• August 30, 2005

There will be more gay and lesbian characters on network television this season--up to 16 from 11 characters versus a year ago. But according to Gay & Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation (GLAAD), lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender characters are still underrepresented.

GLAAD says less than 2 percent of 710 regular series or recurring characters on broadcast networks are lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT). GLAAD also complains there is little cross section of gay characters--they are mostly white males. Of the 16, 13 are male and three are females. Overall, 13 are white, one is African-American, one is Latino, and one is Asian-Pacific Islander.

Better news is on the cable front--25 lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) characters will appear on cable series in the 2005-06 season. But GLAAD says that's disappointing news, since network television still captures a much larger audience than cable. Still, GLAAD says positive news comes from the introduction of Logo, the new gay channel from MTV networks and Q Television, a pay TV cable channel.