. Larry Hogan, who vetoed a bill to expand access to abortion in 2022. His opponent, Prince George’s County Chief Executive Angela Alsobrooks, said Hogan would be the “51st vote” swinging the Senate majority to the party that would not vote to restore the rights of Roe nationwide.
Alsobrooks told the Associated Press “there will never be a vote as to whether or not we should codify Roe in federal law if the Republicans are in the majority… they have made it clear, they’ve essentially declared war on reproductive freedoms, and we know that that vote would never happen.”
Missouri
Amendment 3: Enshrine reproductive freedom rights, including “prenatal care, childbirth, postpartum care, birth control, abortion care, miscarriage care, and respectful birthing conditions” into the state constitution through an amendment. Previously threatened with removal from the November ballot, the Supreme Court of Missouri “reversed a lower court ruling against the measure.”
Incumbent Sen. Josh Hawley, who is running for re-election this year, lied about Amendment 3 while also attacking essential health care for transgender people that’s supported by every major medical association.
“Hawley’s fear mongering on trans health care for youth referenced practices that are already largely restricted in Missouri,” St. Louis Public Radio reported. “In 2023, the state passed a sweeping ban on gender-affirming care for minors.”
Supporters of Amendment 3, including the ACLU and Hawley’s Senate race opponent, Lucas Kunce, called Hawley’s remarks false, outlandish, and an attempt to distract voters, KSMU reports.
Hawley’s LGBTQ record is documented on the GLAAD Accountability Project. Hawley is among five senators who voted to object to the Electoral College counts showing Donald Trump lost the 2020 election, casting their votes hours after the deadly insurrection at the United States Capitol. Hawley went on to co-sponsor a bill targeting transgender students. The five senators voting to protect Trump’s lie, then targeting transgender youth, are Sen. Tommy Tuberville of Alabama, Sen. Josh Hawley of Missouri, Sen. Cindy Hyde-Smith of Mississippi, Sen. Roger Marshall of Kansas, and Sen. Ted Cruz of Texas.
Montana
CI-128: Amend the state constitution to enshrine reproductive rights, “including the right to abortion,” and to “travel for medical services” without government interference “up until the point of fetal viability.”
Montana’s race for U.S. Senate is among those that will determine whether the Senate remains in the control of the pro-equality majority.
In a September 30 debate, incumbent Sen. Jon Tester supported the ballot measure and a person’s fundamental right to make private health care decisions: “I believe women should be able to make their own health care decisions. That’s the bottom line. It shouldn’t be the federal government. It shouldn’t be a bureaucrat. It shouldn’t be a judge,” Tester said. Tester also supports federal legislation to protect abortion access before fetal viability — generally considered to be around 24 weeks, according to Montana Public Radio.
U.S. Senate candidate Tim Sheehy is anti-abortion and calls Tester’s stance extreme. Sheehy has said “I am proudly pro-life.”
Nevada
Question 6: The Right to Abortion Initiative. A “yes” vote supports providing for a state constitutional right to an abortion.
“Abortions in Nevada are currently legal up to 24 weeks after the start of pregnancy and after 24 weeks if a physician believes the pregnant person’s life or health is at risk,” the Nevada Current reports
“Those protections were put in place via a citizen-driven referendum passed by voters in 1990 and would require a direct vote of the people to change. Question 6 would establish abortion as a fundamental right in the state constitution, which also requires a vote of the people to amend.”
“This doubles down on the protections on statute,” Lindsey Harmon, president of Nevadans for Reproductive Freedom told the Current. “It makes it twice as hard to repeal or amend the referendum.”
Incumbent Sen. Jacky Rosen is running for her second term in the Senate and supports Question 6. Her opponent, retired Army Capt. Sam Brown has said he is “pro-life,” that he’s “not for changing existing law,” and in 2022 told the Reno Gazette-Journal that he will “continue to protect life by voting against any federal funding of abortion and by voting to confirm justices who protect life.”
GLAAD has documented the LGBTQ records of Rosen and Brown, here.
The Supreme Court’s 2022 ruling overturning Roe v. Wade revealed that marriage equality under Obergefell v. Hodges is far from safe. And while the Respect for Marriage Act would protect same-sex marriages that have already taken place legally, it does not “prevent states from refusing to license the unions.” In order to enshrine these rights, the following states have proposed legislation that would protect marriage equality:
California
Proposition 3: Repeal the now infamous Proposition 8, a 2008 ballot initiative defining “marriage as a union between one man and one woman.” A “yes” vote would establish as fundamental the right to marry. Prop 8 was overturned in the U.S. Supreme Court case Hollingsworth v. Perry, in 2013.
