Where We Are on TV 2023-2024

Representation of LGBTQ Middle Eastern and North African (MENA) Characters

According to Neilson data from 2022, Middle East/North African (MENA) characters represent only 2.5 percent of characters across broadcast, cable and streaming. According to the MENA Arts Advocacy Coalition, the majority of those characters represent harmful stereotypes of Middle Eastern people, which can lead to disinformation and discrimination.

As with last year, there is only one LGBTQ MENA character on primetime scripted broadcast, Lucy Tara on NCIS: Hawai’i.

Cable counts three MENA characters out of all 77 LGBTQ characters, representing four percent. This is a decrease from last year’s seven characters (five percent). The characters represented on cable include vampires Armand on AMC’s Anne Rice’s Interview with the Vampire and Nandor on FX’s What We Do in the Shadows, as well as college student Zaara on the final season of Freeform’s grown-ish.

On scripted original streaming programming there are nine (three percent) MENA characters, a decrease of three characters, but the same percent as last year. Highlights include lesbian character Mabel on Apple TV+’s period drama The Buccaneers, bisexual teen Jay on Netflix comedy Big Mouth, recurring characters Mr. Farouk and Sahar on Netflix’s Heartstopper, Reese on Paramount+’s SkyMed, and more.

Of all 468 characters counted across all three platforms, 13 (three percent) are MENA. This is a decrease of seven characters year over year, but an equal percentage.

Representation of MENA LGBTQ Characters

Of the 64 LGBTQ characters counted on the five broadcast networks, two percent (one) are MENA.
Of the 77 LGBTQ characters counted on cable networks, four percent (three) are MENA.
Of the 327 LGBTQ characters counted on eight streaming services, three percent (nine) are MENA.
Of the 468 LGBTQ characters counted on all platforms, three percent (13) are MENA.

2019 GLAAD Studio Responsibility Index

The GLAAD Studio Responsibility Index (SRI) maps the quantity, quality and diversity of lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer (LGBTQ) characters in films released by the seven major motion picture studios during the 2018 calendar year. GLAAD researched films released by 20th Century Fox, Lionsgate, Paramount Pictures, Sony Pictures, Universal Pictures, Walt Disney Studios and Warner Bros., as well as films released by four subsidiaries of these major studios. The report is intended to serve as a road map toward increasing fair, accurate and inclusive LGBTQ representation in film.

Where We Are On TV Report 2018 – 2019

The Where We Are on TV report analyzes the overall diversity of primetime scripted series…

2018 GLAAD Studio Responsibility Index

The GLAAD Studio Responsibility Index (SRI) maps the quantity, quality and diversity of lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer (LGBTQ) people in films released by the seven major motion picture studios during the 2017 calendar year. GLAAD researched films released by 20th Century Fox, Lionsgate Entertainment, Paramount Pictures, Sony Pictures, Universal Pictures, Walt Disney Studios and Warner Brothers, as well as films released by four subsidiaries of these major studios. The report is intended to serve as a road map toward increasing fair, accurate and inclusive LGBTQ representation in film.

More Than a Number – Shifting the Media Narrative on Transgender Homicides

The More Than a Number Report is an advanced reporting guide for journalists and advocates to accompany our Doubly Victimized Guide. It reflects that many more reporters are now covering the homicides of transgender people in the U.S. but there is still a lot of work to do to improve coverage. The biggest hurdle, in this report’s thesis, is to shift from the “deadliest year ever” headlines into a more accurate and respectful framing of lives lost.

Read the report