A sharp drop in LGBTQ+ TV characters has put Hollywood’s choices under fresh scrutiny. GLAAD counted 369 characters across the scripted programmes in its 2025–2026 study, down from 489 the year before. The decline is especially stark for trans characters, even as several queer-inclusive shows have drawn notable audience interest.

Essential Takeaways

  • Fewer characters: GLAAD counted 369 LGBTQ+ characters, 120 fewer than in its previous report.
  • Trans representation fell sharply: The count dropped from 33 characters to seven, none of whom is expected to return next season.
  • Representation of colour declined: Characters of colour made up 44% of the total, down from 50% in the previous study.
  • Some popular shows offer a counterpoint: Heated Rivalry was reported as HBO Max’s most-watched acquired scripted series, while The Hunting Wives was renewed for a second season.

The LGBTQ+ TV count has fallen sharply

The headline figure is hard to miss: GLAAD’s 2025–2026 study counted 369 LGBTQ+ characters across the scripted television programmes it examined. That’s 120 fewer than the 489 in its previous report, a drop of about a quarter. The numbers cover selected broadcast, cable and streaming programmes, not every show available to viewers.

The Associated Press reported the earlier season’s count of 489, including 33 trans characters. In the latest study, that trans figure fell to seven, and GLAAD says none is expected to return next season. For viewers who’ve watched a character’s story grow over time, that loss of continuity can feel as significant as the reduced tally.

Trans stories are especially exposed

The seven trans characters stand out against an overall decline, but the change is particularly steep: the previous study counted 33. TheWrap reported GLAAD’s concern that cancellations, series endings and industry decisions have contributed to the reduction. The figures describe the programmes included in the study, rather than a census of all television.

There’s another shift in who gets seen. According to GLAAD’s president, Sarah Kate Ellis, characters of colour made up 44% of the LGBTQ+ characters counted, down from 50% in the prior report and the lowest share since 2018. That doesn’t explain why individual programmes succeed or struggle, but it does show that the retreat isn’t evenly felt.

Popular shows complicate the picture

The figures arrive alongside examples of queer-inclusive programmes attracting attention. TheWrap reported that Heated Rivalry became HBO Max’s most-watched acquired scripted series. That ranking is specific to acquired scripted titles, rather than the platform’s entire catalogue, but it gives the debate a concrete point of comparison.

Audience-demand data also puts Stranger Things and Hazbin Hotel among standout titles, though it can’t tell us that LGBTQ+ characters alone drove their popularity. Parrot Analytics named Stranger Things its most in-demand science-fiction drama and Hazbin Hotel its most in-demand animated television show for the relevant measurement period. Those are separate category records, not a like-for-like ranking across all TV.

What the numbers do, and don’t, tell us

GLAAD argues that reduced representation is a poor business decision, pointing to audience interest in inclusive stories. The examples above support the narrower point that some shows featuring LGBTQ+ characters have attracted attention or continued into another season. They don’t prove that representation by itself caused a programme’s success, or that every inclusive show will perform well.

That distinction matters when choosing what to watch or weighing claims about what audiences want. A platform ranking, an analytics measure and a character count each tell a different part of the story. Taken together, they make the decline worth noticing, without pretending the reasons behind a show’s popularity are simple.

Renewal offers a small counterpoint

Netflix confirmed a second season of The Hunting Wives, offering one clear example of a show continuing beyond its first run. The renewal is a useful marker of the programme’s status, but Netflix’s listing doesn’t establish that it topped viewing charts or that LGBTQ+ representation explains the decision.

So the picture isn’t a simple split between disappearing stories and guaranteed hits. The latest count raises serious questions about who gets to remain on screen, while the success and renewal examples show why sweeping claims about audience appetite deserve care. Viewers can ask not just how many characters appear, but whether their stories get room to continue.

Pay attention to both who gets on screen and whose story gets another season.

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