• Advocate, Tuesday, September 25, 2007 10:45 AM

The number of gay characters depicted on TV is down on the broadcast networks, but rising on cable, says a study by the Gay and Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation. In the 2007-2008 TV season, broadcast series will have seven regular gay, lesbian, bisexual, or transgender characters, down form nine in 2006 and 10 the season before that. On cable, however, shows will feature 40 gay characters as series regulars.

"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," says GLAAD president Neil Giuliano. The seven broadcast characters appear on five different shows: "Brothers and Sisters," "Desperate Housewives," "Ugly Betty," "The Office" and "Cashmere Mafia."

ABC shows are home to six of the seven, with one on NBC and none on CBS, Fox, or CW. Last year, the characters were spread among five networks. Still, there will be an additional 13 occasional gay characters on broadcast TV this season, compared with five last year.

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