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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
Oh, honey! It’s time to spill the tea on gender representation on TV. Let me just adjust my fabulous wig and get ready to give you the lowdown on who’s serving us some realness in the world of television. So, buckle up, queens (and kings, and everyone in between), because we’re about to dive into the glittering realm of LGBTQ characters on the small screen.
First up, broadcast television. For the fourth year in a row, the ladies are dominating the scene, with 55% of LGBTQ characters being women. Now that’s what I call girl power! We’ve got 33% lesbians, 21% bi+ women, and a sprinkle of trans women. As for the men, 34% identify as gay and 4% as bi+. And let’s not forget our nonbinary darlings, making up 4% of the representation.
While there’s been a decrease in lesbian representation, our bi+ sisters are on the rise. As for the guys, there’s been a slight decrease in gay men, but overall, we’re seeing more trans men and nonbinary characters. Yaaas, to that progress, darling!
Now, let’s talk cable, honey. Women still reign supreme, with 53% of LGBTQ characters being female. There’s been a slight decrease in lesbian and bisexual women, but the increase in trans women and nonbinary characters is a breath of fresh air.
And finally, streaming services. We’ve got a total of 356 LGBTQ characters, with 51% being women, 46% being men, and 3% being nonbinary. Although there’s been an increase in lesbian representation, our bi+ family is experiencing a decrease. And while we have fewer trans characters this year, we’re still seeing progress in the right direction.
Overall, across all platforms, there are 596 LGBTQ characters. We’ve got 52% women, 44% men, and 4% nonbinary. And as the ever-fabulous RuPaul says, “We’re all born naked, and the rest is drag.” So let’s celebrate the diverse array of LGBTQ characters gracing our screens and continue to push for even more representation, because, honey, we’re fierce, fabulous, and here to stay!
Now, if you’ll excuse me, I need to touch up my lipstick and get ready for another fabulous binge-watching session. Stay fabulous, darlings! 💋
