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Loading ...Report: Number of gays on TV doubles
09.23.2008 3:58pm EDT
(Los Angeles, California) The overall number of LGBT representations on the broadcast networks will more than double this year after a three-year slump, according to an analysis of the 2008-2009 television season conducted by a gay media advocacy group.
LGBT representations will account for 2.6 percent of all scripted series regular characters on the 2008-2009 broadcast television schedule, up from 1.4 percent in 2005, 1.3 percent in 2006, and 1.1 percent in 2007, The Gay & Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation study found.In contrast, the number of LGBT series regular characters found on scripted programming on mainstream cable networks has decreased since last year’s analysis, from 40 to 32.
For 13 years, GLAAD’s report has analyzed the characters on the networks’ primetime scripted programming.
GLAAD examined 88 scripted comedies and dramas announced to air this upcoming season by the five broadcast networks – ABC, CBS, Fox, NBC and The CW – and counted a total of 616 characters, 16 of which are LGBT – more than twice the number of characters, seven, announced at the launch of the 2007-2008 season.
“This dramatic increase shows how far many networks have come in developing complex, multi-layered lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender characters,” said GLAAD President Neil G. Giuliano in a statement.
“Our analysis also shows where there’s still work to be done. This past year, we’ve seen some real progress from Fox towards making their scripted programming more inclusive, which is something we’re hoping to see from other networks like CBS.”
Fox, which featured zero series regular LGBT characters at the launch of last season, has announced five LGBT characters out of 97 total series regular characters for 2008-2009.
The network now has the highest percentage of LGBT characters on any network – 5 percent. ABC continues to lead with the highest number of LGBT characters of any network – seven LGBT characters out of 166 total series regular characters, or 4 percent of the total. NBC has three series regular LGBT characters (2 percent) out of a total of 147.
On the negative side, CBS has the most disappointing showing, with not a single LGBT series regular character out of 126, and only one recurring character in the entire series lineup. Additionally, The CW’s lack of scripted representation is now a close second to CBS, as the network has only one scripted series regular LGBT character.
The number of non-contract recurring LGBT characters has also risen – from 13 last season to 19 this year, said GLAAD.
“The growing number of recurring characters is another example of the networks’ progress towards being more inclusive,” Giuliano noted.
“As the networks gradually add characters from all backgrounds and walks of life to primetime programming, more and more Americans are seeing their LGBT friends and neighbors reflected on the small screen.”
On the mainstream cable networks, the number of announced LGBT series regular characters dropped to 32 from last year’s high of 40. The presence of LGBT-focused cable networks here! and Logo, which program specifically for LGBT viewers, add an additional 39 series regular LGBT characters. Logo owns 365gay.com.
This marks the fourth year that GLAAD has analyzed the breakdown of the race, gender and ethnicity of all the 616 series regular characters expected to appear on the broadcast networks in the upcoming season.
Male characters continue to outweigh female characters 57 percent to 43 percent in overall numbers, while 79 percent of all series regular characters are white, up 2 percent from last year the GLAAD study found. Latino representation remains at 6 percent while black representation has dropped from 12 percent to 11 percent. Analysts counted 19 Asian-Pacific Islander characters – 3 percent – one more than last season.
Along with ending DADT and the closet, getting more gay characters in the mainstream media is one of the most important ways to win the hearts and minds and overcome prejudice in the good hearted middle of the road people. They are the ones who seeing gay people and discovering they are they are good people, will help end one of the great shames of America.
It is a long term effort, but quite distinct from the shorter term political efforts.
Why is GLAAD wasting money figuring out what race every character is? GLAAD is a LGBT organization and should be working for LGBT people. Period.
Hmmmmm…I wonder what percent of script-writers, actors, producers, directors, etc., in Hollywood are really Gay? I bet it is more that the ridiculously low 2.6 percent represented by gay characters on TV this Fall 2008 season. Does anyone with half a brain really think that GLBTs represent just 2.6 percent of doctors, nurses, military personnel, police officers, lawyers, soldiers, store clerks, actors, teachers, mail carriers, etc. in society? It is ludicrous to assume that we are just 2.6 percent of people in most professions and in society at large.
In the parallel universe of entertainment, even if we are denied starring roles in TV series, where is our equivalent of a Black or Hispanic sidekick on cop shows, or an “out” Lawyer? Or how about a Super Hero on TV or any positive role model as a reoccurring supporting character in a television action series? Why are these characters so selfishly guarded and falsely represented as being the sole domain of “straight” characters?
Ultimately, what fictional roles do they usually assign to us? The defenders of the status quo generally demotes us to some gay version of “Amos and Andy” and other demeaning stereotypes — like they did to Blacks in the 1950s. What is worst, our very own people in the profession often write the scripts for these good-for-a-laugh-or-two token homos caricatures which occur too frequently on TV shows and at the movies.
Still, there a few good examples: “Brothers and Sisters” comes to mind. I also liked Captain Jack in “Torchwood”. This heroic, bi-sexual, lead character was played by “out” actor, John Barrowman. It was produced in Great Britain and filmed in Wales. Too bad this campy, fun, action SF series is not being renewed for a full season next year. More’s the pity.
I recall a story about an autograph signing event featuring Captain Jack where a little boy came up to him, with his father in tow, and said to John Barrowman: “I don’t care if you like boys or girls, Captain Jack, you’re my hero!”
It almost brought tears to my eyes.
God, I thought, some people just might stop hating and fearing us so very much if they only knew that most of us are just like most of them. Many of us are the very same people which the vast majority of straight men and women, including children, can also look up to and admire. But no one will know this unless our stories are told.
~ Bud Evans
*(Click on my name at the top of this comment to access my blog)
I guesstimate that 100% Gay people in the US are maybe more like 4% whereas those people that are bisexual who have had both same-sex and opposite-sex partners and/or experiences are likely much greater in number asd not as easy to guess.
The day will come where the majority of Americans will have had both straight and gay experiences. Maybe gay experiences at least once with likely the majority settling down with a straight life partner. And the day will come also where the majority of Americans will kkow of at least one person in their lives who is gay, be it a relative, maybe a close friend, coworker, neighbor or for some a same-sex life partner.
As the years go by, the percentage of GLBT characters on TV will go up as everyone gets used to that and very few think anymore about such things.
Good points, Bud!
But fear not, change is not always fast and furious.
I do, however, think there has been a huge momentum swing with real-life gays and lesbians in Reality T.V. and on Cable network shows. How many amongst us don’t think Bravo TV is the REAL LOGO?
In time, as more people see the wide variety of temperments and normalcy of all these LGBT’ers on Reality Shows, the notion of including us in NON-Amos and Andy roles will continue to evolve.
Sometimes Televsion doesn’t seem like a Great Wasteland.