Remember when Hollywood's idea of a queer character was, like, a single, subtly coded villain, or maybe a sassy best friend who never got a storyline of their own? Well, put down your monocle, because Tinseltown is finally catching up to the 21st century.
A new study from GLAAD reveals that in 2022, a whopping 28.5% of major studio films featured an LGBTQ+ character. That's not just a bump; that's a significant, finally moment. Even better, 12 films showcased transgender characters and 10 included non-binary characters — both all-time highs. Let that satisfying number sink in.
Because apparently, that's where we are now. And leading the charge? A whole roster of talent who are not just on screen, but genuinely moving the needle. It's almost like giving people diverse stories makes for better art. Who knew?
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Take Elliott Page, who you might remember from, oh, about 50 projects before he came out as trans in 2020. Now, he's starring as a trans man in "Close To You," and by his own account, he feels "liberated." Apparently, acting is a lot more natural when you're not constantly performing a different version of yourself. Wild concept, right?
Then there's Jasmin Savoy Brown, who's navigating plane crashes, wilderness survival, and a genuinely heartwarming queer, interracial love story as Taissa Turner in "Yellowjackets." The show even snagged a GLAAD Media Award, and Brown specifically called out that the trauma in their horror series isn't about being queer. It's just, you know, regular horror trauma. Because queer people deserve to be terrified by cannibals, too.
Janelle Monáe, the Grammy-winning force of nature, is another one. A vocal advocate for pretty much everyone who needs one, Monáe saw the Soul Train Awards change their "Lady of Soul" category to "Spirit of Soul" in their honor last year, acknowledging their non-binary identity. Monáe's advice on gender identity? Be open. Listen. Discover. Which, if you think about it, is pretty good advice for everything.
Over in the UK, comedian Tom Allen recently celebrated the 10th anniversary of same-sex marriage with "Big Gay Wedding with Tom Allen." He helped a couple plan their dream day and interviewed the politicians who made it happen. Allen's reason for talking about being gay so much? He wasn't allowed to for half his life. Sometimes, the explanation is that simple.
And Kristen Stewart, who has officially moved past sparkly vampires, is tearing up the screen in "Love Lies Bleeding." It's an action-packed crime drama that also happens to be a lesbian love story. Stewart put it best, saying they approached the film with "pure curiosity and desire," and it was "unapologetically gay and queer." Because why apologize?
Finally, Hannah Gadsby, who decided one comedian wasn't enough, curated "Gender Agenda" for Netflix, bringing together a whole host of genderqueer comics. Gadsby's point? Representation isn't about one person. It's about a chorus. A group of distinct individuals, living distinct lives, all finally getting their moment in the spotlight. And really, it's about time. It's been a long wait.
