Where We Are On TV Report 2021 – 2022

This year’s study found that of the 775 series regular characters scheduled to appear on scripted broadcast primetime programming for the 2021-2022 season, 92 characters (11.9 percent) are LGBTQ. This is an increase of 2.8 percentage points from the previous year and marks a new record high percentage of LGBTQ series regulars on broadcast. There are an additional 49 LGBTQ recurring characters on the platform for a total of 141 LGBTQ characters on broadcast.

On primetime scripted cable series, GLAAD counted 87 series regular LGBTQ characters and 51 LGBTQ recurring characters, totaling 138 LGBTQ characters on primetime scripted cable originals this season. This is an increase of 20 characters from the previous year.

GLAAD has added five new streaming services to its count this year – Apple TV+, Disney+, HBO Max, Paramount+, and Peacock – in addition to its ongoing counts of scripted originals on Amazon, Hulu and Netflix. On original scripted programming on those eight platforms, GLAAD counted 245 LGBTQ series regular characters and 113 LGBTQ recurring characters, bringing the total to 358 LGBTQ regular and recurring characters.

Of the 637 LGBTQ characters counted in this report, there are two asexual characters, one on HBO Max’s genera+ion, which has since been cancelled, and one on an upcoming streaming series.

Bisexual+ characters make up 29 percent of all the LGBTQ characters on broadcast, cable and streaming. This is an increase of one percent from last year’s study. This number still heavily favors women, with 124 bi+ women, 50 bi+ men, and nine bi+ non-binary characters.

This year, there are 42 transgender regular and recurring characters across all of broadcast, cable, and streaming. They are made up of 20 trans women, 14 trans men, and eight trans characters who are non-binary. 41 out of the 42 are played or voiced by trans actors. There are a further 17 characters who are non-binary and not transgender.

Of the 775 series regulars on primetime scripted broadcast series, 47 percent (360 characters) are women, an increase of one-percentage point from last year and a new record high.

Of all primetime series regulars on broadcast, 50 percent (390 of 775) are characters of color, a four- percentage point increase from the previous year and a new record high for POC representation on broadcast. Racial diversity of LGBTQ characters on broadcast and streaming also increased, while cable saw a decrease.

Series regular characters with disabilities counted a decrease, down to 2.8 percent (22 of 775) from 3.5 percent last year. This number falls far below the actual number of those with disabilities in the United States.

The number of characters living with HIV across all platforms has decreased from three to two.