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Tantrums: Why they happen and how to handle them
By Elizabeth Dougherty
Medically reviewed by Kelley Yost Abrams, Ph.D., developmental psychologist
Photo credit: iStock.com / LSOphoto
What is a temper tantrum?
Why does my child throw temper tantrums?
How to handle your child's temper tantrums
When should I ignore a tantrum?
What not to do when your child has a tantrum
What to do if your toddler has a tantrum in public
What to do after the tantrum
What can I do at home to prevent (or at least prepare for) tantrums
How to avoid triggering a temper tantrum
When should I call the doctor about my child's temper tantrums?
An emotional outburst of anger and frustration, a tantrum isn't a pretty sight. In addition to kicking, screaming, or pounding the floor, your preschooler's hissy fit may include throwing things, hitting, or even holding his breath until he turns blue. (Don't worry – he'll eventually come up for air, but talk to your child's doctor if this happens.)
Tantrums are normal and common, especially with 2- and 3-year-olds. Take heart – they typically occur much less frequently by age 4.
Emotional triggers: The most likely reason for a temper tantrum is that your 2- or 3-year-old is feeling overwhelmed emotionally. Toddlers and preschoolers have all of the big emotions – good and bad – that adults do, but they don't yet have the ability to understand and manage them. Those parts of the brain haven't developed yet. Tantrums happen when feelings such as frustration, fear, or rejection are too much for your little one to cope with on her own.
A tantrum can also be caused by something that's been bothering your child over time. For instance, say she sees a picture of a scary monster in the afternoon that puts her on edge emotionally. When you put her to bed, she might be more agitated than usual and throw a tantrum that's linked to that heightened anxiety earlier in the day.
Physical triggers: Fatigue, hunger, and discomfort are frequent tantrum triggers.
Reinforced behavior: Depending on how you respond, your child may learn that throwing a tantrum is a way to get what she wants. (See "When should I ignore a tantrum?" below.)
Over time, you can teach your child how to express feelings in appropriate ways. In the meanwhile, try these strategies:
Distract your child. This works better before he's in full tantrum mode. You might offer him a chance to do something he likes ("Would you like to get out your paints or bake some bread?") when you see his frustration mounting.
Talk softly and soothingly. The tone of your voice can help calm your child. Keep your words simple: "I see how upset you are. I'm here to help you calm down."
Stay with your child. The storm of emotion your child is feeling can be frightening to him, and he needs to know you're nearby. Leaving the room can make him feel abandoned.
Offer physical comfort. Quietly go to your child. If he's not flailing too much, pick him up and hold him. Chances are he'll find your embrace comforting and will calm down more quickly.
Empathize. Teach your child coping skills by validating how hard it is to feel negative emotions like disappointment, anger, or sadness. You could say, "I know you're disappointed because you really wanted to go to the park, but it's raining too hard. Here, let's play inside with this puzzle instead."
Prioritize safety. If your preschooler's outburst escalates to the point where he's hitting people or pets, throwing things, or screaming nonstop, pick him up and carry him to a safe place, where he can't harm himself, others, or things. Tell him why he's there ("Because you hit your sister – hitting hurts and is not okay"), and let him know that you'll stay with him until he calms down. If you're in a public place, be prepared to leave with your child.
If your child is having a tantrum because she doesn't want to do what you've asked of her or you've said no to something, calmly acknowledge that you can see she's having a hard time and doesn't like what you said. Then continue to go about your business if possible.
For example, you might say, "I see you're mad that I said no to a cookie before dinner. It's hard to wait. They look so good and smell yummy. I'm looking forward to having one after dinner. Here, help me put the napkins on the table."
Of course, this is easier to do at home. If you're in public, you may need to leave and find a place to wait out the storm.
Above all, be consistent and firm about your request or the limit you set. Otherwise, you're teaching your child that a tantrum is a good way to get her way.
Don't lose your cool. No matter how infuriating you find your child's behavior, remember that you're the adult. Don't yell at, mimic, or threaten your child. A tantrum is frightening enough without your child feeling that you're not in control.
Don't try to reason with your child. In the midst of a meltdown, your child is unable to listen to, much less understand, reason. His brain simply will not be able to process logic.
Don't tell her that she's overreacting. Telling him that he shouldn't be upset isn't helpful. Instead, let him know you understand that he's upset.
Don't burden your child. Don't tell your child that his tantrum is making you sad or angry. Your child doesn't need that responsibility, and you shouldn't give him that power.
Talk to your doctor if you feel that you can't handle your child's tantrums or if you're feeling sad, angry, anxious, or overwhelmed a lot of the time.
Remove her from the situation. Pick up your child and take her to a safe space. If you can't because she's flailing too much, clear space around her and remove any potentially dangerous items that she could throw, hit, or kick.
Keep those around her safe. Separate your child from other children, for example, at the park or on a playdate. If she's biting or hitting, be very firm about that being unacceptable. Be clear that hurting others, including you, is never okay. For example, say, "I see that you're upset, but I can't let you hurt anyone. Let's get out all those mad feelings by jumping up and down, and growling like tiger."
