Arts & Entertainment
GLAAD report says film studios are still behind in racial diversity, LGBT-inclusion
films include less LGBT people of color than any other year

Alex Hibbert with Mahershala Ali in ‘Moonlight.’ (Photo by David Bornfriend; courtesy A24)
While “Moonlight” won Best Picture at the Academy Awards, “Beauty and the Beast” included Disney’s first gay character and “Power Rangers” featured a lesbian superhero in the yellow ranger, Hollywood is far from being completely LGBT-inclusive.
GLAAD released its fifth annual Studio Responsibility Index (SRI) and reported that from 125 film releases from major studios, only 23 (18.4 %) films included LGBTQ-identifying characters. 83% of those films had a gay male character. Lesbian characters went from 23% in 2015 to 35% in 2016. Bisexual representation came in at 13%. Transgender representation was merely one character in “Zoolander 2.” The character, played by Benedict Cumberbatch, was used as the punchline to a joke.
Racial diversity saw a dip in representation. From the LGBT characters of the last year, 48 were White (69%), nine were Black/African American (13%), four were Asian/Pacific Islander (6%) and one was Latinx (1%). Eight characters (11%) were identified as non-human. Overall only 20% of characters were people of color, a decrease from 25.5% in 2015 and 32.1% in 2014.
Studios were judged based on a rating system of “Excellent,” “Good,” “Insufficient,” “Poor” or “Failing.” Universal Pictures received a grade of “Insufficient.” 20th Century Fox, Paramount Pictures and Warner Brothers were given a “Poor'” rating. Lionsgate Entertainment, Sony Pictures and Walt Disney Studios received a “Failing” rating. No studios were “Excellent” or “Good.”
The study also notes that some known LGBT characters’ identities have been erased or downplayed in their film roles. Harley Quinn’s bisexuality, a characteristic in the comics, is excluded from her film portrayal in “Suicide Squad.” “Deadpool” is pansexual but was never described as such in the film.
“With many of the most popular TV shows proudly including LGBTQ characters and stories, the time has come for the film industry to step up and show the full diversity of the world that movie audiences are living in today instead and end the outdated humor seen in many films,” GLAAD President and CEO Sarah Kate Ellis said in a statement. “Films like ‘Moonlight’ prove there is a huge opportunity to not only tell LGBTQ stories worthy of Oscar gold, but to open the hearts and minds of audiences here and around the world in places where these stories can be a lifeline to the people who need it most.”
View the complete study here.
Equality Prince William Pride was held at the Harris Pavilion in Manassas, Va. on Saturday, May 16.
(Washington Blade photos by Landon Shackelford)















Photos
PHOTOS: Blade Summer Kickoff Party
Ashley Biden accepts award for Beau Biden at annual Rehoboth fundraiser
The 19th annual Blade Foundation Summer Kickoff Party was held on Friday, May 15 at Diego’s in Rehoboth Beach, Del. An award presentation was held for former Delaware Attorney General Beau Biden. Ashley Biden accepted the award on her brother’s behalf and gave remarks. Other speakers included Delaware state Rep. Claire Snyder-Hall, CAMP Rehoboth Executive Director Dr. Robin Brennan and Washington Blade Editor Kevin Naff. The event was a fundraiser for the Steve Elkins Memorial Fellowship in Journalism.
(Washington Blade photos by Daniel Truitt)














Photos
PHOTOS: Taste of Point
Annual fundraiser supporting LGBTQ youth scholarships and mentorships held at Room & Board
The Point Foundation held the annual Taste of Point fundraiser at Room & Board on Wednesday, May 13.
(Washington Blade photos by Michael Key)















