Trending
- RNC Continues to Ignore LGBTQ Issues
- Harmful Effects of the Dystopian Government Playbook “Project 2025” Exposed in Powerful New Video Campaign from GLAAD
- Fact Sheet: Donald Trump on LGBTQ Issues: Public Safety & Extremism
- !Ojo! A Queer Retelling of a Greek Classic in “The Palace of Eros,” Coco Máxima in Telenovela “El Amor No Tiene Receta,” Powerful Poetry Collection “El Espacio Que Te Doy,” and More!
- WATCH: Monét X Change Talks New Star-Studded Variety Series “Monét’s Slumber Party”
- LIVE EVENT: Support GLAAD at Feel Something Foundation’s First-Ever Queer Charity Market!
- GLAAD Exclusive: Hope and Lydia Celebrate their Anniversary in New Clip from Audible’s “Impact Winter” Season 3
- Fact Sheet: Donald Trump on LGBTQ Issues: the Economy, Jobs, and Housing
Where We Are on TV Report 2023-2024
The past several years have seen the word nonbinary used to describe a range of experiences. It is an umbrella term to describe people whose gender identity and/or gender expression falls outside the gender categories of “man” or “woman.” Many nonbinary people also call themselves transgender and are part of the transgender community. Other nonbinary people say they are not transgender or never use the word transgender to describe themselves.
Historically, GLAAD counted all nonbinary characters as transgender, but four years ago, given the evolution of the word nonbinary, GLAAD changed the methodology to count these nonbinary characters who are not transgender separately. For the purposes of this study, if the networks confirm the character is transgender, or if the nonbinary character mentions being trans on screen, that character is counted as both transgender and nonbinary. If the creators confirm that the character is not trans, the character explicitly says they are not transgender on screen, or if the word transgender is never brought up in the series, the character was then counted as nonbinary, but not transgender.
This year, in addition to the eight transgender nonbinary characters counted across all three platforms, there are 16 nonbinary characters who are not transgender. However, many of these characters have so little screen time they only barely met our methodology criteria.
This year, Amazon’s Gen V gave us Jordan Li, a superpowered college student who switches between genders and is played by two cisgender actors. Though Jordan is counted in our methodology, it is disheartening to see a character used as a metaphor for gender diversity, as opposed to simply including a nonbinary character in the show.
Highlights of nonbinary representation include Casey on Hallmarks’ The Way Home, Nico on ABC’s Will Trent, Dr. Azel on The Second Best Hospital in the Galaxy, and James on Netflix’s Heartbreak High.
“We know the impact that television can have on cultural acceptance for transgender people. Especially with the public’s lack of personal familiarity with us and the escalated level of anti-trans attacks and rhetoric targeting our community, this year’s dramatic decrease in trans and nonbinary characters on television is extremely concerning. Hollywood must recognize the call from audiences to reflect the world around us, which includes trans and nonbinary people, and take into account the great responsibility of television as a vehicle to accelerate acceptance. The stakes of transgender representation – or its absence – have never been higher. It’s imperative that Hollywood, for its own success and our own livelihood, seize the opportunity and recognize the necessity of telling authentic and accurate stories about the trans community.”
– Alex Schmider. Senior Director of Entertainment & Transgender Inclusion, GLAAD
Table of Contents
Share this
View Past Years’ Reports
MEASURE THE MOVEMENT
Your gift allows us to track the impact of our work, helping us better understand the state of acceptance and address the gaps with advocacy — like pushing for more trans representation in movies.
More Publications from GLAAD
Every year, the South Asian community comes together to celebrate Diwali, a massively popular worldwide event that has a rich complexity in belief and meaning. Also known as the “Festival of Lights,” it signals the New Year while for others, it represents a time for reflection and renewal.
On the morning of June 28, 1969, a group of patrons at the Stonewall Inn – a New York city bar that was a frequent target of police raids because it catered to the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) community – fought back against police brutality and harassment. Their uprising set in motion a wave of activism among LGBT people that put the issue of LGBT civil rights on the American political map. This resource kit will help journalists cover the 40th anniversary of this momentous event in the history LGBT rights.
Announcing Equality: Inclusive Newspapers List 2008
GLAAD is encouraging journalists to include gay, bisexual and transgender fathers and their families, as well as straight dads that have LGBT children in media coverage of Father’s Day. This toolkit provides potential story ideas and suggestions on how make Father’s Day coverage more inclusive.