Vice President and former California Attorney General Kamala Harris officiates the wedding ceremony (2013) for the lead plaintiffs in a case that led to the overturning of the state’s same-sex marriage ban. (Credit: MSNBC)
Colorado
Amendment J: Remove the ban on same-sex marriage in the Colorado Constitution. Currently, the state constitution still defines marriage as “only a union of one man and one woman,” wording that was nullified with the U.S. Supreme Court’s 2015 Obergefell decision. Justice Clarence Thomas has called on Obergefell to be “reconsidered” in his concurrence overthrowing Roe.
“Marriage has been many things throughout history, but for queer people, it’s always been about more than just a legal union—it’s been a defiant act of love and resistance.” said Jax Gonzalez, political director at One Colorado, the state’s leading LGBTQ advocacy organization.
“The Obergefell decision was a monumental step forward, but with the fall of Roe, we know we can’t rely on Supreme Court precedent to protect the freedom to marry. Removing the ban on same-sex marriage from the Colorado Constitution isn’t just about love or legal protection—it’s about affirming that our love, our dignity, and our equality are not up for debate. We owe it to the generations who fought before us, and to the future we’re building, to ensure these rights are secure.”
Of particular note: One Colorado reported that no-anti transgender initiatives made it to the November ballot. This comes after an anti-LGBTQ political action committee announced in August that they failed to collect enough signatures to advance anti-transgender legislation onto the 2024 ballot.
According to a report by The Williams Institute, more than 210,000 transgender adults could “face barriers to voting this fall” because their forms of identification don’t match their gender. State agencies in Missouri and Texas have removed protocols for trans people to correct their birth certificates. Ballot measures this year are targeting ways candidates appear on the ballot and can campaign.
Among the higher profile state ballot initiatives is Ohio’s Issue 1, which aims to fix the current manipulation of maps designed to favor one party over another (gerrymandering).
Ohio Issue 1: Establish a 15-member Ohio Citizens Redistricting Commission composed of five each of Democrats, Republicans, and Independents. Currently, the redistricting commission is comprised of politicians. Issue 1 would mandate politicians be excluded, along with lobbyists and political consultants.
Equality Ohio explained the measure to its followers on TikTok and Instagram: “Gerrymandering leads to extreme legislation—it hurts LGBTQ+ Ohioans, period.”https://www.instagram.com/reel/DAZJKfVyS03/embed/captioned/?cr=1&v=14&wp=1080&rd=https%3A%2F%2Fglaad.org&rp=%2Fvoting-for-equality-lgbtq-related-proposals-on-the-ballot-this-year%2F#%7B%22ci%22%3A0%2C%22os%22%3A336%2C%22ls%22%3A193%2C%22le%22%3A193%7D
Gerrymandered maps have helped create an extremist supermajority in the Ohio state legislature that last year passed a combination bill banning medically necessary health care for transgender youth and banning trans youth from school sports. Ohio has successfully worked around the gerrymandered supermajority with ballot measures, including two measures that helped codify the right to reproductive health care last year.
In August 2023, Ohio voters passed a ballot measure that protected a majority vote for ballot measures, then in November 2023, voters passed an amendment to add abortion rights to the state constitution, with robust voter turnout for an off-year election. Extremist lawmakers opposed both measures.
Signal Cleveland spelled out the stakes of Issue 1: “Under the current maps, Republicans hold about 66% of Ohio’s congressional and state legislative seats – giving them a veto-proof majority in the General Assembly – although their share of the vote is closer to 56%.”
If Ohio voters pass Issue 1, the state would join Michigan and Wisconsin, which have successfully broken down partisan gerrymandering, ensuring accurate representation in the state’s voting districts.
Additional states with measures about voting procedures and methods include:
Arizona
Proposition 133: Update the state constitution to “require partisan primary elections for partisan offices,” thus preventing all candidates from running in the same primary. Under the proposed amendment, political parties would nominate their own candidates to open positions, as has already been the practice.
Proposition 134: Establish within the state constitution an amendment requiring citizens pursuing a ballot measure to gather a percentage of signatures from every legislative district; 10% for statutory amendments and 15% for statewide initiatives.
Proposition 137: Replace term limits for state Supreme Court justices and superior court judges with “terms of good behavior.” If passed, this proposal would strip voters of the right to decidewhether or not to retain state Supreme Court justices. “Any justices on the November ballot would also automatically stay in office if the measure passes, even if voters choose to reject them.”
