Black LGBTQ+ representation declines in film, panel warns

During the Martha’s Vineyard African American Film Festival, GLAAD and the W. K. Kellogg Foundation hosted a panel titled “Reel Change: Black Film, Culture, and the Stories That Shape Us.” The discussion, featuring actress Laverne Cox, filmmaker Nneka Onuorah, podcast host Ryan Mitchell, and ViiV Healthcare’s Bithiah Lafontant, addressed the declining representation of Black LGBTQ+ individuals in mainstream cinema.

Data from GLAAD’s “Where We Are on Film” report indicates a third consecutive year of decline in LGBTQ+ storytelling among the top ten film distributors. Key findings include a 36% drop in LGBTQ+ characters of color and a total absence of transgender characters in major studio releases. The report also noted a significant lack of HIV-related narratives, with only two characters living with HIV depicted across 225 films.

Panelists highlighted the public health implications of this lack of visibility. Citing data from ViiV Healthcare, the group noted that Black individuals account for 37% of new HIV cases in the U.S., despite representing only 12% of the population. The decline in media representation was linked to rising misinformation and stigma regarding HIV within the Black community.