PEPPERMINT AND FRANKIE GRANDE PEN OPEN LETTER CALLING FOR A ‘REALITY CHECK’ ON REALITY TV REPRESENTATION

ALAN CUMMING, ILANA GLAZER, JAZZ JENNINGS, BOB THE DRAG QUEEN, TS MADISON, CHRISHELL STAUSE, ELLIOT PAGE, MICHELLE VISAGE AND MANY MORE JOIN AS CO-SIGNERS IN OPEN LETTER CALLING FOR A ‘REALITY CHECK’ ON LGBTQ REPRESENTATION IN REALITY TV PENNED BY REALITY SUPERSTARS PEPPERMINT AND FRANKIE GRANDE

New York, New York – Wednesday, March 12, 2025 — GLAAD, the world’s largest lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and queer (LGBTQ) media advocacy organization, today announced the release of an open letter penned by celebrated reality television stars and GLAAD Board members, Peppermint and Frankie Grande. Together with a coalition of LGBTQ celebrities, advocates and allies, they called on producers, casting directors, and creators to embrace authentic, diverse LGBTQ representation across the Reality Television genre.

Read the letter now at GLAAD.org/RealityTV. 

Celebrity signers who joined to launch the open letter included: Nicole Byer, Michelle Buteau, Paulie Califiore, Alan Cumming, Monét X Change, Racquel Chevremont, Elliott Cooper, Sandra Diaz, Nicole Franzel, Ilana Glazer, Taylor Hale, Bob The Drag Queen, Britney Haynes, Derrick Levasseur, Jazz Jennings, Margaret Josephs, Amrit Kapai, Meghan King, Ts Madison, Meredith Marks, Greg Mathis Jr., Elliot Page, Phaedra Parks, Xavier Prather, Queen Priyanka, Rachel Riley, Michaela Jaé Rodriguez, Christian Siriano, Bevy Smith, Braunwyn Spinner, Chrishell Stause, Zeke Smith, Andie Vanacore, Michelle Visage, Sheree Whitfield, and Peter Weber.

As proud members of the LGBTQ community, Peppermint and Frankie Grande are pushing for a reality TV landscape that reflects the vast diversity of LGBTQ lives. They highlight how LGBTQ individuals have historically been reduced to stereotypes or singular storylines that fail to capture the richness of the community’s experiences. Peppermint, who gained recognition on The Traitors, also reflects on how she strives to show the world that trans people are more than just one-dimensional characters.

Peppermint: “I think there needs to be an industry wide change, not just casting. And I’ll use my experience on The Traitors as an example…I wanted so desperately to be able to show the rest of the world, the rest of the audience, the rest of the viewership that trans people are just like anybody else. And I think that really does reflect how a lot of trans people feel right now. I really would love for producers and people who create these shows to give people the opportunity to see the beauty in the relationships that trans people form. It’s all about managing relationships and trans people deserve to be a part of the story. The world needs to see that. And I think reality TV is a great place to do it.”

Frankie Grande: “It’s the responsibility of casting directors, producers to make sure that there is inclusivity within our community represented on the show. Otherwise, we’re a monolith. Otherwise, I am representing the entire queer community…There is a formula that has been in place for decades that is no longer working for our community. It is no longer representing the world and the people that are watching your shows.”

Read the letter now at GLAAD.org/RealityTV

PRESS KIT & VIDEOS FOR DOWNLOAD HERE

Must Credit: “X2 Production for GLAAD

ON CHANGING AUDIENCES & CONSUMERS

Despite the emergence and evolution of new formats and programs, LGBTQ representation in reality television remains stagnated. Too many shows still rely on a single LGBTQ cast member or a single storyline to represent an entire community—an approach that is outdated and unacceptable.

Today, 9.3% of U.S. adults identify as LGBTQ, including a growing 23% of Gen Z—the audience and consumer demographic that demands inclusivity, authenticity, and diversity. LGBTQ people aren’t simply consuming media—they are shaping it. Reality TV must evolve to reflect the full spectrum of LGBTQ identities and experiences.

ON INDUSTRY-WIDE CHANGE

Representation in reality TV is not just about numbers—it is about the impact on real lives. GLAAD research has shown that non-LGBTQ viewers who see LGBTQ people in media are 50% more likely to feel familiar with the community, and 35% more likely to be comfortable interacting with LGBTQ individuals. When LGBTQ people are portrayed authentically—forming relationships, facing challenges, and celebrating victories—it breaks down stereotypes, fosters understanding, and challenges harmful biases.

It’s time for a new industry standard. Representation must go beyond casting. Behind-the-scenes support for LGBTQ cast members is crucial, ensuring they can thrive and show their authentic selves on screen. Tokenization and isolation must be eliminated, and diverse LGBTQ identities—especially transgender, nonbinary, and people of color—must be integral to every show’s production.

ON TRANSGENDER AND NONBINARY VISIBILITY

The unique challenges faced by transgender and gender-nonconforming contestants in Reality TV, especially in competition formats, must be addressed with care and sensitivity. The nature of these shows—often gendered and based on physical ability or even body type—can create environments of exclusion and isolation for trans and non-binary participants. 

This is particularly concerning given the disproportionate challenges faced by transgender people in media and society. According to GLAAD’s 2023 Accelerating Acceptance report, 52% of LGBTQ people—especially transgender individuals—report being misgendered in public spaces, which contributes to feelings of invisibility and alienation. Transgender people continue to face negative portrayals in mainstream media; GLAAD’s research highlighted that the number of transgender characters on television in 2022 was only 1.4% of all regular characters on scripted TV. 

Reality TV is an opportunity to break these harmful cycles and provide a platform for genuine, authentic and fair representation of our transgender siblings, neighbors, parents and friends. The industry must prioritize inclusion and safety, ensuring that contestants are supported both on-screen and off, creating an environment where they can express their true selves without fear of discrimination or marginalization.

ON A CALL TO ACTION

Peppermint and Frankie Grande call on all producers, casting directors, and creators to make a commitment to more authentic LGBTQ representation in reality TV. This is an opportunity to change the narrative and show the world that LGBTQ people are more than just their struggles—they are full, complex individuals with unique stories to tell.

Join the movement. Let’s create a future where every LGBTQ person is seen, heard, and valued. To add your voice to the call for change, visit: GLAAD.org/RealityTV

Read the letter now at GLAAD.org/RealityTV

DIGITAL PRESS KIT HERE 

Must Credit: “X2 Production for GLAAD”

CREDITS

PSA Production by: X2 Production, @x2production_

Director + DP: Austin Nunes, @austinunes

Producer: Stevie Williams, @beingstevie_

AC / Photographer: Mylo Butler, @mylo__b

Coordinating Producer & Media Contact: Tony Morrison, tmorrison@glaad.org