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A14 PEOPLE / ARTS
Friday 18 February 2022
TV study: LGBTQ characters rise in number with streaming

By LYNN ELBER “Young Royals” from Swe-
AP Television Writer den, “Rebelde” from Mex-
LOS ANGELES (AP) — LGBTQ ico and “Elite” from Spain.
representation on scripted They join the inclusive Net-
TV series has grown along flix comedies “Never Have
with the footprint of stream- I Ever,” “Q-Force” and
ing services, according to “Sex Education.”HBO Max,
an annual study by the ad- which launched in spring
vocacy group GLAAD. 2020, landed in second
“TV is leading entertain- place in its first GLAAD tally.
ment in telling LGBTQ sto- The service “quickly built
ries,” Sarah Kate Ellis, presi- a reputation for standout
dent and CEO of GLAAD, LGBTQ-inclusive comedy
said in the “Where We series,” the report said, with
Are on TV” report on the the majority of its 71 LGBTQ
2021-22 season that was re- characters found on com-
leased Thursday. edies, including the Emmy-
In recognition of the in- winning “Hacks,” “The Sex
creased number and pro- Lives of College Girls” and
file of streaming services, “Sort Of.”
the study added five rela- BROADCAST NETWORKS
tive newcomers to the trio Of the 775 regularly ap-
Amazon, Hulu and Net- pearing series characters
flix included in previous This image released by Netflix shows Lee Rodriguez, left, and Christina Kartchner in a scene from on networks in prime time,
GLAAD diversity tallies. “Never Have I Ever.” 92 (11.9%) were LGBTQ.
Broadcast networks and Associated Press The previous record high,
cable channels are part of in the 2019-20 report, was
the study, which also looks But GLAAD offered thinly the LGBTQ community this The following are among 10.2%. Combining recurring
at broadcast representa- veiled criticism of Netflix past fall by doubling down the report’s findings, by and regular roles, LGBTQ
tion of women, people of over its handling of Dave on giving anti-LGBTQ con- platform: characters totaled 141, a
color and those with dis- Chappelle’s 2021 special tent the reach and legiti- STREAMING “significant increase” over
abilities. Netflix, which has “The Closer,” which was macy of their platform and There were 358 regularly last year’s tally of 101, the
consistently topped its faulted by people inside brand,” the report said. seen and recurring LGBTQ report said.
streaming competitors in and outside the company Netflix declined comment. characters in series offered In a first-time finding, lesbi-
LGBTQ inclusivity, accord- for what they deemed anti- After last year’s pandemic by the eight streaming ser- ans represent the major-

ing to GLAAD, ranked first transgender humor. Netflix reduced the TV industry’s vices included in the study ity of LGBTQ characters on
again, with 155 regularly co-CEO Ted Sarandos later output, the GLAAD report an increase of 217 from last broadcast, with new char-
seen or recurring charac- said he erred in addressing expressed satisfaction that year’s total found on three acters introduced in series
ters on its original comedy employee concerns, but the rebound didn’t leave streaming services. (Last including “NCIS: Hawai’i”
and drama series. the special remained on behind LGBTQ depictions. year, only Amazon, Hulu and “Law & Order: Orga-
By comparison, prime-time the streaming service. The growth in streaming and Netflix were tracked.) nized Crime.” The study
series on the ABC, CBS, CW, “It would be disingenuous services, including Apple Helping Netflix retain its called it a welcome and
Fox and NBC networks in- to shine a light on Netflix’s TV+, Disney+, HBO Max, lead in LGBTQ depictions “noteworthy change” from
clude a combined 141 LG- inclusive programming Paramount+ and Peacock, are foreign-language dra- TV’s criticized portrayal of
BTQ characters this season, without also being clear opened the door for more mas with queer stories, queer women as tragic fig-
according to the study. on the harm Netflix did to inclusive fare. the report said, including ures. q

Alice Glass takes back her voice

in solo album

By BEATRICE DUPUY Crystal Castles in 2014 and as an instrument to create
Associated Press later publicly addressed a complex soundscape
Alice Glass is the blueprint abuse at the hands of a for- over dark electro-pop
for hyperpop — the new mer bandmate. Her album, beats.
music genre loved by Gen out Wednesday, makes ref- The song is a defining mo-
Z and trending on TikTok. In erences to darker times in ment for Glass. It’s her bit-
her long-awaited solo full- Crystal Castles in the lyrics ing back at all those who
length album, “PREY//IV,” and the album title. have questioned her rise
the queen of electro-punk In her first song on the al- since leaving Crystal Cas-
is back and asking, “Where bum symbolically named tles.
would you be without me?” “Prey” she asks the listener: At times, Glass pairs elec-
She’s in full control, using “Do you believe me? Does tronic dance beats with
her raw voice and lyrics it matter?” her haunting writing like
as she details the end of a Through the vulnerability of in “Baby Teeth” and “The
toxic relationship and get- her lyricism, Glass pulls back Hunted.” She uses her vo-
ting to a place where the the curtain on her pain and cals to move from anger
This image released by Eating Glass Records shows cover art for “Sorrow Ends.” stands in her power. and hurt on “The Hunted”
“PREY//IV,” a release by Alice Glass. Glass parted ways with in- On “Prey//IV,” the Canadi- as she warps into a punk
Associated Press
die electronic pop group an musician uses her voice scream. q