GLAAD Media Institute

Overview

The GLAAD Media Institute is the entertainment industry advocacy division of GLAAD (formerly the Gay and Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation), the US organization dedicated to advancing LGBTQ representation and acceptance in media. Founded in 1985, GLAAD has been a central force in shaping how LGBTQ people are represented in film and television -- producing the annual Studio Responsibility Index and Where We Are on TV reports that track LGBTQ representation across film and television, consulting with studios and networks on LGBTQ storylines and characters, and advocating for authentic, non-stereotypical representation that reflects the diversity of LGBTQ experience.

GLAAD's entertainment industry focus is based on the conviction that media representation shapes cultural attitudes -- that how LGBTQ people are portrayed in film and television affects how they are treated in public life. Research has consistently shown that media representation correlates with reduced prejudice and increased acceptance, making entertainment industry advocacy a form of civil rights work with measurable social impact.

Studio Responsibility Index

The GLAAD Studio Responsibility Index, published annually, tracks the number and quality of LGBTQ characters and storylines in major studio theatrical releases. The report grades each major studio on their LGBTQ inclusion across the year's releases, assigning letter grades that reflect both quantity (how many LGBTQ characters appeared in how many films) and quality (whether representation was authentic and non-stereotypical, whether LGBTQ characters had meaningful roles, whether they were allowed to exist without being killed off).

For studios and production companies, GLAAD's annual grading creates public accountability around LGBTQ representation commitments. Understanding what GLAAD's methodology assesses -- and how specific creative choices (character deaths, stereotypical portrayals, background-only representation) affect a production's evaluation -- helps decision-makers understand what genuine representation looks like versus performative inclusion.

Entertainment Industry Consulting

GLAAD provides consulting services to studios, networks, and streaming platforms on LGBTQ storylines, character development, and language use. This consulting ranges from script review for specific projects to broader guidance on building diverse LGBTQ representation across a studio's slate. Writers' room consultants and LGBTQ cultural advisors connected through GLAAD provide productions with the specific expertise needed to portray LGBTQ experience authentically.

For writers and producers working on projects with significant LGBTQ content, GLAAD's consulting resources provide access to expertise that helps avoid both inadvertent harm and the reputational risks of LGBTQ representation that the community finds demeaning or inaccurate.

Where We Are on TV

GLAAD's Where We Are on TV report tracks LGBTQ representation in scripted broadcast, cable, and streaming television. The annual report provides a comprehensive census of LGBTQ series regulars and recurring characters across the full range of television platforms, tracking progress -- and regression -- in representation over time. The report's longitudinal data has documented both the substantial increase in LGBTQ representation over two decades and the persistent gaps in racial diversity within LGBTQ representation.

What Filmmakers Should Know

For directors and writers creating content with LGBTQ characters or storylines, GLAAD's published guidelines on LGBTQ representation -- including specific guidance on language, the "Bury Your Gays" trope, and authentic LGBTQ storytelling -- provide a practical reference for making creative choices that reflect LGBTQ experience respectfully.

For producers and studios making LGBTQ inclusion commitments, GLAAD's annual reports provide the accountability framework against which those commitments will be publicly evaluated. Understanding what GLAAD measures helps translate general diversity commitments into specific creative and hiring decisions with measurable outcomes.

See Also

For gender equity research on screen content, see Geena Davis Institute on Gender in Media in this directory. For racial representation advocacy, see Color Of Change Hollywood in this directory.