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Streaming Channels Feature More LGBT Characters Than Regular TV

GLAAD’s annual report reveals content providers like Amazon, Hulu, and Netflix are winning at diversity.
Rachel Pick
New York, US

GLAAD has published its annual report, "Where We Are on TV," which examines the representation of gay, bi, and trans individuals on television. And for the first time, it's included data from streaming channels like Amazon, Hulu, and Netflix.

Representation of the LGBT community is at only 4 percent on primetime network television, with 35 out of 881 regular characters on network programming being LGBT. That number is down from a few years ago, but is roughly in line with the self-identified LGBT population (which admittedly is probably lower than the actual LGBT population). On cable the number of LGBT characters has risen from 64 to 84, and on streaming channels GLAAD counted 43 LGBT series regulars in only 23 shows.

There are still inequalities within the data. While shows like Transparent and Orange Is the New Black have upped the representation of trans people on streaming channels, there are no trans characters on primetime, and only three on cable. And while racial diversity is on the rise, with the highest percentage of black characters ever recorded by GLAAD, black women make up well under half that number. And women as a whole are still underrepresented as well.

As young cord-cutters become a progressively larger demographic, it will be interesting to see how minority representation on television continues to change. Perhaps network TV will start catering to a more progressive audience in an effort to win back savvy viewers, and representation statistics will more accurately reflect our population.