GLAAD fails Disney, Sony in 2014 study of major Hollywood movies

There might be more LGBT characters in today’s Hollywood movies, but the growth is really slow. GLAAD released its annual Studio Responsibility Index study today, giving failing grades to The Walt Disney Studios and Sony Pictures.

The study looked at 114 releases from the six major studios, plus Lionsgate, in 2014 and found that only 20 of these had any characters that could be considered lesbian, gay, bisexual or transgender. That’s just three more than last year’s number.

The total number of characters climbed three to 28 and most of these (65 percent) were gay men. None were transgender. The biggest improvement was in diversity though, as 32.1 percent of the characters were people of color.

Warner Bros. got some praise from GLAAD, which found that seven of 22 films in 2014 were LGBT inclusive. The studio, which does have a history of making films with gay characters, received a “good” rating. GLAAD even noted that The LEGO Movie featured the Harry Potter character Dumbledore, who J.K. Rowling has said is gay.

The failing grades were handed out to Disney and Sony. The only reference to LGBT content came with a cameo from Lady Gaga in Muppets Most Wanted, but that was it. Sony was blasted for gags in The Interview and 22 Jump Street. They did praise Sony Pictures Classics for Love Is Strange, though.

20th Century Fox got “Adequate,” but GLAAD was not happy with Exodus: Gods and Kings. Lionsgate, Paramount and Universal also got “Adequate” ratings.

“Most depictions of LGBT people in these films tend to be minor, both in terms of substance and screen-time, and occasionally still rely on outdated and even defamatory stereotypes,” GLAAD noted in its introduction. “Meanwhile, one of cinema’s biggest competitors has completely lapped the industry in this regard. The characters being depicted on television, everywhere from broadcast networks to streaming services, make those found in film appear shockingly outdated.”