BreakOUT News

Less Gays on TV This Year

September 26, 2007

Page 1 | Page 2

20070926_tv_320x240.jpgBasically, here’s what you have to know: we’re on cable. Not so much broadcast.

GLAAD has released their 12th annual study of the numbers of gay people on television. And the numbers are less than encouraging. Keeping in mind that these numbers are based solely on scripted television shows, the study shows that, despite improved quality, LGBT representations will represent only 1.1% (7) of all series regular characters in the 2007-08 broadcast television schedule, down from 1.3% (9) in 2006, and 1.4% (10) in 2005.

GLAAD examined 87 scripted comedies and dramas announced to air this upcoming season, and counted a total of 650 characters. appear on five scripted programs: Brothers & Sisters, Desperate Housewives, Ugly Betty, The Office and the midseason series Cashmere Mafia. Six of these seven characters are on ABC, with no lead or supporting LGBT characters scheduled to appear on CBS, FOX or The CW.

Although we have our suspicions about some of those “Gossip Girls.”

GLAAD President Neil G. Giuliano had this to say: "While we acknowledge there have been improvements made in how we are seen on the broadcast networks, most notably on ABC, our declining representation clearly indicates a failure to inclusively reflect the audience watching television. Striving toward diversity isn’t merely the responsible road to take for broadcasters, but as many of television’s highest-rated programs demonstrate, it’s also good for business. One need only look at the growing viewership of cable networks to see how inclusive programming can attract a wider audience."

13 semi-regular recurring characters are anticipated to appear during the upcoming network TV season. This increase in recurring characters from last year's five suggests that producers and writers are showing a guarded interest in being inclusive without making the characters lead or supporting. Currently, gay characters on Ugly Betty and Desperate Housewives first appeared as recurring before being added to the regular cast.

As has been the trend for a number of years, the real advances in LGBT representation are being made in cable programming. A total of 40 series regulars were counted across 21 scripted comedies and dramas scheduled to air on mainstream cable networks this season; 15 more than were counted last year. These numbers in part reflect a continued commitment to diversity effectively demonstrated by mainstream cable networks such as The N, FX, HBO, Showtime, and BBC America. Cable networks Logo and here! create additional original scripted programming for a predominantly LGBT audience.

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