Don't give in to quiet your child. It's especially tempting when your child has a temper tantrum in public to cave in as a way of ending the episode. No matter how long the tantrum goes on, don't give in to unreasonable demands or try to bribe or negotiate with your screaming child. Conceding teaches your child that pitching a fit is the way to get what she wants and sets the stage for future behavior problems. See below on tips for "How to avoid triggering a temper tantrum."
Be affectionate. When the storm subsides, hug him. Show him with your actions that you still love him and are there for him, no matter what.
Talk about what happened. Using simple language, acknowledge your child's frustration and help him put his feelings into words, saying something like, "You were angry, but I didn't understand you because you were screaming. Now that you're calm, I can find out what you want." Let him see that once he expresses himself in words, he'll get better results.
Praise him for settling down. Tell your child he did a good job calming himself.
Practice safe ways to blow off steam. Teach your child options for expressing strong feelings like anger, such as running around outside, and ways to calm herself, like taking deep breaths. Practice these activities during calm times, so your child has safe strategies when she's upset.
Label emotions. Teach your child the vocabulary she needs to express her feelings – good and bad – and cite real-life examples for your child and others. For example, "I see how happy you and Grandma are when we visit," or "Joe looked mad that you took his truck."
Give opportunities to succeed. Tantrums often happen when a preschooler wants to do something beyond her ability. For example, she likely can't pour milk from a full gallon by herself, but she might be able to pour from a smaller pitcher.
Notice good behavior. Watch for opportunities to tell her that she's doing a good job handling a tough situation. Be specific: "I noticed that you stayed calm by taking deep breaths when your sister took your puzzle piece."
Provide a calming-down space. Don't banish your child to her room for a time-out as punishment. Instead, tell your child that she can go back to playing (or eating, or whatever she wants to get back to) when she has calmed down. Consider setting up a space for settling down, like a cozy chair or a corner full of blankets and favorite books. Stay nearby to comfort and reassure her as she tries to self-soothe.
Let your child experience disappointment. Learning to cope with smaller disappointments and to solve minor problems on her own prepares your child for larger challenges later on and helps build resiliency.
Model coping strategies. What do you do when you're angry or frustrated? Do you tend to yell or calmly talk about the situation? If you do lose your temper, acknowledge it and apologize to your child.
Set realistic expectations. Learning where to set the bar for your child – not so low that she is never challenged but not so high that she's constantly discouraged – is an important parenting skill.
Consider how you respond to tantrums. Learning new parenting skills or taking a different approach may help you manage your child's tantrums better – and teach your child valuable lifelong coping skills for handling emotions.
Pay attention to what pushes your child's buttons and plan accordingly. For example:
Make sure he gets enough rest and food. Temper tantrums are more frequent and intense when kids are tired or hungry. Stash snacks in your bag or car to dodge a hangry tantrum.
Schedule thoughtfully. Try to time outings that are more challenging, like grocery shopping, when he's feeling his best – maybe on a weekend morning rather than after preschool, for example.
Give him a head's up before transitioning to the next activity. Letting him know when you're going to leave the playground, for example, gives him a chance to adjust instead of react. You might say, "Five more pushes on the swing and we'll head home." Then count down the pushes and follow up with a choice: "Would you like to wear your sweater or not on the way home?"
Have a plan and set expectations. For example, before you go to the grocery store, tell your child, "We are going to buy food for dinner. We're buying only what's on this list. You can help me find all of the red items – apples, tomatoes, and peppers." Or if leaving the park tends to be a battle, create a departure routine. Say, "Remember, when I give the signal, it's time to take your last turn down the slide and get in the car to go home."
Offer limited choices. No one likes being told what to do all the time. Saying, "Would you like corn or carrots?" rather than "Eat your corn" gives your little one a sense of control. Don't give him too many choices at once, though, or he'll feel overwhelmed.
Monitor how often you say no. If you find that you're rattling off no routinely, you could be putting unnecessary stress on both of you. You could say yes to more time at the playground, but no to more dessert.
Pick your battles. Think through which requests, such as health and safety, are absolute no's, and which could give your child the power to make his own decision, for example, wearing mismatched clothes.
Watch for signs of overstress. Larger problems, such as an upheaval in the family, an extra-full schedule, or tension between you and your partner, can provoke tantrums.
Problem-solve. Watch for patterns and think about ways to address the triggers. If your child seems to throw a tantrum whenever he has a playdate, maybe you can identify games that don't cause problems, or maybe you can engage the visitor and your child in an activity with close supervision (such as a craft or cooking project with you).
Establish a consistent routine. Children of any age feel more secure when they know what to expect. Setting times for snacks, reading, play, and bedtime rituals can go a long way toward helping him feel in control.
Call the doctor if your preschooler:
Is having a sudden increase in the number of tantrums or intensity of tantrums
Holds her breath until she passes out
Has outbursts that are getting worse
Is hurting herself or others
Has tantrums that include aggressive, violent behavior (throwing and breaking objects, hitting, kicking)
Is very argumentative and uncooperative
Has tantrums that last longer than 25 minutes
Is unable to return to normal behavior between tantrums
