GLAAD to grade film studios on political donations, public advocacy, LGBTQ content
GLAAD, the world’s most visible LGBTQ advocacy organization, has announced Hollywood film studios will be incorporated into its annual Studio Responsibility Index.
The study that analyzes LGBTQ representation in releases by eight major film studio distributors: Lionsgate, Paramount Pictures, Sony Pictures, STX Films, United Artists Releasing, Universal Pictures, The Walt Disney Studios, and Warner Bros. The annual report assigns grades to each studio based on quantity, quality, and diversity of LGBTQ representation from its film releases the previous calendar year.
The 10th annual Studio Responsibility Index will be released in summer 2022 with new sections documenting:
· Donations to anti-LGBTQ elected officials, candidates for office, and anti-LGBTQ Political Action Committees from a film studio and parent company.
· Public advocacy efforts from a film studio or parent company around pro-LGBTQ or anti-LGBTQ legislation.
· LGBTQ-inclusive ads or other public communications, especially outside of Pride month.
· Actions taken to support a studio’s LGBTQ-inclusive titles internationally. Recent examples include: in 2021, Marvel’s film ‘Eternals’ was pulled from Saudi Arabia, Qatar and Kuwait after Disney reportedly refused to cut a same-sex kiss and in 2019, Paramount spoke out against censorship of LGBTQ content in ‘Rocketman’ in Russia.
These new topics will be considered as part of the grades that GLAAD assigns to the studios. GLAAD will track and report on these topics each year.
It comes as news that Disney PRIDE Employee Resource Groups, and other LGBTQ advocates including GLAAD, have been calling for The Walt Disney Company to take action against Florida’s ‘Don’t Say LGBTQ’ bill, which would bar discussion of LGBTQ people from Florida classrooms.
After the bill’s passage last week, and following efforts from Disney PRIDE Employee Resource Groups, Disney CEO Bob Chapek issued a statement against the bill. Disney also joined over 170 businesses on a Freedom for All Americans and HRC letter opposing anti-LGBTQ state legislation.
GLAAD President and CEO Sarah Kate Ellis stated: “No company that chooses silence over allyship should receive high scores from LGBTQ organizations while nearly 200 anti-LGBTQ bills advance in states around the country, often targeting transgender youth. Corporations need to be held accountable for funding politicians that harm LGBTQ people, including their own employees, and for inaction on legislation that they can help defeat.”
About GLAAD
GLAAD rewrites the script for LGBTQ acceptance. As a dynamic media force, GLAAD tackles tough issues to shape the narrative and provoke dialogue that leads to cultural change. GLAAD protects all that has been accomplished and creates a world where everyone can live the life they love. For more information, please visit www.glaad.org or connect with GLAAD on Facebook and Twitter.