Proposition 140: Create open primary elections, requiring “all candidates for a specific office,” regardless of political affiliation, to “run against each other in a single primary election.” Lawmakers would then have the option to establish “a top-two general election featuring the top primary candidates,” or a ranked-choice voting system in the general elections “featuring the top primary candidates.”
Colorado
Proposition 131 (Initiative 310): Eliminate partisan primaries and place all qualified candidates“on the same primary ballot.” The four candidates with the top number of votes would move on to the November general election, which would ask voters to rank them based on their “order of preference.”
Florida
Amendment 1: Require school board candidates to list their party affiliation on the ballot, starting with the November 2026 general election.
Amendment 7: Amend the state constitution to limit voting to U.S. citizens who are 18 years of age or older. In addition, the proposal would “prohibit the ranking of candidates by limiting voters to a single vote per candidate or issue,” and advance one winner from the primary elections to the general election.
Montana
CI-126 and CI-127: CI-126 would create ranked-choice primaries for candidates running for “governor, lieutenant governor, state executives, state legislators, and congressional offices.” Following the election, the top-four candidates would advance to the general election, “regardless of party.” Meanwhile, CI-127 would require candidates for the following offices to win a majority of the vote, rather than a plurality, in order to secure the election: “governor, lieutenant governor, secretary of state, auditor, attorney general, superintendent of public instruction, state legislature, and congressional offices.”
Wisconsin
Citizenship Voting Requirement Amendment: Amends the state constitution to stipulate “that only U.S. citizens who are 18 years old or older can vote in federal, state, local, or school elections.” Current language states “every” U.S. citizen can vote, but the proposal would change this to “only.” If passed, the measure would capitalize on fear mongering about noncitizen voting, “but noncitizens cannot legally use their IDs or licenses to register and vote.”
To learn more about statewide initiatives that will appear on your ballot, we recommend familiarizing yourself with them through nonpartisan sites like Ballotpedia (also linked from the title of each ballot proposal).
Legendary LGBTQ icon Chilli Pepper passed away peacefully at home on September 11th, surrounded by close friends. Celebrating Chilli’s life comes naturally, as she has spent decades entertaining the masses, advocating for LGBTQ+ rights, and bringing critical attention to the pressing issues of our time. Chilli Pepper is nothing short of an icon in the LGBTQ+ movement, a beacon of courage and authenticity when trans rights, drag artistry, and the AIDS crisis were seldom discussed or understood.
Chilli was one of the first trans women to confront the issue of HIV/AIDS awareness head-on, helping to bring HIV/AIDS into the national conversation at a time when even the U.S. president remained silent. Her courage and activism garnered widespread recognition, leading to media coverage in publications such as the Chicago Sun-Times, Chicago Tribune, Skyline, People Magazine, and appearances on iconic shows like Phil Donahue and The Oprah Winfrey Show. Notably, she made history during the first season of The Oprah Winfrey Show as one of the earliest openly LGBTQ individuals to appear on a talk show. Describing herself as a ‘bionic’ woman, her courageous visibility brought essential awareness to millions of Americans, marking a pivotal moment for the LGBTQ community as a whole.
Most recently, at the 35th Annual GLAAD Media Awards on March 14, 2024, Chilli Pepper along with Paolo Presta were invited to present the prestigious Vanguard Award to Oprah Winfrey. Oprah herself reflected on Chilli’s dedication, noting that Chilli’s fear of flying didn’t stop her from taking a three-day train ride to attend the event and support her dear friend.
To the LGBTQ+ communities in Chicago and beyond, Chilli’s career is a testament to dedication, professionalism, and triumph. From being crowned the first Miss Continental in 1980 to becoming a renowned figure both in the U.S. and globally, Chilli Pepper’s dynamic presence and tireless advocacy have left an indelible mark.
Chilli stood as a symbol of strength, unapologetically herself, embodying the belief that diversity must be celebrated and understood. She has inspired generations with her fierce spirit, reminding us all that authenticity is the greatest form of activism.
Rest in power, Chilli Pepper. You will forever remain an icon of resilience and pride for the LGBTQ community and beyond.
GLAAD, the LGBTQ media advocacy organization, has released its 12th annual Studio Responsibility Index tracking films released during 2023. Despite “a huge increase in LGBTQ characters who were front and center in their own narratives,” the study found the number of films with LGBTQ characters dropped in 2023.
The survey looked at 256 films from 10 major distributors and their subsidiaries and streaming services. GLAAD says the index can serve as a guide for studios to identify priorities and opportunities to increase and improve fair, accurate and inclusive LGBTQ representation and storytelling.
Key findings of the study included:
70 of the 256 films, or 27.3%, contained an LGBTQ character, a decrease from 28.5% in 2022.
