Where We Are on TV 2024-2025

Executive Summary

• Across primetime scripted broadcast, primetime scripted cable, and scripted streaming original series that premiered a new season between June 1, 2024 and May 31, 2025, GLAAD counted 489 LGBTQ characters in total. This is a 4% increase and 21 additional characters from 468 characters counted in the previous season.
• On primetime scripted broadcast, GLAAD counted 432 series regulars on primetime scripted broadcast series. Of those 432 characters, 40 (9.3%) are LGBTQ. This is a slight increase of one character and 0.7 percentage points from the 2023-24 season. There are an additional 13 recurring LGBTQ characters on broadcast, which brings the total to 53 LGBTQ characters on broadcast, a decrease of 11 characters from the previous study.
• On primetime scripted cable, GLAAD counted 47 LGBTQ series regulars as well as 17 LGBTQ recurring characters, for a total of 64 LGBTQ characters on cable. This is a decrease of 13 characters from the previous study.
• On the eight major streaming services tracked, GLAAD counted 233 LGBTQ series regulars and 139 LGBTQ recurring characters, for a total of 372 LGBTQ characters. This is an increase of 45 characters from the 327 characters counted in the previous study.
• Of the total 489 LGBTQ characters, 33 were transgender (6.7%). That is an increase of nine characters and 1.6 percentage points from the previous year. These characters were made up of 24 trans women, seven trans men, and two nonbinary characters.
• Of the 489 total LGBTQ characters on all platforms, 98 are bisexual+ (20%). This is a decrease of 15 characters and four percentage points from the previous study. These characters include 70 bi+ women, 27 bi+ men, and one bi+ nonbinary character.
• Just over half of the LGBTQ characters across all platforms are people of color, at 248 out of 489 characters (51%). This is 16 more characters than the previous study, with an increase of one percentage point.
• There were 12 LGBTQ characters counted with a disability (2.5%). This is a decrease of six characters and 1.3 percentage points year-over-year.
• As with the previous study, only one LGBTQ character (0.2%) was counted living with HIV.
• Of all the 489 LGBTQ characters counted on all platforms, 201 (41%) of them will not be returning due to series cancellations or endings, limited series format, or a character dying or leaving the show. Of those same 489, 159 (33%) won’t be returning due to series cancellation or ending.