GLAAD Study Shows Only 14 GLB Characters In 101 Films From 2012

Of the 101 films released by major movie studios in 2012, only 14 included characters identified as lesbian, gay or bisexual, and most of them were in minor or cameo roles, according to a study released today by an advocacy group.

The report by GLAAD -- formerly known as the Gay & Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation -- found that none of the films contained a transgender character.

"As a major influence in American culture and one of our nation's largest media exports abroad, the lack of LGBT characters in big-budget films needs to change," GLAAD's Wilson Cruz said. "Until LGBT characters are depicted in these films in a substantial way with more regularity, there will remain the appearance of LGBT bias on the studios' part.

"Whether it's an action hero or a supporting character, moviegoers should be able to see LGBT people as integral players in the stories told by leading Hollywood studios," he said.

According to the study, the 14 films included 31 characters, although some were only on screen for a few seconds. Male characters represented 63 percent of the LGBT images on screen, while 37 percent were female, the study found.

The most common place to find the characters was in comedy films, with far lower numbers in action, sci-fi and fantasy films. Only one of the 21 drama films examined had LGBT characters, and there were none in family films.

The study was the organization's first review of the inclusion of gay, lesbian and bisexual characters in films. The group has been tracking such inclusion in television programs for years.

-City News Service