Comment on LGBT inclusion in films static, diversity drops, study says

LOS ANGELES (AP) — Hollywood films remained static in their inclusiveness of LGBT characters in 2015, but the racial diversity of those characters fell dramatically, according to the findings of GLAAD's annual study. In a survey released Monday by the advocacy group, 17.5 percent of last year's films from the seven major studios contained characters who were lesbian, gay, bisexual or transgender. The revelation comes at a time of increased scrutiny around the inclusion of people of color in Hollywood films, following a second year of all-white Oscar nominees in the acting categories and a damning USC report about the "whitewashed" industry. Notable 2015 films like the lesbian romance "Carol" and the transgender sex worker drama "Tangerine" were acknowledge in the report, but not included in overall percentages because they were from specialty and independent distributors and studios.