Social media companies fail to protect LGBTQ users | Sarah Kate Ellis posted on the topic | LinkedIn (2024)

Culture formation used to be a one-way street out of Hollywood or news and journalism. Now CEOs create culture. There is a network of influencers that never existed before due to the rise of social media. The Edelman Trust Barometer has consistently found that consumers and employees expect CEOs to speak out about societal issues. My top two pieces of advice for companies that we work with on engaging on LGBTQ issues are:- Make sure everything you do ties back to your values. When you start from the core and build out from your values, you build in a wall of protection for yourself because you are aligning your company to who you are. - Decision trees are a must. You need to understand how decisions are being made within companies. Who are the decision makers and who are the influencers in the decision making process? Having that coordinated at the highest level is critical to how companies show up in the marketplace. Thank you for having me on The TrustMakers podcast to talk about our work at GLAAD and how CEOs and corporations can be allies to the #LGBTQ community. You can listen to the episode here ⤵ https://lnkd.in/eA_tYeW3

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H. 4624 in South Carolina is one of the most extreme attacks on transgender Americans in the country and will hurt countless families and residents while helping no one.Anti-transgender extremists claimed that their surge of attacks against basic access to health care were in the interest of protecting children, yet it's clearer than ever that their goal is to eradicate the ability of transgender people to live and thrive in any aspect of their lives.To transgender Americans in the South and to those watching all over the country: No political maneuver can erase the fact that you exist, you belong here, and you are loved.GLAAD is committed to continuing fighting alongside our partners to undo these unconstitutional bans and to ensure an America that is safe and free for everyone.

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Traditionally, commencement speeches are meant to celebrate and inspire graduates and their families. Kansas City Chiefs player Harrison Butker’s commencement speech was not only a clear miss, it was inaccurate, ill-informed, and woefully out of step with Americans about Pride,LGBTQpeople and women. Those with expansive platforms, especially athletes, should use their voices to uplift and expand understanding and acceptance in the world. Instead, Butker’s remarks undermine experiences not of his own and reveal him to be one who goes against his own team’s commitment to the Kansas City community, and the NFL’s standards for respect, inclusion, and diversity across the League. https://lnkd.in/eavmZRkM

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We are heartbroken to learn of the murder of Jazlynn Johnson, a young transgender woman. Jazlynn’s murder is the latest in a pattern of senseless deaths among transgender, nonbinary, and gender nonconforming youth across America who face rampant harassment and violence simply because of who they are.The hostile climate of anti-LGBTQ rhetoric and proposed legislation has a real-world impact on LGBTQ lives. All of us who believe in love and kindness have an obligation to speak out to support every young person’s right to live freely as themselves, in safety, peace, and acceptance.GLAAD sends our deepest condolences to Jazlynn’s loved ones, and we will work side by side with advocates in Nevada fighting for the safety of all LGBTQ people in their state.

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The fight continues.From the moment I spoke these words at the 2014 GLAAD Media Awards in NYC to today and into the future. We will continue our work to fulfill GLAAD's mission of:- Rewriting the script for LGBTQ acceptance.- Tackling tough issues to shape the narrative and provoke dialogue that leads to cultural change.- Protecting all that has been accomplished and creating a world where everyone can live the life they love.

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It's about time we ensure calls for protecting children include all children.I'm sharing my childhood photo because when I was growing up as a closeted lesbian in Staten Island, I did not see lesbian adult women who were out, successful, and raising families. I want to tell that young girl that she deserves safety, love, and freedom to be who she is.Moms like me and so many others prioritize the safety of our children, and our children's friends, and our friends' children. There is an urgent need to protect children from violence, predators, age-inappropriate content, and ugly rhetoric, but the calls from anti-LGBTQ activists to "protect our children" ignore what this actually means for LGBTQ parents like me who have children and the LGBTQ children themselves who will one day grow up to LGBTQ adults.All of this talk about protecting children has created a dangerous environment for far too many of our children. LGBTQ people have been battling this false narrative all our lives, and it's why we often feel a responsibility to speak out against lies and misinformation about our existence and to take action to show LGBTQ young people that they belong.It's time that we let anti-LGBTQ voices know that their calls to "protect children" have the opposite impact on LGBTQ young people and children of LGBTQ parents. It's time to show the world that #LGBTQ adults were once children, equally deserving of visibility and protection.You can read more from my Newsweek Op-ed about GLAAD's #ProtectThisKid campaign here: https://lnkd.in/gdw8sMNJ

