A recent Glaad report showed that 18 percent of studio films in 2018 included an L.G.B.T. character, up from 13 percent the previous year. Three of the four acting awards at the most recent Oscars were for gay or lesbian roles. In May, the Elton John bio-musical, “Rocketman,” became the first major studio movie to depict gay sex.
By Glaad’s estimation, 9 percent of regular characters on scripted broadcast series in 2018 were gay, lesbian, bisexual or transgender — an all-time high. “RuPaul’s Drag Race” has been a hit for 11 seasons. The CW’s “Supergirl” features a transgender superhero. Disney Channel has gay characters.
“Glaad has done a great job in its lane, and I wish it would stay there,” said a senior official at one gay rights organization, speaking on the condition of anonymity to avoid “a public spat that wouldn’t be beneficial to the movement.”
Ms. Ellis, who is as reliably upbeat and laser focused as a Reese Witherspoon character, said she understood the cynicism, but rejected it as misinformed.
“We’ve moved from a Hollywood watchdog to a cultural change agent,” she said over breakfast at the Beverly Hilton. “With that, we’ve expanded how we move hearts and minds to create a more accepting world for all people.”
She added: “We have now re-established Glaad. How do we apply our momentum to a big, bold vision?”
Ms. Ellis has powerful supporters in the entertainment industry, including the television mogul Greg Berlanti, whose hits include “Riverdale” and “The Flash,” and Bob Greenblatt, chairman of WarnerMedia Entertainment, which includes HBO.
Article source: https://www.nytimes.com/2019/06/29/business/media/glaad-lgbt-constitutional-amendment.html?emc=rss&partner=rss
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