Those 70 films included 170 LGBTQ characters, of which 46% were characters of color, representing an increase of 6% from the 2022 study.
Of the 170 LGBTQ characters surveyed, only two were transgender, from the films “Next Goal Wins” and “¡Que Viva Mexico!,” down from 13 the previous year. GLAAD noted the “¡Que Viva Mexico!” character was played by a cisgender man and called the number “alarmingly low.”
Just two of the 170 LGBTQ characters had a disability, a decrease from 11 in the previous year.
The survey ranked the 10 distributors based on the quality, quantity and diversity of LGBTQ inclusion in addition to GLAAD’s Vito Russo Test, a set of criteria to analyze how characters are included in a film. Distributor ratings found A24 to be insufficient, while Amazon was good, Apple TV+ was failing, Lionsgate was insufficient, NBCUniversal and Netflix were fair, Paramount Global, Sony and Walt Disney Studios were insufficient, and Warner Bros. Discovery was poor. (NBCUniversal is the parent company of NBC News.)
“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,” GLAAD President and CEO Sarah Kate Ellis said in a statement. “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.”
Megan Townsend, GLAAD’s senior director of entertainment research and analysis, said the decrease in trans representation was particularly concerning.
“This year’s study found a significant and concerning decrease in representation of transgender characters and stories, down from 12 titles to just two — and one of those films was blatantly transphobic, she said. “We know that less than 30% of American adults personally know someone who is transgender, therefore they may be more susceptible to lies and misinformation about trans people spread by anti-transgender politicians and activists.”
With the aim of achieving more representation in LGBTQ content, GLAAD is spearheading initiatives such as the GLAAD List of unproduced scripts; the Communities of Color team which launched the Black Queer Creative Summit and Equity in Media and Entertainment Initiative; GLAAD Spirit Day on Oct. 17; the GLAAD Media Institute and the GLAAD research department.
GLAAD has documented the anti-LGBTQ history of Donald Trump, including his policies, rhetoric and proposals on immigration. Trump’s full anti-LGBTQ record is available on GLAAD’s Trump Accountability Tracker.
LGBTQ people seek protection and asylum in the U.S. to escape persecution and violence from countries around the world. Persecution due to sexual orientation is grounds to apply for asylum in the U.S.
Trump’s immigration record includes:
False claims during a news conference on August 8, 2024, that 20 million people had crossed the U.S. border illegally under the Biden administration. NBC News reported that border crossings fell to their lowest monthly number of Biden’s presidency in June, with just over 84,000 migrants apprehended.
False claims and fearmongering that migrants are committing crimes once in the U.S. Research shows immigrants actually commit fewer crimes than non-immigrants.
Promising mass deportations, including threats of raids and use of camps to detain people.
Falsely and baselessly describing migrants from Mexico at his first campaign announcement: “When Mexico sends its people, they’re not sending their best. They’re bringing drugs. They’re bringing crime. They’re rapists.”
Vowing to build a wall along Mexico and having Mexico pay for it. Only part of a wall was built and Mexico did not pay for it.
Creating Migrant “Protection” Protocols requiring asylum seekers at the U.S. southern border to be returned to Mexico, including LGBTQ and HIV-positive people who endured human rights abuses in Mexico.
Ending the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program, which protected an estimated 800,000 young undocumented immigrants, including an estimated 39,000 LGBTQ DREAMers, from detention and deportation.
Signing an executive order promising to withhold federal money from sanctuary cities in an attempt to increase deportations.
Ending a humanitarian program that allowed Haitian immigrants to live and work in the United States following a catastrophic earthquake.
Grossly characterizing immigrants and their home countries, including Haiti and countries in Africa: “Why do we want all these people from ‘shithole countries’ coming here?”
Signing an executive order in 2018 initiating family separations. Thousands of migrants, including young children, were taken away from their families.
Shutting down the federal government for 35 days, the longest government shutdown in American history, after lawmakers refused to fund more than $5 billion for the border wall along the United States and Mexico.
Declaring a national emergency to get money for the border wall after the 35-day shutdown failed to produce funding results.
Project 2025, a blueprint for authoritarian takeover of the government created by anti-LGBTQ Heritage Foundation and 140 others connected to the first Trump administration, calls for:
Legalizing mass deportation and raids of immigrant communities, as well as separating families and ending birthright citizenship. Same-sex couples and LGBTQ couples with children would be subject to these extreme and inhumane measures.
Blocking financial aid for college students if their state permits immigrants, including DACA recipients, to access in-state tuition.
Requiring public schools to charge tuition to unaccompanied migrant children and children with undocumented parents.