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#TV series with more diverse LGBTQ characters are being cancelled at a disportioncate rate - particularly as it relates to trans characters and queer people of color. Nearly half of trans characters in this year's Where We Are On TV report appeared on series that have been cancelled or ended. At a time when we're seeing over 500 anti-LGBTQ bills, mostly targeting trans folks, and when only 30% of Americans say they know someone who is trans, this is a huge disservice to our community. It is also a disservice to our businesses. #LGBTQ stories have power and resonance that audiences are craving.WPP found that 93% of LGBTQ and 85% of non-LGBTQ 18-24 year olds actively seek out queer inclusive media —but only 38% are satisfied with how LGBTQ people are represented.#Networks and #streamers that do not tell nuanced and meaningful inclusive LGBTQ stories are at true risk of alienating a huge audience and tarnishing future brand recognition. This tremendous gap provides an opportunity for networks and streaming companies to win audiences and subscribers who are hungry for more inclusive programming and fresh new perspectives. LGBTQ #inclusion is key for TV to stay relevant and grow its audiences.

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A big thank you to the GLAAD team for all of their work on this year's Where We Are On TV report! We presented our findings at an industry event last night at VIDIOTS FOUNDATION in Los Angeles, California.We've grown from 12 series regular LGBTQ characters when we started this report 28 years ago to 468 total LGBTQ characters on scripted TV. While that growth is impressive, there were 100 fewer LGBTQ characters this year compared to last year. Series with more diverse LGBTQ characters are being cancelled at a disportioncate rate - particularly as it relates to trans characters and queer people of color.The 19th annual Where We Are on TV study provides recommendations to increase and improve inclusivity and representation: A priority for improvement across all platforms is developing inclusive new series as well as incorporating new and expanding upon LGBTQ characters in existing programming. Audiences are hungry for diverse characters with fresh and unique perspectives, specifically stories that center LGBTQ characters of color, transgender and nonbinary characters, and characters living with HIV in meaningful roles.

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LGBTQ stories are crucial now more than ever—it is paramount to see our lives reflected on screen, challenging the misinformation and harmful rhetoric that is running unchecked by politicians and journalists.#LGBTQ stories have power and resonance that audiences are craving. Through their nationally representative research, MRI-Simmons reports that LGBTQ inclusion in entertainment is important to more than two in five of all American adults. WPP found that super majorities of LGBTQ and non-LGBTQ 18-24 year olds actively seek out queer inclusive media (93 and 85% respectively)—but only 38% are satisfied with how LGBTQ people are represented. This tremendous gap provides an opportunity for networks and streaming companies to win audiences and subscribers who are hungry for more inclusive programming and fresh new perspectives.TV networks and streamers are passing up on the opportunity to fully engage with this meaningful audience, and are leaving stories that will help bottom lines and earn buzz and accolades on the table. Huge strides have been made in the last decade of LGBTQ #representation, and it is crucial that this progress is not lost. The past few years have seen the industry continue to limit new programming orders and increased vertical integration, allowing for fewer companies to have outsized control of viewer’s options. We’ve also seen inclusive storytelling of every type continue to be prematurely canceled in recent years – and audiences have noticed. A YouGov survey reported that a quarter of U.S. adults wait for a streaming originals’ finale before starting to watch, with 27 percent of those citing worry about a series potential cancellation with no resolution as their reasoning for delay.At the same time, recent inclusive projects have faced criticism from a small but loud coordinated effort by fringe anti-LGBTQ activists who oppose LGBTQ #inclusion. What they don’t want you to know is that LGBTQ-inclusive series which have received full marketing and promotional pushes have been massively successful—The Last of Uswas the most watched show on Max in Latin America and Europe, GLAAD Media Award-winningYellowjackets’season two finale was the most streamed episode ever for Showtime,Abbott Elementarybroke records for recent comedy ratings for ABC, and AMC’sInterview with the Vampirewas the top new drama premiere on ad-supported cable upon its 2022 release. These stories with significant and impactful LGBTQ characters continue to be a rousing success.Networks and streamers that do not tell nuanced and meaningful inclusive LGBTQ stories are at true risk of alienating a huge audience and tarnishing future brand recognition. The Where We Are on TVstudy allows GLAAD to identify gaps in inclusion on television and create actionable insights and priorities for change.Read more our findings in the Where We Are On TV 2023-2024 report here ⤵

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