Fewer Gay, Lesbian TV Characters As America Moves Into Election Season

As America moves into the 2012 presidential election season, there are fewer gay, lesbian, or bisexual characters on TV, no black gay characters, and no transgender representation at all in the 2011-2012 TV season. GLAAD’s 16th annual Where We Are On TV report finds that “after a significant increase last year, the number of regular lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) characters on broadcast networks experienced a decrease while the overall LGBT character count remains steady on cable television.”

With anti-gay, anti-equality forces moving fast to prohibit same-sex marriage in states like North Carolina and Minnesota, or moving to repeal a same-sex marriage law in New Hampshire, diminished LGBT representation in the media as voters decide whether or not to elect gay-friendly politicians or whether or not to support anti-equality ballot measures across the country is a severe blow to what we know to be true: greater interaction with LGBT people leads to greater acceptance. The media has an obligation to foster tolerance and acceptance.

Ironically, best in show, so to speak, is Fox Entertainment — the sister channel to anti-equality Fox News — ranking number one among broadcast TV networks, “with 6.8% of regular characters being gay, lesbian, bisexual or transgender. In 2007, the Where We Are on TV report found zero LGBT series regulars on the network.”

GLAAD also notes these troubling statistics:

• ABC is not in the lead for the first time in six years, and has significantly dropped in its percentage of regular LGBT characters, from 7.2% in 2010 to 3.4% for the upcoming season.
• NBC is in decline for the third year in a row, and will feature three (1.9%) regular LGBT characters out of 154
• The CW has also taken a step back, and will feature only one LGBT series regular characters out of 67 (1.5%).
• CBS remains in last place for the fourth year in a row. Out of 134 series regular characters, only one will be LGBT (0.7%), but the network will include several LGBT recurring characters.

On the plus side, GLAAD notes:

• For the second year in a row, HBO features the greatest number of LGBT characters on cable with 11; seven of which are series regulars.
• Also making a significant contribution to the count are Showtime with ten characters, ABC Family, FX and TeenNick with four characters each, and TNT and BBC America with three.
• For the second year in a row, HBO’s True Blood is one of the most LGBT inclusive programs on television with six characters and is tied this year with the Showtime series Shameless.

“GLAAD continues to call for networks to not only include LGBT characters, but ensure that the images reflect the gender and ethnic diversity that makes up our community,” Thompson continued.  “There are zero LGBT African American or transgender characters on broadcast network TV, but storylines like those of True Blood’s spirit-channeling fry cook Lafayette and Degrassi ‘s transgender teen Adam on cable demonstrate how more diverse representations make for popular, original, and compelling television.”

Network executives need to see the LGBT community as a part of a broad and diverse America. With continued siloing of minorities, those that embrace all Americans will find a broader audience. Moreover, the LGBT community needs to demand better representation.