Is also having nightmares, regressive behavior (reversal of toilet training, for example), or other behavioral problems
Your child's doctor can make sure there isn't a physical or psychological condition contributing to the problem and offer suggestions for dealing with the outbursts.
Underlying conditions like ADHD, anxiety, depression, autism, and sensory-processing issues can contribute to tantrum behavior. So can hearing loss or vision problems, learning differences (either disabilities or giftedness), or language delays.
Preschool fears: Why they happen and what to do
Playdate refereeing
Staying consistent on discipline
How to support your child emotionally so she can learn
How to teach empathy
BabyCenter's editorial team is committed to providing the most helpful and trustworthy pregnancy and parenting information in the world. When creating and updating content, we rely on credible sources: respected health organizations, professional groups of doctors and other experts, and published studies in peer-reviewed journals. We believe you should always know the source of the information you're seeing. Learn more about our editorial and medical review policies.
Child Development Institute. Undated. How to deal with preschool temper tantrums. https://childdevelopmentinfo.com/ages-stages/preschooler-development-3-6/preschool-temper-tantrums/#.XMYO6C-ZNTY [Accessed March 2020]
Hershberg RS. Undated. What NOT to do when your child is having a tantrum. Child Mind Institute. https://childmind.org/article/what-not-to-do-when-your-child-is-having-a-tantrum/ [Accessed March 2020]
KidsHealth. 2018. Temper tantrums. Nemours. https://kidshealth.org/en/parents/tantrums.html [Accessed March 2020]
MedlinePlus. 2020. Temper tantrums. https://medlineplus.gov/ency/article/001922.htm [Accessed March 2020]
Miller C. Undated. Why do kids have tantrums and meltdowns? Child Mind Institute. https://childmind.org/article/why-do-kids-have-tantrums-and-meltdowns/ [Accessed March 2020]
Smolyansky BH. 2016. Understanding and help managing preschool temper tantrums. Cincinnati Children's Hospital. https://blog.cincinnatichildrens.org/healthy-living/child-development-and-behavior/preventing-preschool-temper-tantrums/ [Accessed March 2020]
Swanson WS. 2018. Top tips for surviving tantrums. American Academy of Pediatrics. https://www.healthychildren.org/English/family-life/family-dynamics/communication-discipline/Pages/Temper-Tantrums.aspx [Accessed March 2020]
Elizabeth Dougherty
Elizabeth Dougherty is a veteran parenting writer and editor who's been contributing to BabyCenter since 2015.
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text:
MRI-guided laser procedure provides alternative to epilepsy surgery
For patients with mesial temporal lobe epilepsy (MTLE) that can't be controlled by medications, a minimally invasive laser procedure performed under MRI guidance provides a safe and effective alternative to surgery, suggests a study in the June issue of Neurosurgery, official journal of the Congress of Neurological Surgeons.
"Real-time magnetic resonance-guided stereotactic laser amygdalohippocampotomy (SLAH) is a technically novel, safe and effective alternative to open surgery," according to the new research by Robert E Gross of Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, USA, and colleagues.
The researchers report their experience with MRI-guided SLAH in 13 adult patients with epilepsy mapped to a part of the brain called the mesial temporal lobe. The patients, median age 24 years, had "intractable" seizures despite treatment with antiepileptic drugs.
In the SLAH procedure, a saline-cooled fiberoptic laser probe was precisely targeted to the area of the brain—the "amygdalohippocampal complex"—responsible for the procedures. Using real-time MRI guidance, the neurosurgeon was able to pinpoint the area of the brain responsible for seizure activity and destroy (ablate) by computer-controlled laser energy, without harming neighbouring brain tissue.
The technical aspects of the procedure were successfully carried out in all patients. Using thermal imaging and MRI guidance, the surgeons were able to see the area of laser ablation as treatment proceeded. The average laser exposure time was just under 10 minutes.
On average, 60% of the amygdalohippocampal complex was destroyed in the SLAH procedure; the average length of the ablated area was 2.5 centimetres. Median time spent in the hospital was just one day—compared to a typical two to five-day stay after conventional temporal lobe surgery, and SLAH patients did not have to be admitted to the intensive care unit.
Most important, the procedure was effective in reducing or eliminating seizures in patients with MTLE. At a median of 14 months after SLAH, 10 out of 13 patients achieved meaningful seizure reductions, while seven were free of "disabling seizures." This included six out of nine patients whose epilepsy was caused by an abnormality called mesial temporal sclerosis.
Although some complications occurred, none were directly caused by laser application. Two patients had an additional SLAH procedure to control seizures, and another patient underwent standard open surgery.
Open brain surgery is the standard treatment for patients with intractable MTLE. Surgery has a high success rate, but carries a significant risk of neurological and cognitive (intellectual) impairment. Minimally invasive approaches like the new MRI-guided laser ablation technique might produce similar seizure control with lower risks than surgery.
The new study shows "technical feasibility and encouraging results" with the minimally invasive MRI-guided SLAH technique for patients with MTLE. Effectiveness in relieving or eliminating seizures approaches that of surgery—perhaps especially among patients whose seizures are caused by mesial temporal sclerosis. "These are promising results considering that this reflects our initial experience, and results may improve with greater experience with this novel technique," notes Gross.
"Such minimally invasive techniques may be more desirable to patients and result in increased use of epilepsy surgery among the large number of medically intractable epilepsy patients," Gross and colleagues conclude. They note that a larger, longer-term study of SLAH is underway, including assessment of the effects on cognitive function as well as seizures.

