GLAAD: Number of gay characters on TV has risen
Research by GLAAD has found that the number of LGBT characters on TV has risen.
The LGBT media group’s annual ‘Where We Are On TV’ report found that out of the 813 regular characters on primetime scripted series, 32 could be identified as lesbian, gay, bisexual or transgender – a total of 3.9%.
The number is up from last year’s estimate of 3.3%, but down from the record high of 4.4% in 2012.
GLAAD President Sarah Kate Ellis said: “Television networks are playing a key role in promoting cultural understanding of LGBT lives around the world, and are now producing some of the best LGBT-inclusive programming we’ve yet seen.”
Broadcaster Fox – home to musical comedy Glee – came out on top, with 6% of regular characters being LGBT, while
The report adds: “Gay men still represent the majority of LGBT characters on cable at 45% (a significant drop from 53% last year), while lesbians make up 25% of the LGBT characters (a figure similar to last season).
“Bisexual women make up 20% of LGBT characters on cable and bisexual men make up 10% (compared to 15% and 6% respectively last year).”
Researchers also found that network TV is lagging behind online on-demand content in terms of portrayals of trans characters.
Ellis added: “As they move forward with new programs and storylines, networks must also keep an eye towards diversity and strive to include significant transgender content comparable to those efforts being made by their online competitors, such as Netflix’s Orange is the New Black and Amazon’s Transparent.”
