
GLAAD, an LGBT media advocacy organisation, has released its fifth annual Studio Responsibility Index, counting the number of LGBT characters in films released by by the seven biggest motion picture studios. In 2016, just 23 films out of the 125 considered included characters who identified as LGBT, representing only 18.4 per cent. The report states that LGBT people are “nearly invisible or outdated punchlines in big Hollywood movies”.GLAAD Chief Executive commented: “With many of the most popular TV shows proudly including LGBTQ characters and stories, the time has come for the film industry to step up and show the full diversity of the world that movie audiences are living in today”. Gay men were the most represented category, featuring in 83 per cent of LGBT-inclusive films. Lesbian portrayals rose to 35 per cent. As for trans characters the situation is catastrophic – there is only one trans character a year