GLAAD Board Members Frankie Grande, Peppermint Urge More LGBTQ Inclusion for Reality TV

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As a passionate gamer and advocate for diversity, I’m urging the powers that be to boost LGBTQ representation in reality TV shows. Just like I level up my characters in games, I want to see more authentic representation of queer individuals on screen too! #RepresentationMatters

As a gaming enthusiast, I’ve been observing the evolution of reality TV over the years, and it’s clear that we’ve made significant strides in showcasing LGBTQ representation. However, I can’t help but notice a recurring pattern: far too many shows seem to feature just one LGBTQ narrative or rely on a sole cast member from the community to represent the vast array of stories and experiences within it. Peppermint, my fellow entertainer and star of ‘Traitors’, along with several other reality TV celebrities, expressed this concern in an open letter.

They point out that shows such as Survivor, Big Brother, The Voice, American Idol, The Challenge, and The Amazing Race are hindered by limited representation of the LGBTQ community. “This narrative style is dull, outdated, and fails to accurately portray the lively and diverse queer communities that thrive within our nation and LGBTQ communities globally,” they further stated in a letter, which was also endorsed by GLAAD president Sarah Kate Ellis.

GLAAD, a media monitoring organization that focuses on the representation of LGBTQ characters in primetime television, has consistently argued that increased queer storylines promote acceptance and safety. This idea is echoed in their open letter: “Representation holds significant power; it can transform attitudes and perceptions. When audiences witness LGBTQ individuals living honestly, forming relationships, encountering obstacles, and celebrating triumphs, it challenges preconceived notions, dispels misinformation, and combats prejudice, hate, and harm.

The open letter was additionally endorsed by celebrities such as Nicole Byer, Michelle Buteau, Paulie Calafiore, Alan Cumming, Monét X Change, Racquel Chevremont, Elliott Cooper, Sandra Diaz, Nicole Franzel, Ilana Glazer, Taylor Hale, Bob The Drag Queen, Britney Haynes, Derrick Levasseur, Jazz Jennings, Margaret Josephs, Amrit Kapai, Meghan King, Ts Madison, Meredith Marks, Greg Mathis Jr., Elliot Page, Phaedra Parks, Xavier Prather, Queen Priyanka, Rachel Riley, Michaela Jae Rodriguez, Christian Siriano, Braunwyn Spinner, Chrishell Stause, Zeke Thomas, Andie Vanacore, Sheree Whitfield and Peter Weber. These individuals lent their names to the letter.

The full open letter follows:

The Reality Check on Reality TV Representation

Dear Casting Directors, Producers, Creatives, and Innovators in the realm of Reality Television: As passionate advocates and dedicated viewers of reality TV, we address you with enthusiasm and aspirations for a more inclusive era in unscripted programming. Foremost, this letter is penned by proud members of the LGBTQ community. Reality TV has consistently demonstrated its ability to influence opinions, spark meaningful debates, and drive lasting transformation. Icons such as Survivor, Big Brother, The Voice, American Idol, The Challenge, and The Amazing Race have garnered impressive viewership and captivated audiences for decades, carving a path and presenting a vibrant mix of talents and individuals.

Despite significant advancements in showcasing LGBTQ individuals over the years, there’s a notable void that needs immediate attention: ensuring authentic, truthful, and relatable portrayals of LGBTQ individuals. We, the community, are seeking this representation. Although we have made substantial progress in LGBTQ visibility, it is undeniable that for far too long, television shows have only presented one LGBTQ narrative or relied on a single cast member to embody an entire spectrum of identities and experiences within our community. This approach is outdated and fails to capture the richness and diversity of the queer community worldwide. The statistics don’t deceive us either.

Based on the latest Gallup Survey, approximately 9.3% of American adults openly identify as LGBTQ, with the majority identifying as bisexual (56%). This percentage significantly increases among Generation Z, the most diverse and largest consumer demographic, where around 23% identify as part of the LGBTQ community. Various polls and studies suggest these figures might be even higher. Reality TV aims to captivate by showcasing authentic experiences that resonate deeply with viewers, often influencing audience attitudes and behaviors. Given its mission to reflect society and appeal to a new generation of viewers, it’s crucial for reality TV casts to be more inclusive, diverse, and relatable. The upcoming generations are demanding this change.

The integration of LGBTQ individuals in reality TV goes beyond mere numbers; it’s about the distinct narratives and viewpoints they contribute. Representation is significant because it can transform attitudes and opinions. When audiences witness LGBTQ individuals living honestly, forming relationships, encountering obstacles, and rejoicing in triumphs, it challenges stereotypes and eradicates misconceptions, bigotry, false information, and harm. LGBTQ stories are inspiring, educational, and entertaining. Including our tales on television can promote understanding and empathy, which are essential in challenging anti-LGBTQ sentiments, laws, and even violence today. Research by GLAAD indicates that people who have encountered our community in the media (in TV shows, films, or ads) feel they are 50% more familiar with us compared to those who haven’t. Moreover, exposure to media increases comfortability in interacting with our community in various situations by up to 35%, including learning that a family member is LGBTQ and working alongside LGBTQ individuals.

