"As the industry looks towards a changing future, it is clear that LGBTQ characters need to be part of stories across all platforms of distribution, and prioritizing offering fan engagement experiences provides even greater opportunity for representation and inclusion," said GLAAD's director of entertainment research and analysis, Megan Townsend. The organization also urged distributors to include more bisexual representation in film, due to a decrease in representation in 2020. Here are the 12 best queer films released theatrically or on streaming services in 2020.
SERIES & MOVIES - BL / GL / LGTB: Dropped / Disappointing. My Favorite Asian BL / GL (2004-2022) 250 titles 9 loves. GLAAD also called increased representation of LGBTQ characters with disabilities and those living with HIV, writing that none of the films included characters in those situations. BL & GL Thailand / BL y GL Tailandes (2000 - 2022) 438 titles 5 loves. "TV has seen amazing progress in telling transgender stories and empowering trans writers and actors to lead those efforts," the study noted.
The organization commended television shows like the FX series POSE, which made history in 2021 when actress MJ Rodriguez became the first trans person to be nominated in a lead actress role for this year's Emmy Awards. GLAAD said the lack of representation for nonbinary and transgender people in film "remains one of the more glaring ways mainstream studios continue to lag behind other forms of entertainment media." For the fourth year in a row, there were no transgender or non-binary characters in films from the major studios, the organization said, noting that an increasing number of young adults identify as transgender and nonbinary. "As the industry examines different release and distribution patterns and models, we hope to see characters included in all genres and at all budget levels," GLAAD stated.ĭespite the many advances cited in the study, GLADD said there are still areas in need of improvement. The study said movies like Happiest Season, which were originally intended to be released by Sony, were sold to Hulu as a result of the pandemic. As a result, they often became mid-budget projects intended to bring in cash for suffering studios, the report said. "Hollywood and the business of storytelling must be more nimble, more creative, more open than ever before."Īs a result of COVID-19 lockdowns, many LGBTQ-inclusive films originally scheduled for 2020 were delayed or moved to streaming platforms and on-demand video providers. "This transformation represents a great opportunity to swiftly accelerate acceptance of LGBTQ stories, break new ground, and invest in queer and trans talent and stories that audiences are eager to watch," GLAAD president and CEO Sarah Kate Ellis said in a statement.