Terminating the legal status of 500,000 Dreamers by eliminating staff time for reviewing and processing renewal applications.
Suspending updates to the annual eligible country lists for H-2A and H-2B temporary worker visas and excluding areas from filling gaps in the agricultural, construction, hospitality, and forestry workforce.
Barring U.S. citizens from qualifying for federal housing subsidies if they live with anyone who is not a U.S. citizen or legal permanent resident.
Forcing states to share driver’s licenses and taxpayer identification information with federal authorities or risk critical funding.
With his selection by Vice President Kamala Harris, Minnesota Governor Tim Walz could be the next Vice President of the United States. Walz’s record of support for LGBTQIA2S+ youth and adults has been clear throughout his career as a teacher, legislator, and Governor.
Under Minnesota’s pro-equality legislative and executive branches, Governor Walz, Lt. Governor Flanagan, and the Queer Legislators Caucus built the state into a national model for protecting the healthcare access and human rights of the 2SLGBTQIA+ communities, especially transgender, non-binary and 2-Spirit residents.
Below are a few of the accomplishments in Minnesota in the 2023-2024 legislative biennium.
First Queer Caucus: Voters elected 11 new LGBTQ+ individuals to the MN Legislature in 2022. In December 2022, Representative Leigh Finke was selected as the inaugural chair of the Queer Legislators Caucus in Minnesota.
Trans Refuge State: Gov. Walz signed an executive order to protect those traveling to Minnesota to receive gender-affirming care. Two months later Trans Refuge became the law in Minnesota, protecting patients, families, and providers from out-of-state laws punishing trans health care access, as well as allowing Minnesota courts to hear cases in which parents disagree about health care planning.
The Take Pride Act expanded protections under the Minnesota Human Rights Act for trans and queer Minnesotans by updating language around gender identity and sexual orientation. The bill also banned rental discrimination in duplexes for LGBTQ renters, as well as banning discriminatory hiring practices in certain nonprofit organizations.
Banned Panic Defense: The panic defense is a legal strategy in which defendants charged with violent crimes attempt to avoid liability due to the real or perceived sexual orientation or gender identity of the victim.
Menstrual Equity: All menstruating students in grades 4-12 are provided free period products in Minnesota schools. These products will be available to all students regardless of gender. The law does not specify which bathrooms the products must be in, it requires school districts to develop plans to ensure all students who menstruate can access the products for free.
This is only a PORTION of what Minnesota accomplished. Other wins include:
Walz and the pro-equality majority legislature also passed and signed into law additional measures for the safety, health and wellbeing of all Minnesotans and youth:
The results of a new survey published by Knight Foundation in partnership with Langer Research Associates shows that book bans, and the people who promote them, are losing support. The recent primary election results in Florida, home base for book-banning Moms for Liberty, show even more rejection at the ballot box.
First, the survey: Of more than 4,500 adults sampled, two thirds oppose book bans in public schools, and 78% trust school staff to stock shelves with “appropriate” titles. And although 60% of respondents view “appropriateness” as a reason to place restrictions on book access, Book Riot’s Kelly Jensen notes, “‘appropriateness’ here is not about topics like diversity, queerness, social-emotional learning, climate change, and other issues that have been the target of the book banning agenda.”
While Americans largely share a distaste for book bans and 23% are aware that these kinds of censorship efforts are happening in their community, only three percent have gotten involved, with two percent fighting to retain challenged titles and one percent attempting to ban them. In other words, says Jensen, an incredibly small subset of people are “instigating the astronomical rise in book bans nationwide.”
Diminishing Returns
Both Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis and Moms for Liberty took major hits during last week’s election. Eleven out of 23 DeSantis-backed candidates lost their races.
While Moms for Liberty’s list of school board endorsements in Florida somewhat differs from that of DeSantis, the results match a trend that started with recent elections: Campaigning on book bans is a losing platform. Of M4L’s list of endorsements in Florida, only three candidates won. Six lost their campaigns, while an additional five will be headed to a runoff election in November.
Of note in Indian River County: Candidates endorsed by DeSantis and M4L lost their races. Indian River is the birthplace of M4L. Stitching an article from the Associated Press, author and social media personality Jeffrey Marsh said, “even the people of Florida don’t want school board members who harass LGBTQ kids, who ban books, who push Christian nationalist agendas in schools.”
Florida and the Waning Influence of Moms for Liberty
Last week’s losses come after years of coordinated assault against books by and about LGBTQ people and people of color. According to a PEN America report, July-December 2023 saw more book bans than the entire 2022-23 school year. In Florida alone, there were 3,135 bans in 11 school districts.