* Reality TV provides a distinctive stage to present the vibrant and complex queer society to the global audience. Showcasing us allows for the demonstration of the strength, ingenuity, and happiness that embody LGBTQ individuals. By featuring more LGBTQ individuals, you are not merely boosting diversity; rather, you are enhancing your shows with the depth and richness of genuine, authentic lives. For genuine inclusivity to occur, it requires widespread education and action within the industry. The character of reality television, particularly in competition-based reality shows, can be challenging for LGBTQ individuals, especially transgender and gender-nonconforming contestants. Reality competitions often have a gendered nature: they categorize, cast, and group based on assumed gender or athletic ability, looks, or gender expression. Over and over again, we witness the repercussions of negligent care towards those involved in your shows and events.*

In terms of casting, showcasing a single LGBTQ individual or narrative in a reality series or competition can result in harmful consequences for that person, as they may feel isolated and alienated from the rest of the cast. This isolation is similar to how anti-LGBTQ discourse often portrays LGBTQ individuals – as solitary figures without a community. Post-show, such cast members may be subjected to online harassment and real-world bullying. It’s essential to remember that an individual’s queer identity is merely one aspect of their overall character. Highlighting a singular storyline or making someone’s queerness or transness the main focus can unfairly burden them compared to other cast members.

In terms of creating, refining, and distributing a show with influence and authenticity, relying solely on one individual from the LGBTQ community to embody “the” LGBTQ narrative overlooks other intersectional narratives and experiences. To truly promote LGBTQ representation on screen, it’s essential to offer backing for your LGBTQ cast off-screen as well, addressing isolation that may persist in areas like craft services and production trailers. Therefore, we urge you and your peers in the industry to integrate a broader range of LGBTQ experiences across your productions and teams. In essence, lead roles can be lessened and a show can significantly improve by featuring multiple and diverse members of the LGBTQ community, allowing for natural, genuine, queer relationships and interactions. Additionally, preventing isolation and ensuring that contestants are not merely exemplified or tokenized – at every level of production – is crucial to maintain accountability when portraying the unvarnished realities of LGBTQ people on screen in a reality setting.

To make a show with impact, it’s not fair to rely solely on one LGBTQ person for the LGBTQ storyline. This approach overlooks other important intersectional stories and experiences. To truly represent LGBTQ people on screen, we need to support our LGBTQ cast off-screen too. This includes providing help in areas like catering and trailers where isolation can occur. It’s also important to avoid isolating or tokenizing contestants at every level of production. Instead, let’s have multiple LGBTQ characters to create realistic, genuine relationships and interactions. And lastly, let’s make sure we accurately represent the real lives of LGBTQ people on screen in reality shows by being mindful of our actions and not just using one person as a symbol or example.

In terms of featuring transgender individuals in your productions and presenting genuine transgender narratives, it’s crucial to remember the significance of showcasing multiple transgender characters or stories. This way, one person’s experience doesn’t overshadow the diversity within the transgender community. The intricacies of reality TV, as previously mentioned, can be even more complicated for queer, nonbinary, and transgender performers of color due to the fundamentally binary and gendered structure of these shows. Taking responsible programming steps, such as avoiding instances that might trigger gender dysphoria, isolation, or feelings of being overlooked on shows, is a starting point towards changing the culture of discriminatory treatment of LGBTQ individuals in reality TV.

Revolutionary reality TV shows showcasing a wide array of LGBTQ narratives, such as RuPaul’s Drag Race, Queer Eye, Selling Sunset, Project Runway, and We’re Here, have been leading the way in Emmy awards and industry recognition across various categories. These shows have also achieved impressive ratings, ad revenue, and fan love. The message here is that it’s high time for reality TV to step up and present diverse stories that resonate with audiences now, not just rehash what worked before. We encourage you to take a brave step towards inclusivity. Let’s strive to create, produce, and cast without bias, keeping in mind the future of our community and industry. Instead of tokenism, let’s commit to representing LGBTQ individuals in numbers that accurately reflect our community.

Let’s offer viewers a chance to witness a variety of love stories, challenges, victories, and everyday experiences from diverse queer lives. By leveraging the influence of reality television, we can strive to foster a world that is more tolerant, empathetic, and authentic. Working together, we can shape a future where everyone, irrespective of their sexual orientation or gender identity, feels represented, understood, and appreciated on the small screen.

With love and hope,

Frankie Grande
Peppermint
Sarah Kate Ellis

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2025-03-12 18:25