GLAAD’s latest annual Studio Responsibility Index reported a decline in LGBTQ+ representation in films released by the top-grossing studios in 2024. Only 23.6% of movies from major distributors like Disney, Warner Bros., and Universal included LGBTQ+ characters — a drop from previous years. Notably, only two trans characters appeared across 250 analyzed films, both portrayed through harmful stereotypes. The Spanish-language film Emilia Pérez was criticized for its clichéd depiction of trans people, while Strange Way of Life by Pedro Almodóvar failed the Vito Russo Test, as LGBTQ+ characters were deemed irrelevant to the plot.

Representation wasn’t just limited in quantity, but also in screen time: 38% of LGBTQ+ characters had less than a minute on screen. In terms of racial diversity, 64% of LGBTQ+ characters were white, with much lower figures for Black, Latinx, Asian, and other groups. Although indigenous representation slightly increased, the visibility of Black, Latinx, Middle Eastern/North African, and multiracial LGBTQ+ characters declined. Additionally, no characters living with HIV were depicted, and only 4% had disabilities.

Despite the bleak statistics, there were modest gains. For the first time in five years, LGBTQ+ women were more represented than LGBTQ+ men, making up 50% of identified characters. A24 was the only studio to earn a “good” rating for inclusivity, while most others were rated as “failing” or “poor.” The report ends with a powerful reminder from GLAAD’s president, emphasizing that, in a time of intensified political and media attacks on LGBTQ+ communities, cinema must act as a space of truth and visibility.