Declared that Florida “will not comply” and would “fight back” against recent Title IX rule updates announced by the Biden administration, which include specific protections for LGBTQ students and prohibit discrimination based on gender identity and sexual orientation.
While calling book ban accusations against him a “hoax” and stating that Florida book bans are a “false narrative,” DeSantis walked back earlier book ban efforts under the “Don’t Say LGBTQ” law (House Bill 1557). Florida now limits book challenges to one title per month for “residents who don’t have a child in school.”
Spoke at Moms for Liberty’s 2023 national summit, and appointed M4L co-founder Bridget Ziegler to an oversight board he created to take on Disneyafter the company critiqued DeSantis’ anti-LGBTQ agenda. Ziegler and her husband Christian were later investigated as part of a rape allegation from a woman they had a sexual relationship with.
Signed House Bill 1557 into law in 2022. The legislation, informally known as “Don’t Say LGBTQ” or “Don’t Say Gay,” initially forbade discussion about sexual orientation and gender identity in K-3 public schools. The following year, DeSantis expanded the ban to all grades. Said DeSantis, “Schools are not there for you to try to go on some ideological joyride at the expense of our kids.”
In 2023, DeSantis and the Board of Governors appointed several members to the New College of Florida Board of Trustees. This month, passersby discovered that the college tossedhundreds of LGBTQ-inclusive titles from their dismantled Gender and Diversity Center.
Moms for Liberty appears to be trying to rebuild after its trouncing at the polls in 2023 and 2024, and devastating personal scandals against its co-founder and her disgraced husband. M4L has invited former President Donald Trump to speak at their annual summit this week, Trump’s second time addressing the group.
The 2024 Democratic National Convention begins tonight in Chicago, and will run through Thursday, August 22. Vice President Kamala Harris is expected to accept her party’s invitation for President of the United States, and Gov. Tim Walz will accept the nomination for vice president. The convention will also include an array of party notables, the unveiling of the party platform, panels and meetings, and an address by President Joe Biden.
GLAAD is releasing a fact sheet for reporters covering the Democratic National Convention and historic nomination of Harris.
GLAAD President and CEO Sarah Kate Ellis (she/her) says, ”LGBTQ people are a growing, visible and impactful voting bloc, and our fundamental freedoms are under attack and at stake in this election. Reporters must include LGBTQ voices in campaign conversations. Our issues and concerns are America’s issues: the right to make our own health care decisions; to be safe at school, work and in our communities; to read the books we want and that reflect our lives and history; to belong and be welcome just as we are. GLAAD research shows when news stories accurately include LGBTQ people, acceptance and safety expands. Media covering the convention and campaign beyond must include LGBTQ Americans and the stakes that deeply affect us, our safety, and everyone’s future.”
Facts to include in your coverage:
LGBTQ voters made the deciding difference in the 2020 election and are poised to do so again in 2024. More than 1 in 5 Gen Z Americans (ages 18-26) are out as LGBTQ, the most out generation in history. Nearly 30% of Gen Z women are LGBTQ.
GLAAD’s Accelerating Acceptance Study shows supermajority support for LGBTQ people, though support has dipped in the last year and Gen Z is increasingly a target for harassment and discrimination:
80% of non-LGBTQ Americans support LGBTQ equal rights, down from a record high of 84% one year ago
95% of non-LGBTQ Americans believe schools should be safe and accepting for all youth
93% say children should be taught to appreciate and accept people as they are
70% of Gen Z LGBTQ adults report discrimination based on their sexual orientation
GLAAD is tracking the pro-LGBTQ record of Democratic nominee Kamala Harris, here.
GLAAD has also documented the pro-LGBTQ record of Harris’ running mate, Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz.
The Biden-Harris administration has been the most pro-LGBTQ presidency in history, with nearly 350 moves to include and protect LGBTQ Americans. GLAAD’s ongoing Biden Accountability Tracker is here.
GLAAD polling shows LGBTQ registered voters are highly motivated to vote, with 94% indicating they are definitely (83%) or probably (11%) voting this year.
GLAAD polling shows 53% of both registered and likely 2024 voters say they would oppose “a political candidate [who] speaks frequently about restricting access to health care and participation in sports for transgender youth.”
GLAAD polling shows all categories of voters overwhelmingly agree that “Republicans should stop focusing on restricting women’s rights and banning medical care for transgender youth and instead focus on addressing inflation, job creation, and healthcare costs.” 94% of LGBTQ voters, 76% of registered voters, 76% of likely 2024 voters, and 82% of swing voters (those who have voted for candidates in both parties) agree.
