In 2026, number of LGBT characters in series to sharply decrease, report
The reduction of transgender characters is particularly noticeable. Photo: GLAAD
Streaming platforms and TV channels are massively reducing the number of LGBT characters in series. According to Deadline, which analyzed the gay community's report "Where We Are on TV," 2025 is likely to be the last year with such a large number of homosexual or transgender characters on television.
It is noted that although streaming platforms presented series with 489 LGBT characters in the 2024-2025 season (19 more than last year), there is a sharp shift in the plans of writers and producers – the number of such characters will decrease by 41%.
According to the LGBT organization GLAAD, 201 out of 489 characters, approximately 41%, will simply disappear due to the mass cancellation of series, the completion of projects, and other restrictions. The remaining characters may also disappear, as companies have not yet renewed these series, and the entire industry is experiencing a new trend towards family orientation and meeting viewer demands, thus reducing the depiction of sexual minorities.
The reduction in transgender characters is particularly noticeable. Out of 33 in this year's seasons, only 4 will return next year.
The current trend is the opposite process compared to the 2015-2017 trend, when characters of non-traditional orientation unexpectedly appeared in old multi-season series, and the authors clearly emphasized their belonging to the LGBT community. Streaming services, particularly Netflix, Disney+, Apple TV, Hulu, Paramount+, and Prime Video, played a significant role in this.
Last month, Netflix lost 15 billion dollars after Elon Musk called for canceling subscriptions to the platform due to the abundance of such content.
It is believed that this is also influenced by the current decline in LGBT support in various areas – from the reduction of funding for gay parades to bans on the public display of symbols. However, a sharp reduction in homosexual characters is expected only next year, as this year's premieres with the largest representation of such heroes in history are simply the inertia of previous cultural trends.
As reported by the UOJ, the US Supreme Court banned transgender people from changing their gender in passports.
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