Bros Had 80% of All Trans Characters in 2022’s Top Grossing Movies

Representation of trans people in major films is, sadly, still failing.

According to an annual report by USC’s Annenberg Inclusion Initiative, 80 percent of all transgender characters in the 100 top-grossing movies of 2022 were in one movie: Bros.

The study revealed that in the top 100 movies of 2022, only 2.1 percent of named characters were LGBTQ+ people. That’s 87 characters out of 4,169. Of that 87, only five were transgender, and a sixth was nonbinary.

Bros, which made a lot of news as the first theatrically released gay romantic comedy from a major studio, was a box office disappointment, earning just $14.7 million worldwide. Still, it was a critical success.

Trans actors who appeared in the movie included Ts Madison as Angela, Eve Lindley as Tamara, D’Lo as Tom, and Becca Blackwell as Lucas. The movie’s principal cast was made up entirely of LGBTQ+ actors.

According to the study, the other film to include a trans character was the Tom Hanks-starring drama A Man Called Otto. In that film, Mack Bayda played a transgender teenager named Malcolm.

The study split trans and nonbinary characters into two separate categories, naming Tár as the only movie in the top 100 with a nonbinary character. That film featured one scene with a pangender Juilliard student played by actor Zethphan Smith-Gneist.

Dr. Stacy L. Smith, one of the study’s authors, said that Hollywood’s problems with LGBTQ+ representation are just as big as ever.

“When we look beyond gender and race/ethnicity, it is clear that Hollywood’s problems with inclusion are even more pronounced for the LGBTQ+ and disability communities,” she said. “The lack of progress in these areas suggests that executives and content creators are relying on practices that continue to marginalize and exclude talented voices from all backgrounds.”

So far, 2023 isn’t looking much better for films with trans characters.

Bros is available to stream on Peacock.