Is MTV the Best Television Network for LGBT People?

There are people besides Snooki and The Situation on MTV? I had no idea.

The Gay and Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation (GLAAD) announced last week that MTV has the most representation of LGBT characters on television. In its fourth annual study, GLAAD compared the broadcast and cable television networks and ranked them on a scale from "excellent" to "failing." Here's the roundup.

MTV received the best score, or "excellent." A very strong 42 percent of the channel's primetime content includes LGBT representation. The report lists shows like, "The Real World: Washington D.C," which featured two bisexual roommates, and "America's Best Dance Crew," which had openly gay members competing. Indeed, these are "reality" shows and gay people exist in reality. Not enough of us, if my dating life is any indication, but some. MTV may have had the upper hand here, since it basically only does reality television.

But let's move off of excellent and onto good, since GLAAD analyzed nearly 6,000 hours of television on the five broadcast networks and 10 cable channels. Where did other networks fall?

The CW scored a "good," which kind of surprises me. I mean, "America's Next Top Model" should perhaps be worthy of the gay crown on its own. But the network's 35 percent of gay content came in second. Shows like "Gossip Girl," "Melrose Place" and "90210" are cited, though perhaps it makes sense to mention that the LGBT character on "Gossip Girl" is very secondary, and that the "bisexual" Ella on "Melrose Place" didn't seem to be so bisexual after the first few episodes. And "90210" bisexual Adriana must have been scarred by Rumer Willis because she ditched the girl ship after a handful of episodes, too. There is a  male character set to come out on "90210" this season, though let's hope he doesn't go back in once he leaves his cushy little closet.

FOX was right behind the CW with thirty percent of its content being LGBT-inclusive.  "Glee" apparently held the bulk of the queer weight, while Ellen DeGeneres' presence on "American Idol" is also lauded. GLAAD didn't have all nice things to say about FOX, though (who would, really?), because of the negative portrayals of transgender characters on animated hits "Family Guy" and "The Cleveland Show."

ABC ranked "good," with 26 percent of its primetime content coming in rainbow-friendly. I'm pretty surprised, as nearly all of my favorite shows are on ABC and an overwhelming majority of them contain rather realistic gay storylines. Think about the lovable home and hilarious parenting of Mitchell and Cam on "Modern Family." Or the complex and heartbreaking relationship between "Grey's Anatomy" lesbians Callie and Arizona. And what about Kevin and Scotty's surrogacy struggle on "Brothers & Sisters" (or Uncle Saul's possible HIV)?  "Ugly Betty" had a fantastic coming out storyline for teenage rockstar Justin. It all sounds excellent in my book.

What's left?  Unsurprisingly, HBO and Lifetime were among the cable networks that scored "good." ABC Family also scored very highly, coming in second for cable networks, likely due to the younger generation of viewers and their more accepting attitudes toward the LGBT community.

Oh, yeah, and CBS, otherwise known as "failing" with a shameful seven percent of LGBT-laden fare.

GLAAD will release its annual report on LGBT inclusion and diversity for 2010-2011 in September. I'm looking forward to reading it, and even more so to watching television with gay characters once summer hiatus is up.

Specifically, I'm referring to that "90210" storyline. I need some mancandy in my life.

Photo Credit: blude