2023 election returns in Virginia, Kentucky, and Ohio show that voters supported pro-equality candidates over candidates who targeted transgender people in their campaigns.
GLAAD has documented the records of Kamala Harris and Donald Trump on the top issues for LGBTQ voters: the economy (Harris, Trump), abortion (Harris, Trump), climate change (Harris, Trump), public safety (Harris, Trump), and education (Harris, Trump).
Abortion is an LGBTQ issue. LGBTQ people can and do get pregnant and need reproductive health care. Many of the same states with abortion bans also have enacted bans on transgender health care even though the care is supported by every major medical association as safe, effective and lifesaving.
GLAAD’s ongoing documentation of Donald Trump’s anti-LGBTQ record is available on the Trump Accountability Tracker, here.
Throughout Trump’s presidency, his administration argued to legalize discrimination against LGBTQ people at work, at school, in health care and housing access, when trying to buy a cake and trying to adopt
Trump nominated three anti-LGBTQ justices to the U.S. Supreme Court who went on to vote to overturn Roe v. Wade. The decision was backed by Associate Justice Clarence Thomas, who said the landmark LGBTQ equality decisions Obergefell (marriage equality), Lawrence (private same-sex relationships), and Griswold (private decisions about contraception) should also be “reconsidered.” Trump’s Supreme Court nominees have ties to anti-LGBTQ groups including Family Research Council and anti-LGBTQ hate group Alliance Defending Freedom. Justice Neil Gorsuch, who had written the Bostock decision expanding civil rights protections to LGBTQ workers (over Trump administration objections), wrote the decision in 303 Creative, a 26-page opinion about a legal dispute that never existed, and websites that do not exist, at the behest of anti-LGBTQ hate group Alliance Defending Freedom on fully fabricated standing.
Though Donald Trump has tried to distance himself from Project 2025, the blueprint for authoritarian takeover of the government created by the anti-LGBTQ Heritage Foundation, his runningmate wrote the foreword to an upcoming book by Heritage’s president. Multiple people and groups behind Project 2025 have direct ties to Trump and his former administration.
Best Practices for Campaign Reporters:
Stories about or that mention LGBTQ people should include LGBTQ voices.
In stories specifically about transgender people, seek and include a transgender person.
Prioritize facts, expertise and LGBTQ lived experience over candidate and campaign opinion in your reporting. For example, any discussion of transgender health care must note this care is supported by every major medical association (30+ statements here).
Review and report a candidate’s LGBTQ record and support from anti-LGBTQ groups. Ongoing documentation is available on candidates, other public figures, and groups via the GLAAD Accountability Project.
Avoid shorthand descriptions of political conversations about LGBTQ people as a “culture war.” This dehumanizes marginalized people as a “side” and allows politicians to escape accountability for creating and fueling the “war.” Descriptors like this add to voter apathy. Focus reporting on the policies, the people directly harmed or helped, and the candidates proposing them and their LGBTQ history.
Be factual and clear in your language: “(candidate name) has proposed policies expanding access to health care for transgender people that is supported by every major medical association.”
Include greater context: 500+ anti-LGBTQ bills were proposed in state legislatures through 2023. This is a broad scale, coordinated attack against LGBTQ Americans, targeting health care, book bans, curriculum and conversation bans, sports bans, and bathroom bans. Inform your readers and viewers about this larger pattern of LGBTQ animus. Note how health care and drag ban bills have been blocked in multiple states and district courts as unconstitutional and discriminatory, and how voters across the country have rejected so-called “parents’ rights” groups that push book bans and discriminatory policies against LGBTQ students, families, and teachers.
When discussing “battleground” states including Wisconsin, Michigan, Pennsylvania and Arizona, note that voters in the most recent elections rejected anti-LGBTQ extremist candidates who sought to ban books and conversations about LGBTQ people, or supported lies about the 2020 election. Moms for Liberty-affiliated candidates in Wisconsin were defeated in 20 of the 28 school board elections
Report connections between anti-LGBTQ extremism and other extremism: states proposing bills targeting mainstream health care for transgender people have also enacted and proposed the most restrictive bans on abortion (including Florida), and denied and denigrated fair elections. Lawmakers in Nebraska passed a bill both banning health care for transgender youth and abortion after 12 weeks. Texas lawmakers proposed more than 140 anti-LGBTQ bills last year as it also targeted women and health care providers over reproductive care and enforced draconian laws.
Report the impact of anti-LGBTQ rhetoric and policies, specifically for LGBTQ youth.
Additional resources:
GALLUP: 6% of U.S. adults are out as LGBTQ, including 20% of Gen Z, the most out generation in history.
GALLUP: 69% of Americans support marriage equality including a majority of Republicans.
