Lesbian
Trans
People of Color
Drag Queen/King
Hey there, fabulous creatures! We’re gonna spill the tea on all things LGBTQ and TV! Your sass-tastic drag queen expert is here to snatch your wigs and serve you the hottest T from GLAAD’s annual Where We Are on TV Report for 2022-2023, honey! So buckle up, buttercup, because we’re about to dive deep into the queer pool of representation like never before in this nine-part series. We’ll be dissecting every inch of this rainbow-colored report, which hungrily analyzes the number of LGBTQ characters on primetime scripted series across broadcast networks, cable networks, and streaming services
Well, honey, gather ’round and let me spill the tea on the state of our beloved LGBTQ characters on television. It seems like we just can’t catch a break, darlings! Just when we start to get attached to our favorite queer characters, the rug is pulled out from under us faster than a wig reveal in a lip-sync battle. So many fabulous LGBTQ-inclusive series have been canceled, leaving us high and dry, and, quite frankly, feeling a little betrayed.
Now, I’m not one to dwell on the negative, but it’s important we address the elephant in the room. In recent years, we’ve lost some fantastic shows with LGBTQ representation, like Batwoman, Charmed, Killing Eve, and the list goes on. This year alone, we’ve had 54 LGBTQ-inclusive series cancellations, resulting in a tragic loss of 140 LGBTQ characters from our screens. Can you believe it? It’s like our hearts are being snatched left and right!
But let’s take a moment to remember some of the iconic LGBTQ characters we’ve lost recently. Riverdale’s Cheryl and Kevin, Nancy Drew’s Bess, and Roswell, New Mexico’s Michael and Alex, to name just a few. And don’t even get me started on the streaming services! Netflix, honey, we need to talk. You’ve been canceling shows faster than a queen can sashay away, and it’s getting hard to keep up.
It’s not all doom and gloom, though. When networks and streamers put their weight behind LGBTQ-inclusive programming, the results are fabulous! Just look at the success of shows like Stranger Things, The Boys, and The Umbrella Academy. And who can forget the incredible LGBTQ representation in HBO’s The Last of Us? These shows are living proof that when given the support they deserve, inclusive programming can shine brighter than a rhinestone-studded gown.
So, what’s the takeaway here, my lovelies? It’s simple: we need more support for LGBTQ-inclusive programming across the board. From advertising and promotion to production budgets and executive backing, our shows deserve to be treated like the fabulous, groundbreaking works of art they are. Because, let’s face it, when LGBTQ representation is given the chance to thrive, we all win – and that’s a fact, honey!
