GLAAD released its 11th annual Studio Responsibility Index today and for the first time, the report includes theatrical releases from major streaming studios like Apple+ and Amazon Studios. The report looks at several categories, including diverse representation of LGBTQ+ characters, screen time and whether the characters pass the Vito Russo Test.
According to GLAAD, the test measures for four criteria:
1. Does the film contain a character that is identifiably LGBTQ+.
2. That character must not be solely or predominantly defined by their sexual orientation or gender identity.
3. The LGBTQ character must be tied to the plot in such a way that the character’s removal would have a significant effect.
4. The LGBTQ character’s story must not be outwardly offensive (avoids defaulting to well-known tropes or stereotypes with no further development).
How did the studios fare?
Based on this criteria, only A24, NBCUniversal and The Walt Disney Co. scored a rating of “Good.” A24, which has risen to prominence in recent years, produced five films with prominent LGBTQ+ characters, including “Everything Everywhere All at Once,” “Bodies Bodies Bodies,” “The Inspection,” “The Whale,” “Aftersun” and “Funny Pages.”
Out of its 37 films in 2022, nine NBCUniversal (Universal Pictures, Focus Features and Peacock) included significant LGBTQ+ characters and storylines – all of which passed the Vito Russo Test. This is an upswing for NBC Universal, who scored “Insufficient” in 2021 and 2019. The studio had several major LGBTQ+ releases including “Tar,” “Bros” and “Nope” in 2022.
The Walt Disney Co. released the largest number of films this year of the studios at 59 films, including 24 LGBTQ+ inclusive films. Disney has significantly upped their game since GLAAD began calculating this report in 2012. In previous years, Disney’s highest mark was “Adequate” in 2013. Films like “Black Panther: Wakanda Forever,” “Lightyear” and “Strange World” helped land Disney high marks.
Studios that received poor or failing grades this year were Apple+ and Lionsgate. Of the 11 films released by Apple+ in 2022, only one (“Causeway”) passed the Vito Russo Test. Of Lionsgate’s six releases, only one included LGBTQ+ characters (“Clerks III”) which did not pass the Vito Russo Test either.
Other key takeaways
- Of the 292 LGBTQ+ characters across all studios, only 95 had more than 10 minutes of screen time.
- 40% of LGBTQ+ characters were people of color, up 1% since 2021’s report.
- 12 films included trans characters, an all-time high for this report.
For a full breakdown of the report, visit glaad.org.