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Where We Are on TV 2023-2024
The lack of growth in Black LGBTQ representation on screen in the past few years has been a constant concern for the community. GLAAD’s Communities of Color and Media team has launched multiple initiatives to increase Black queer storytellers in Hollywood: The inaugural Black Queer Creative Summit (BQCS), an in-person event, specifically geared towards educating, empowering, and training emerging Black LGBTQ creatives across five sectors of the entertainment industry: executives, creators, behind the scenes, on-screen talent, and music supervision. The Summit spotlights, celebrates, and curates professional growth opportunities for Black LGBTQ creative leaders, fostering a pathway for the next generation of Black LGBTQ artists through event keynotes, fireside chats, workshops, and mentorship opportunities.
The Equity in Media and Entertainment Initiative (EMEI), which is a year-long program designed specifically for Black LGBTQ creatives to elevate Black queer storytelling in entertainment and media. EMEI serves as a pathway to build and strengthen professional networks, advance access to executive leaders and spaces, and support early development of original creative projects. The alumni of these programs are a valuable resource that the industry should call on in order to create meaningful representation for a vital part of the community.
Of the 64 LGBTQ characters counted on primetime scripted broadcast programming, 16 (25 percent) are Black. This is an increase from last year’s 21 percent, but still below the previous year’s 29 percent. Some highlights of Black LGBTQ representation on broadcast include lesbian characters Coop and Patience on The CW’s All American, one of the few original CW shows that hasn’t been canceled, Hen and Karen on ABC’s 9-1-1, as well as Black LGBTQ characters on procedurals such as FBI: Most Wanted, The Irrational, Fire Country, and more.
There was also an increase of Black LGBTQ characters on primetime scripted cable. Of the 77 LGBTQ characters counted, 23 (30 percent) are Black. This is an increase from the 24 percent counted last year. Cable has counted several shows with predominantly Black casts that include LGBTQ characters in their ensemble, including Starz’s Power franchise, with Black queer characters in both Raising Kanan and Ghost. BET also continues to include gay and bi+ men on Tyler Perry’s Sistas and The Oval. Showtime’s The Chi continues to grow the LGBTQ characters in its ensemble, and features the only trans woman on cable, Fatima.
Streaming was the only platform where Black LGBTQ representation decreased year over year. Of the 327 LGBTQ characters on scripted streaming originals, 56 (17 percent) are Black, a slight decrease of one percentage point from last year’s 18 percent. Highlights include lead characters Marie and Andre on Amazon’s Gen V, the new Doctor and companion Rose on Doctor Who, the lead Joe and his husband in Hulu’s Culprits, trans character Elle on Netflix’s Heartstopper, Eric and Cal on the final season of Netflix’s Sex Education, Tristan and Lexi on Paramount+’s SkyMed, and more.
Across all three platforms, Black representation remained steady with 95 Black LGBTQ characters of 468 LGBTQ characters (20 percent). This is the same percentage as the previous year.
Representation of Black LGBTQ Characters
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