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaCommonCrawl


I've installed the kiji template to our website and it looks fantastic!
1. Now the Search function doesn't seem to be working (was working fine before).
2. The comments box seems to have disappeared.
It seems you have enabled Google search instead of the normal search.
will stretch the results from end to end.
As for the comments I get a "Login to post comments" message.
This means the comments are only available for registered users. You can change this setting from K2's parameters.
PS. The new serif font is really nice.
Glad you like the font. We liked the serif for a little bit better readability (and to get the site to stand out a bit). I've been getting lots of great reviews on the new template, and making sure to let people know what great work you've done.
I've got the search problem fixed (thanks, again!) and the Register->login redirect problem figured out by changing those parameters you mentioned, but the comments box is still invisible, even for registered users. Am I missing something?
Also, I noticed one more odd thing today, on the frontpage items in the main content area, things like this are appearing just below the titles, "5.0 out of 5 based on 1 vote" Thoughts?
ps - with the new template the site was really weighing down the server. Any suggestions to optimize?
I really appreciate it Devin.
The comments settings are located under components-> K2 -> Parameters -> Comments tab and on the first settings (Global Settings for comments) select "Enabled for everyone".
This template uses a lot of images. There are a few tricks to do in order to cut down on the weight.
a) Use smaller image sizes on your category/menu item settings.
b) Cut down on the image quality. Open K2's parameters and the images tabs. The first setting should be "Quality (%) used when processing images". You can use a value 75 -80.
PS. The changes in speed will appear after you've entered any new images.
Finally the "5.0 out of 5 based on 1 vote" is from a content plugin not from the template. I guess it must be called Rich snippet voting or something similar.


