LGBT+ Characters in Original Spanish Video-on-Demand Series

Abstract

This paper analyzes the current state of the representation of LGBT+ characters in Spanish original video-on-demand television series. Content analysis was performed of 38 series with a total of 749 characters broadcast in Spain in 2020 and 2021, in order to determine the main traits of LGBT+ characters as opposed to their cisheterosexual peers. The main findings indicate that there is an underrepresentation of cis women, trans men and non-binary people and an overrepresentation of heterosexual characters. Non-heterosexual characters tend to be younger and less educated than heterosexuals, and they are more frequently single. Transgender women are usually portrayed in the narrative background, are less educated, more hypersexualized, of lower socio-economic status and manifest more unhealthy habits. However, no relationship was found between sexual orientation and other variables such as narrative weight, age, nationality and type of job. Neither there was any statistical association between gender identity and nationality or religious practice. The results are consistent with previous literature in what is still a little-explored research field.