Tuesday, August 30, 2005

Queer Count for this Year's Network TV Season is 16

(Link) Survey says, "If you're looking at network television to see a good cross-section of our community, you're not going to find it. What you will find is primarily gay white males."
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LNewsEditor said...

JIC Post:

By Lynn Elber
Associated Press

Sixteen homosexual characters are depicted in network TV series scheduled for the 2005-06 season, a small increase over last year but still inadequate, the Gay & Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation said Monday.

Out of 710 characters appearing on a regular or recurring basis on the six major broadcast networks in the new season, about 2 percent are gay, lesbian or bisexual, according to the group's annual study.

Last season, GLAAD counted 11 homosexual characters on network shows.

There is no definitive figure available for the U.S. gay and lesbian population but GLAAD believes the number is "certainly higher" than that represented on network TV, spokesman Damon Romine said in an interview Monday.

"This is a shocking misrepresentation of reality and of the audience watching these programs," Romine said in a report on the group's findings.

Although GLAAD has conducted the study for 10 years this was the first time the specific percentage of gay characters on TV was calculated, Romine said. The figure is intended to provide a benchmark to measure progress in future seasons.

Many gay and lesbian characters fall into minor or supporting roles in the TV season that begins the week of Sept. 19, GLAAD found. Homosexual characters also tend to lack ethnic and gender diversity.

Of the 16 counted by the study (on 14 scripted shows out of 110 total), there were 13 males and three females. Thirteen are white, with a single gay black, Hispanic and Asian-Pacific Islander character.

"If you're looking at network television to see a good cross-section of our community, you're not going to find it. What you will find is primarily gay white males," Romine said.

Cable TV is ahead of broadcast in "exploring our lives, families and careers" and features 25 lesbian and gay characters in the new season, the group said.

Among the shows cited on cable with major homosexual characters: Showtime's "The L Word," Comedy Central's "Reno 911!" and FX's "Starved." Broadcast shows with gay or lesbian representation include NBC's "Will & Grace" and ABC's "Desperate Housewives."

8/30/2005 10:32 AM

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