Kubota M5001 is your smartest choice– the extremely manœuvrable tractor proves that size doesn't matter. Its powerful engine, excellent transmission, high ground clearance and easy control makes the M5001 series essential in your daily work. Tough jobs are made easy!
The strong 3-point category II power lift allows the M5001 to easily raise heavy attachments. Various machines can be quickly and easily attached and removed. Thanks to the powerful 3-point lift, you can handle even the most challenging tasks with ease.


text: An unspecified script language

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaGithub


The Fund for the Public Interest is seeking hard-working individuals with great communication skills and a passion for social change to fill our campaign staff and Field Manager positions across the country this summer.
The Trump administration and some leaders in Congress are pursuing an agenda that puts our environment and everyday people at risk. This summer the Fund is running nationwide campaigns to defend our most important environmental and consumer protections. To tackle climate change and ensure a clean environment, it won't be enough to be right or have a great argument. To get decision makers to do the right thing, you need hundreds, thousands, sometimes millions of people to make their voices heard through petitions, emails, small donations, and meetings. Change takes people power and the Fund builds that power. For more than 30 years, we've helped to win campaigns and build resources for the nation's top public interest and environmental organizations, including Environment America and USPIRG.
While on staff, you will gain knowledge of pressing issues facing our country, learn how to effectively generate public support to influence decision makers, and obtain a firm understanding of the political process.
Previous experience with staff management or leadership may improve candidacy.


text:
Here is where the proxy classes, auto-generated by Orient, will be placed when launching the test-suite.

Bare in mind that you should change this path to your cache or tmp path (in Symfony2, for example, use "app/cache/Doctrine/OrientDB/Proxy").

You can change it in 2 lines: register the namespace in your autoloader:

    $classLoader = new SplClassLoader('Doctrine\OrientDB\Proxy', $symfony_root . "/app/cache");
    $classLoader->register();

and when you instantiate the Mapper:

    new Mapper($adapter, $symfony_root . "app/cache")


