Network television is doing a better
job at reflecting the lives of gay and bisexual characters, a new Gay
& Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation report says.
The 14th annual “Where We
Are on TV” report released Wednesday found a slight increase in the
number of gay and lesbian characters on network primetime schedules.
Overall, the 2009-2010 network season
has 18 LGBT characters, two more than last year, while cable watchers
are getting fewer gay characters. The number of characters on
mainstream cable television has plummeted to 25, or a 38% decline in
two years.
Among the networks, ABC again topped
the list with 8 gay characters out of 168 (5%), followed by Fox with 4
(4%), NBC with 3 (3%), and the CW with 2 (3%). CBS, which has
previously promised to increase its diversity, came in last with
none.
The group said it was pleased with the
increasing appearance of non-stereotypical gay characters on network
television.
“It is promising to see not only an
increase in the quality of lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender
television characters but that storylines about the LGBT community
are becoming more reflective of current issues impacting our lives,”
said GLAAD president Jarrett Barrios in a statement.
“Americans now have the opportunity
to see LGBT couples marrying on shows like Brothers & Sisters,
raising children on Modern Family and LGBT youth coming out on
Glee. As more and more Americans see fair and accurate images
of our community and the issues impacting our lives reflected on the
small screen, they come to accept and better understand their LGBT
family members and neighbors,” he added.