GLAAD Media Reference Guide: terminology and 20+ topic areas to learn about and accurately report on LGBTQ people
Medical Association Statements Transgender Health Care: 30+ statements from every major medical association and world health authority, across specialties and patient lifespan, supporting health care for transgender people. Health care for transgender people is mainstream care with widely held consensus of both the medical and scientific communities.
88-year-old beloved talk show host and writer Phil Donahue sadly passed away last night. Donahue, who was best known for his iconic talk show Donahue,made waves for nearly 3 decades with groundbreaking and diverse guests featured on the show.
An outspoken ally, Donahue hosted the first ever GLAAD Media Awards in 1990. In addition to hosting, Donahue won an award and was named Media Person of the Year for “his continued excellence in coverage and support of gay and lesbian concerns.”
Donahue and wife Marlo Thomas went on to attend countless GLAAD Media Awards ceremonies, aiding in the organization’s mission to accelerate acceptance for LGBTQ people. Donahue was honored again in 2009 with a special recognition award.
On Donahue’s passing, GLAAD President and CEO Sarah Kate Ellis stated:
“Phil Donahue was one of GLAAD and the LGBTQ community’s earliest and loudest champions. In the 1980s, he revolutionized coverage of LGBTQ people and our stories on his popular daytime talk show, prioritizing fairness and accuracy when misinformation and homophobia were rampant in the media. Using his platform to elevate the personal, human story at the heart of so many issues including HIV, coming out, trans equality, women’s equality and even facilitating the first ever marriage for a same-sex couple to be broadcast on television, Donahue will forever be remembered as a trailblazer for equality and LGBTQ representation on TV. At a time when other notables were hesitant to even speak on LGBTQ issues, Donahue hosted the first ever GLAAD Media Awards in 1990, where he was honored as GLAAD’s Media Person of the Year. GLAAD also recognized his long-time allyship and legacy by giving him a Special Recognition Award at the 20th Annual GLAAD Media Awards in 2009. Our condolences and gratitude go out to his wife and tireless LGBTQ ally Marlo Thomas, as well as his family, friends, and everyone inspired by his hugely successful career as a storyteller and television changemaker.”
Donahue, which aired from the late 60s until 1996, was pioneering in its inclusiveness. Donahue spoke with everyone from politicians and religious leaders to civil rights activists and members of the LGBTQ community.
In 1990, Donahue hosted the first ever same-sex wedding to premiere on U.S. television. The ceremony featured a live studio audience and Donahue even gave the married couple Michael Marlowe and Wayne Watson the opportunity to field questions from the audience and over the phone to talk about their experience as Black, gay men.
Prior to this, in October of 1981, Donahue hosted an episode titled “Are Gays Born This Way?” In the episode, Donahue facilitated an open conversation between live studio audience members and guests Alan Bell, Ph.D. (author of “Sexual Preference”) and Lawrence Hatterer, M.D. (Professor of Psychiatry at Cornell University) about this topic generally found too taboo to discuss at the time.
Donahue has been dubbed by many as the King of Daytime Talk. Fan and friend Oprah Winfrey stated in 2002 that, “If there had been no Phil Donahue Show, there would be no ‘Oprah Winfrey’ show. He was the first to acknowledge that women are interested in more than mascara tips and cake recipes — that we’re intelligent, we’re concerned about the world around us, and we want the best possible lives for ourselves.”
The two spoke in 2002 about his decision to include his first gay guest on the show in 1968. “I was terrified,” he told Oprah. “Terrified?”
He went on to explain, “If you don’t understand those feelings, then you don’t understand homophobia. There’s a reason for the closet. As the years went by after that show, I got involved in gay politics. And through my activism, I began to realize what it must be like to be born, to live, and to die in the closet. I can’t even imagine it. Gayness is not a moral issue, yet no institution on earth has promoted homophobia more than the church. That’s what’s so ironic about the scandal in the Catholic Church. Here you have the most homophobic institution in the world with the largest closet of homosexuals.”
This groundbreaking 1968 episode was the first time countless Americans saw an out LGBTQ person on live TV.
Other notable guests on the show included Elton John, Gloria Steinem, Cher, Gregory Peck, Billy Crystal, Whoopi Goldberg, Robin Williams, Dolly Parton, Muhammad Ali, and many more.
Donahue’s work received critical acclaim, earning him 9 Daytime Emmys and 21 nominations as well as a primetime Emmy for his special Donahue and Kids.
Donahue is remembered by his millions of fans, wife Marlo Thomas, and 5 children. Countless friends and fans have taken to social media to remember the talk show legend.
