There are More Gay Characters on Broadcast Television Than Ever Before

by Michael Jones · 2009-10-01 06:36:00 UTC
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Modern FamilyA new report from the Gay and Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation (GLAAD) finds that there are more LGBT characters on broadcast television than in the history of the medium. In 2009-2010, three percent of all characters on broadcast television are gay. That's up nearly two whole percentage points from just three years ago and proves that when it comes to flipping the channels, it's getting harder and harder to find a network that doesn't feature at least one (or several) LGBT characters.

"This past year, we’ve seen real progress from many networks toward making their scripted programming more LGBT inclusive," GLAAD President Jarrett Barrios said in a statement.

Real progress, for sure. But three percent is just the tip of the iceberg...especially when conservative estimates suggest that nearly 10 percent of the U.S. population is LGBT.

On a network by network comparison, ABC rates the highest in terms of number of LGBT characters featured, with eight shows featuring LGBT characters (including "Modern Family," with two gay dads pictured above). Fox, NBC and the CW all followed. Dead last? That title belongs to CBS. The network has no love for LGBT characters, with none of their series for 2009-2010 featuring any LGBT characters, save for some reality game shows.

The rest of the GLAAD report can be found here.

Michael Jones is a Change.org Editor. He has worked in the field of human rights communications for a decade, most recently for Harvard Law School.
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