The Rainbow Project Launches Archive to Chronicle LGBTQ Representation in Children’s Television and Film

The Rainbow Project was born from the need to celebrate and elevate LGBTQ+ representation in Children's Media.

via: Variety

LGBTQ media advocacy organization The Rainbow Project has launched an archive dedicated to chronicling queer storylines in children’s film and television programming.

The archive features video, audio and written first-person accounts by creatives detailing how they got their projects made, overcoming obstacles and more.

The two-year-old not-for-profit Rainbow Project launched last year with the inaugural Velma Awards to spotlight and honor positive LGBTQ+ representation in kids and family programming.

“This year, The Rainbow Project isn’t just important — it’s essential,” Kristi Reed, who co-founded the organization with Jeremy Blacklow and Chris Nee, said in a statement Tuesday. “We’re watching LGBTQ+ stories quietly disappear from children’s content, and that loss has real impact on young viewers. Our mission is to safeguard visibility, belonging, and truth in the stories that shape kids’ lives. No child should ever have their story erased.”

The Rainbow Project founders point to studies that show LGBTQ+ representation in children’s programming has been steadily decreasing since the 2024 presidential election. “It’s an exciting time for the entertainment industry, but it’s also quite a transitional and scary time,” Blacklow said. “Since the beginning of this year with this current administration, we have witnessed a pullback on queer stories and characters on television and streaming services. Whereas in 2024 we had a plethora of honorees, this year we find our numbers basically cut in half. Rather than retreat, we need to push forward and remind the industry not to be scared of great LGBTQ+ characters and storytelling.”

The 2025 Velma categories and winners will be announced in early December. At the moment, the winners total 8, down 40 percent from 2024’s 14 winners.

Last year’s honorees included “Fraggle Rock: Back to the Rock,” “Jurassic World: Chaos Theory!,” “Heartstopper,” “Moon Girl and Devil Dinosaur,” “Danny Joe’s Tree House,” “Firebuds,” “The Dragon Prince: Mystery of Aaravos,” “Queer Kid Stuff,” “Let’s Go Bananas,” “Monster High,” “Primos,” “The Fairy Odd Parents: A New Wish” and “The Bravest Knight.” The Legacy Award was presented to “Steven Universe.”

“We know that every storyline you see with an LGBTQ+ positive narrative for kids is the end result of a battle that someone waged on behalf of the queer youth under attack in this country,” Nee said. “It was always hard to get these storylines on the air, but now it’s near impossible. It only happens when someone behind the scenes has passionately championed it. The Velmas were created to passionately champion all of those brave creators fighting this fight, and remind them that what they’re doing is making a difference.”

For more information about The Rainbow Project and The Velmas, visit www.therainbowproject.tv.