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By GLAAD's Entertainment Media Team |
This morning, GLAAD released its fourth annual Studio Responsibility Index (SRI), a report that maps the quantity, quality, and diversity of images of LGBT people in films released by the seven largest studios during the 2015 calendar year. After an improvement in our previous report, we found that racial diversity of LGBT characters drastically decreased and there remains a lack of substantial LGBT characters in mainstream films.
GLAAD found that of the 126 releases from the major studios in 2015, 22 of them (17.5%) included characters identified as lesbian, gay, bisexual, and/or transgender. This is no change from the 17.5% of films (20 of 114) found to be inclusive last year. Transgender representation is shockingly low with only one character in the mainstream releases of 2015 – whose brief appearance served as a punchline to laugh at when her identity is revealed. The majority of LGBT characters GLAAD found in films from the seven biggest studios in 2015 were minor characters – in substance and screen time - or even just cameos. Of the 22 inclusive films, almost three quarters (73%) include less than ten minutes of screen time for LGBT characters. This lack of substantive characters is reflected in the historically low percentage of inclusive films (36%) which passed the Vito Russo Test.
"Hollywood's films lag far behind any other form of media when it comes to portrayals of LGBT characters," said Sarah Kate Ellis, GLAAD President & CEO. "Too often, the few LGBT characters that make it to the big screen are the target of a punchline or token characters. The film industry must embrace new and inclusive stories if it wants to remain competitive and relevant."
No studios received a rating of "Good" for their 2015 releases. 20th Century Fox, Lionsgate Entertainment, Sony Columbia Pictures, and Universal Pictures all received ratings of "Adequate", while Paramount Pictures, Walt Disney Studios, and Warner Brothers all received a "Failing" grade for their portrayals of LGBT people. Beginning next year, GLAAD's SRI will implement a new grading system to more accurately report on LGBT representation in Hollywood. Instead of a four grade system, GLAAD will implement a five star scale, from one star ("Failing") to five stars ("Excellent").
For the second year, GLAAD examined the releases of four smaller affiliated studios (Focus Features, Fox Searchlight, Roadside Attractions, and Sony Pictures Classics) to draw a comparison between content released by the mainstream studios and their perceived "art house" divisions. Of the 46 films released under those studios' imprints in 2015, GLAAD found 10 (22%) to be LGBT-inclusive. This is an increase from the 10.6% (5 of 47) of films from the same divisions in 2014, and a notably higher percentage of inclusive releases than the mainstream studios.
GLAAD's Observations & Recommendations:
· The majority of LGBT characters in mainstream films remain minor characters, both in substance and screen time, or just cameo appearances. Of the 22 films GLAAD found to be inclusive, 16 (73%) include less than ten minutes of screen time for LGBT characters, with three quarters (12) of those clocking in at less than five minutes. LGBT characters are still too often included only in brief appearances, in service of punchlines or establishing an urban backdrop. Not only must there be a larger number of LGBT roles, but they must be built with substance and purpose.
· Four studios received "Adequate" ratings for their 2015 slates (Lionsgate Entertainment, 20th Century Fox, Sony Columbia Pictures, Universal Pictures) while the remaining three (Paramount Pictures, Walt Disney Studios, Warner Brothers) were rated "Failing." Both Paramount and the Walt Disney Studios completely excluded LGBT characters in their 2015 film slates. Additionally, this marks the first time a major studio has had zero inclusive films since the first year GLAAD introduced this report, which tracked the 2012 releases by six major studios including one with no content. That said, "Adequate" is no longer adequate. Beginning in next year's fifth annual SRI, GLAAD will be holding studios to a higher standard to reflect the quality and quantity of LGBT representation we are now seeing in other media. Films must do better to include LGBT characters in roles directly tied to plot and which reflect the wide diversity of our community, including people of color, those living with disabilities, and a variety of geographical and ideological backgrounds.
· The racial diversity of LGBT characters remains dismal across all media platforms, but film sadly took a step back this year with a near seven-percentage point drop in LGBT characters of color. Too often, these characters are isolated tokens, burdened with representing multiple communities through the view of one person, shutting down opportunities for unique storytelling which would allow a wider audience to see themselves reflected as a real and integral part of the world. There is not just one LGBT experience and there are plenty of diverse and groundbreaking stories about the LGBT community yet to be told. Creators must tell the stories of our large and diverse community through the eyes of more than one character, thereby creating opportunities for compelling storylines.
· One of the most telling signs that Hollywood film is shockingly far behind other media in terms of depictions of LGBT people is the dearth of transgender characters. While there were no recognizable transgender characters in films tracked in 2014, the lone character found in the 2015 mainstream releases was not an improvement. Warner Brothers' Hot Pursuit included a brief appearance by a transgender woman, who existed purely to give the audience something to laugh at when her identity is revealed. Filmmakers should examine what message they are really sending when they rely on thoughtless humor to exploit an already marginalized community.
· This year, there was a noticeable resurgence of outright offensive depictions of LGBT people, which relied on gay panic and defamatory stereotypes for cheap laughs. Among the worst were the Kevin Hart-starring films Get Hard and The Wedding Ringer, which contain more blatant and incessant gay panic humor than we have seen in a Hollywood film in years. Significant defamatory content predicated on this type of humor was also found in the non-inclusive film Hot Tub Time Machine 2. Humor can be a powerful tool for holding a mirror up to society and challenging the norm, but when crafted without thought, it has much the opposite effect and bolsters ignorance and prejudice.
In 2012, GLAAD introduced the "Vito Russo Test", a set of criteria analyzing how LGBT characters are represented in a fictional work, in the first SRI and continues to judge films by these simple guidelines. Named after GLAAD co-founder and celebrated film historian Vito Russo, and partly inspired by the "Bechdel Test," these criteria represent a minimum standard GLAAD would like to see a greater number of mainstream Hollywood films reach in the future.
The Vito Russo Test criteria:
1. The film contains a character that is identifiably lesbian, gay, bisexual, and/or transgender (LGBT).
2. That character must not be solely or predominantly defined by their sexual orientation or gender identity (i.e. the character is comprised of the same sort of unique character traits commonly used to differentiate straight characters from one another).
3. The LGBT character must be tied into the plot in such a way that their removal would have a significant effect. Meaning they are not there to simply provide colorful commentary, paint urban authenticity, or (perhaps most commonly) set up a punchline. The character should matter.
Only 8 of the 22 (36%) major studio films that featured an LGBT character passed the Vito Russo Test in 2015, the lowest percentage in this study's history. This is down from the 11 of 20 (55%) inclusive films which passed the test in 2014, 7 of 17 (41%) in 2013, and 6 out of 14 (43%) inclusive films released in 2012. More films must pass this simple test. However, as several of the films tracked prove, passing this test in no way guarantees that a film is not problematic or offensive in its portrayal of LGBT people.
In 2015, GLAAD debuted a video titled "Hollywood Must Do Better" that highlighted a bevy of anti-LGBT moments in Hollywood films over the last five years. Use the hashtag #HollywoodMustDoBetter to let Hollywood that you want to see diverse representations of LGBT characters in film.
With this annual report, GLAAD will continue to track the industry's progress. To view and download the report, click here.
GLAAD,
Studio Responsibility Index,
Photo Credit: Netflix
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Photo Credit: Hulu
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