In July GLAAD released their Studio Responsibility Index for 2014, which suggested a mixed picture for the representation of LGBT characters in films released by the major studios, with perhaps more bad news than good. However things are moving in a slightly more positive direction on US TV, with GLAAD’s 8th annual Network Responsibility Index giving three networks an ‘Excellent’ rating for the first time in the same year – ABC Family, HBO, and MTV.
The NRI looked at five broadcast networks and 10 cable networks from June 1, 2013 to May 31, 2014 networks, examining over 5,000 hours of programming. Along with the Excellent ratings for ABC Family, HBO and MTV, there were Good ratings for ABC, The CW, FOX, NBC, FX and Showtime, and Adequate for CBS, TLC and USA. It wasn’t all good news asA&E, History and TNT were given Failing grades.
The accompanying Where We Are on TV report counts the number of LGBT characters in the just starting 2014-2015 television season. It finds that 3.9% of primetime broadcast scripted series regulars will be lesbian, gay or bisexual characters, which is an increase from 3.3% last year. Fox did best with 6.5% of characters being LGBT. In addition, GLAAD counted 33 recurring lesbian, gay or bisexual characters on broadcast scripted series, though none of those characters are transgender. GLAAD also counted 64 regular and 41 recurring LGBT characters on primetime scripted cable series.
The lack of transgender characters is still a major cause for concern – especially coming in the same year the Studio Responsibility Index didn’t have a single movie with a transgender lead character – and as a result GLAAD had decided that in order to achieve an Excellent grade in the future, networks must include significant transgender content, not just lesbian and gay.
“Television networks are playing a key role in promoting cultural understanding of LGBT lives around the world, and are now producing some of the best LGBT-inclusive programming we’ve yet seen,” said GLAAD President and CEO Sarah Kate Ellis. “As they move forward with new programs and storylines, networks must also keep an eye towards diversity and strive to include significant transgender content comparable to those efforts being made by their online competitors, such as Netflix’s Orange is the New Black and Amazon’s Transparent.”
Leave a Reply (if comment does not appear immediately, it may have been held for moderation)