GLAAD and UTA Host First Ever Launch Event for GLAAD’s Annual Where We Are on TV Report

Producers Greg Berlanti and Steven Canals join UTA TV Agent Lucinda Moorhead to address LGBTQ creators and industry executives on Thursday, October 25 at UTA Headquarters in Beverly Hills

Los Angeles, CA, October 24, 2018 – Global entertainment and media company United Talent Agency (UTA) and GLAAD, the world’s largest lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer (LGBTQ) media advocacy organization, today announced a forum discussion with television industry leaders and LGBTQ content creators to advance LGBTQ inclusion in television on Thursday, October 25 at UTA Headquarters in Beverly Hills. The event will coincide with the release of GLAAD’s fourteenth annual Where We Are on TV report which analyzes the overall diversity of primetime scripted series regulars on broadcast networks and assesses the number of LGBTQ characters on cable networks and original scripted streaming series on the services Amazon, Hulu, and Netflix for the 2018-2019 TV season.

During the event, GLAAD’s President and CEO Sarah Kate Ellis will review results of the 2018-19 Where We Are on TV report and unveil a roadmap to improve LGBTQ inclusion on television. 

“We are proud to partner with UTA on their work to grow diversity and elevate LGBTQ actors and creators at a time when the entertainment industry is holding much needed discussions about inclusion,” said GLAAD President and CEO Sarah Kate Ellis. “LGBTQ representation on TV and in film has never been more important as LGBTQ acceptance slips backwards and anti-LGBTQ policies are introduced around the country.” 

During the event, a panel discussion on challenges often faced by LGBTQ creators and best practices to advance LGBTQ inclusion in television will feature producers Greg Berlanti and Steven Canals, UTA TV TV agent Lucinda Moorhead, and GLAAD’s Director of Entertainment Research and Analysis Megan Townsend. The panel will be moderated by Variety staff writer and LGBTQ journalist Marc Malkin.

“An increased focus on the importance of LGBTQ representation in television, and across all content, must be a priority for our entire industry,” said UTA TV agent Lucinda Moorhead. “The content we help shape should reflect the diverse and evolving world we live in, and as creators and those who represent them, we have a special obligation to champion that mission.” 

WGA, DGA and Golden Globe nominated writer, director, and producer, Greg Berlanti, is the force behind some of the most inventive and acclaimed works in film and television. Berlanti started in television on the hit show Dawson’s Creek. He currently works as executive producer of Arrow, The Flash, DC’s Legends of Tomorrow, Supergirl, You, Riverdale, Black Lightning, Blindspot, Titans, Chilling Adventures of Sabrina, and All American. Berlanti made his film directorial debut in 2000 with The Broken Hearts Club. His most recent feature directorial project is the critically acclaimed Love, Simon. He currently resides in Los Angeles with his husband and son.

Steven Canals, the Co-Creator and Co-Executive Producer of FX’s Pose, is a 2015 graduate of UCLA’s MFA Screenwriting program. He began his writing career as a Research Assistant at Hungry Jackal Productions for Oscar-winning screenwriter Dustin Lance Black. Steven served as the Staff Writer on Freeform’s Dead of Summer, the same year his short film, Afuera, premiered at the 2016 LA Film Festival.

Lucinda Moorhead is an agent in the Television Department at United Talent Agency. Prior to UTA, she worked for BBC Worldwide Productions where she worked on the development of series including HBO’s The Night Of and Getting On as well as Davinci’s Demons for Starz. At UTA, Moorhead represents numerous writers, producers, and directors, including Charlie Covell (End of The F***ing World), Josh Safran (Mixtape; Quantico), Desiree Akhavan (This Bisexual), Harriet Warner (Tell Me Your Secrets; Call the Midwife), Marja-Lewis Ryan (6 Balloons; College), Bash Doran (Looming Tower; Demimonde), Silas Howard (Pose; Transparent), among many others. 

Marc Malkin, the Senior Events & Lifestyle Editor at Variety, is one of Hollywood’s most recognizable red carpet correspondents. Prior to Variety, he spent over a decade at E! News and has also appeared on Good Morning America, CNN, MSNBC and HLN. In 2017, he was the recipient of the National Lesbian and Gay Journalists Association’s prestigious Lisa Ben Award.

The invited audience will be comprised of studio executives, producers, writers, content creators and limited media.

ABOUT UTA

Leading global talent and entertainment company United Talent Agency represents many of the most acclaimed figures across film, television, news, music, sports, theater, fine art, literature, video games, podcasts and other social and digital content. A passionate advocate for artists, creators and innovators, the company also is recognized in the areas of film finance and packaging, branding, licensing and endorsements. UTA is known for its dedicated digital media group helping clients—from A-list talent to Fortune 500 companies—capitalize on a rapidly changing entertainment, media and business landscape. The agency’s worldwide presence includes its Los Angeles headquarters and offices in New York, London, Nashville, Miami and Malmö, Sweden. Information about UTA can also be found by following the company on social media on Instagram, Twitter, Facebook and LinkedIn.