“Insider produced a database to track the historical presence of LGBTQ and gender-minority characters in animated children’s television.” – “259 LGBTQ characters in cartoons that bust the myth that kids can’t handle inclusion,” Insider.com
Click to read the full summary that’ll BLOW YOUR MIND. I was fascinated and immediately sent this compilation to friends to confirm that animation writers are in it for the kids, affirming that all kids matter in their universe. Love this. Click to read HERE.
LGBTQ representation has exploded in animated children’s television.
Insider created and analyzed a database featuring more than 250 LGBTQ characters from animated TV shows. We also spoke with showrunners, writers, voice actors, designers, parents, and more about how this inclusion boom is affecting them.
We found that much of this inclusion is hidden behind a paywall. We also discovered that queer and trans women were behind most of the inclusion efforts but are fighting to ensure that characters don’t succumb to stereotypes. LGBTQ creators of color are dealing with workplace abuse even while pushing for inclusivity on screen. And while studio executives often blame many factors for a lack of progress, experts say the onus is on them to enact change.
Our complete findings will be unlocked throughout the month of June.
Insider.com
Click through to read sections about:
- Insider compiled a database of 259 LGBTQ characters in kids’ cartoons. Here’s how we did it.
- How we identified and fact-checked the characters
- What we found about LGBTQ representation over time
- Explicit vs. implicit representation over time
- First 10 animated shows featuring LGBTQ characters
- LGBTQ-inclusive animated kids’ shows over time
- First 10 animated kids’ series to confirm LGBTQ characters
- How long it took a series to debut an LGBTQ character
- LGBTQ characters in animated kids’ series over time
- The shows, studios, and platforms fueling the rise in LGBTQ characters
- LGBTQ-inclusive animated kids’ shows by platform
- LGBTQ inclusion on Cartoon Network vs. Netflix
- LGBTQ-inclusive animated kids’ shows by studio
- How diverse LGBTQ representation is on animated kids’ shows
- Gender representation in animated kids’ series
- Sexual orientation in animated kids’ series
- LGBTQ disability representation in animated kids’ shows
- How often animated kids’ shows let their LGBTQ characters take the lead
- LGBTQ characters in animated kids’ shows by role
- LGBTQ disability representation by role type
- Why our database still doesn’t paint the full picture
- 12 most used methods for confirming LGBTQ characters in animated kids’ series
Click HERE to see videos unlocking throughout JUNE that’ll give us more of the picture!
Credits to the work done for Insider:
- Reporting: Abbey White, Kalai Chik
- Editing: Joi-Marie McKenzie, Brea Cubit, Emma LeGault, Megan Willett-Wei
- Design and development: Sawyer Click, Skye Gould, Taylor Tyson, Joanna Lin Su
- Video: Chris Snyder, Jess Chou, A.C. Fowler, Kyle Desiderio, Kuwilileni Hauwanga
