The wave of cancellations sweeping through the entertainment industry is having a staggering impact on LGBTQ+ representation, with nearly half of all queer characters vanishing from television screens in 2025 — and more cuts expected before year’s end.
According to Deadline, 41% of the 489 LGBTQ characters featured on scripted television this year will not be returning due to show cancellations or series endings. Advocacy group GLAAD describes the drop as alarming and tied directly to broader political and cultural shifts.
A recent GLAAD report highlights that many of the axed shows featured trans and gender-diverse characters, such as Kaos, Clean Slate, Mid-Century Modern, and Heartstopper. Other popular LGBTQ-inclusive titles like And Just Like That have also been shelved.
This dramatic rollback comes in the wake of Donald Trump’s return to the presidency, where on his first day in office, he signed an executive order dismantling diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) programs across federal agencies. The move has sparked ripple effects throughout corporate America — including Hollywood.
Major players like Paramount, Disney, Amazon Studios, and Warner Bros. Discovery have since reduced or entirely removed their DEI initiatives, bowing to political and legal pressures.
In April, CBS Studios settled a lawsuit filed by America First Legal Foundation, a conservative organisation led by former Trump advisor Stephen Miller, which alleged “illegal diversity quotas” in hiring. The plaintiff, a white male script coordinator on SEAL Team, claimed he was overlooked in favour of less-qualified minorities and women.
The lawsuit — and its outcome — has sent a chilling message through the industry.
“It’s been a complete U-turn,” one European showrunner told The Hollywood Reporter. “No one at these companies is interested in diversity anymore. They don’t want to hear it.”
“Freedom of Speech Includes Freedom of Storytelling”
GLAAD President and CEO Sarah Kate Ellis has strongly condemned the rollback in queer representation.
“In this moment when diverse stories are under heightened scrutiny, GLAAD is partnering with entertainment industry leaders to meet a clear call: Do not cave to pressure to reduce LGBTQ representation,” she said.
“Freedom of speech includes freedom of storytelling, and that includes stories of our community.”
GLAAD’s findings also show that ABC currently leads among major networks in LGBTQ character count, while NBC ranks lowest — though it recently debuted Brilliant Minds, a medical drama with a gay lead played by openly gay actor Zachary Quinto.
Some of the most notable LGBTQ-inclusive series recently cancelled include:
- And Just Like That (HBO)
- Heartstopper (Netflix)
- Mid-Century Modern (Hulu)
- Clean Slate (Amazon Prime), starring transgender icon Laverne Cox
GLAAD’s report warns that these cancellations represent more than just lost airtime — they remove vital space for visibility and authentic representation.
“To reflect the LGBTQ experience and to show the diversity of our community, these kinds of series are essential,” the report reads.
