Where We Are on TV:
GLAAD’s 13th Annual Diversity Study Examines 2008-2009 Primetime Television Season

ABC's Brothers & Sisters

For the 2008-2009 scripted primetime broadcast television season, lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) representations have increased after a three-year slump, according to an analysis of the upcoming season conducted by the Gay & Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation (GLAAD). The study shows that LGBT representations will account for 2.6% of all scripted series regular characters in the 2008-2009 broadcast television schedule, up from 1.1% in 2007, 1.3% in 2006, and 1.4% in 2005. In contrast, the number of LGBT series regular characters found on scripted programming on mainstream cable networks has decreased from last year’s analysis, from 40 to 32.

“This dramatic increase shows how far many networks have come in developing complex, multi-layered LGBT characters. Our analysis also shows where there’s still work to be done,” says GLAAD President Neil G. Giuliano. “This past year, we’ve seen some real progress from Fox towards making their scripted programming more inclusive, which is something we’re hoping to see from other networks like CBS.”

In recent years, GLAAD has reported a steady decrease in the quantity of LGBT representations on the broadcast television schedule, contrasted by an increase in representations on cable. This year, the data evaluated shows a reversal of that trend: the number of broadcast representations have increased, while the number of cable representations have decreased.  

Of the 616 series regular characters counted on the five broadcast networks (ABC, CBS, The CW, Fox and NBC), 16 are LGBT, more than twice the number of characters noted in 2007. Fox and The CW, which both featured zero LGBT series regular characters in last year's report, have each made contributions to this year’s tally. Fox – showing the most improvement – now features bisexual women on Bones (Angela) and House (Thirteen) and gay men on Do Not Disturb (Larry)

Fox's House

and Sit Down, Shut Up (Andrew). Fox, with five LGBT characters out of 97 total series regular characters, has the highest percentage of LGBT characters for any network (5%). ABC continues to excel as it did last year, depicting seven LGBT characters out of 166 total series regular characters (4%), the highest number of LGBT characters of any network. On the negative side, CBS has the most disappointing showing, with not a single LGBT series regular character out of 126, and only one recurring character in the entire series lineup, on The Rules of Engagement. Additionally, The CW's lack of representation is now merely a close second to CBS, as the network has only one scripted series regular LGBT character, the supporting role of Marco on Privileged.

The number of recurring LGBT characters has also risen – from 13 last season to 19 this year – and features additions such as a lesbian couple on ABC’s new animated series The Goode Family. “The growing number of recurring characters is another example of the networks’ progress towards being more inclusive,”says Giuliano, “As the networks gradually add characters from all backgrounds and walks of life to prime time programming, more and more Americans are seeing their LGBT friends and neighbors reflected on the small screen.”

The diversity of LGBT representations on broadcast television has been broadened as well, through character depictions that reflect the spectrum of the LGBT community. There are more LGBT people of color: Oscar on The Office (NBC) is now joined by Callie on Grey’s Anatomy (ABC), Carrie on Knight Rider (NBC), Andrew on Sit Down, Shut Up (Fox), and Angela on Bones (Fox). There are also more lesbians and bisexual women portrayed, thanks largely to an increase in the number of bisexual series regulars. Unfortunately, there will be zero lesbian or transgender series regular characters on broadcast television, striking omissions in an otherwise increasingly inclusive environment.

On cable, the number of LGBT characters announced by the mainstream networks dropped from 40 to 32 series regulars, disappointing but still higher than two years ago, when only 25 LGBT series regulars were announced. The number of recurring LGBT characters in mainstream cable series stayed about the same, with 16 recurring characters compared to last year’s 17. The presence of LGBT-focused cable networks here! and Logo, which program specifically for LGBT viewers, add additional representations. These two networks alone will provide 39 series regular LGBT characters, more than all of the other cable networks combined, and four recurring characters.

Drama Series on Broadcast Networks

Dramatic Series with Leading & Supporting LGBT Characters on Broadcast TV Bones, Fox Brothers & Sisters, ABC Grey's Anatomy, ABC House, Fox Knight Rider, NBC Privileged, The CW Dramatic Series with Recurring LGBT Characters on Broadcast TV Dirty Sexy Money, ABC ER, NBC Friday Night Lights, NBC Gossip Girl, The CW Lipstick Jungle, NBC

In the 2008-2009 season, there will be a significant increase in the number of broadcast dramas featuring LGBT series regulars. In last year's report, we counted only two LGBT-inclusive dramatic series, Brothers & Sisters and Cashmere Mafia, both on ABC. This year, even with the cancellation of Cashmere Mafia, there are three times as many LGBT-inclusive drama series on the schedule, and every network – except for CBS, markedly absent from the list – has a drama with an LGBT character. Not all of these developments result from the addition of new characters; the character of Thirteen on House appeared on the show last season but her orientation had been unannounced when our 2007 report was published.

Brothers & Sisters’ Luke Macfarlane, ABC

ABC's Brothers & Sisters continues to feature many gay-inclusive storylines, with the Scotty Wandell character (played by openly gay actor Luke Macfarlane) promoted from recurring to series regular following last season’s marriage to Kevin Walker. The character of Uncle Saul, who officially came out as gay last season presents an opportunity to share the moving story of a man finally allowing himself to embrace his identity after years of denial, and offers a rare portrayal of a gay man over the age of 60 on primetime. ABC also has another series with standout potential in Grey's Anatomy, which is set to feature a romance between series regulars Callie and Erica.

All recurring LGBT characters in dramatic series are returning characters: Serena's brother Eric on Gossip Girl, Chaz Pratt on ER, Carmelita on Dirty Sexy Money, Mayor Lucy Rodell on Friday Night Lights, Joe on Grey’s Anatomy and Victory's assistant, Roy, on Lipstick Jungle. It should be noted that we counted both Lucy and Joe as recurring in last year's report, but were ultimately disappointed that neither character appeared more frequently, likely due to seasons truncated by the Writers’ Strike. Both characters have been labeled as recurring by the network for the upcoming season, and we have chosen to include them again in the hopes that these characters will have a stronger presence in the coming year. Also, while Roy is a returning recurring character on Lipstick Jungle, this second season will mark the first acknowledgment of his orientation.

Comedy on Broadcast Networks

Comedic Series with Leading & Supporting LGBT Characters on Broadcast TV American Dad!, Fox Desperate Housewives, ABC Do Not Disturb, Fox The Office, NBC Sit Down, Shut Up, Fox Ugly Betty, ABC Comedic Series with Recurring LGBT Characters on Broadcast TV 30 Rock, NBC The Goode Family, ABC My Name is Earl, NBC The Rules of Engagement, CBS The Simpsons, Fox

There has also been an increase in the number of LGBT-inclusive broadcast comedies, though not by as large a margin as the broadcast dramas. Each of this season's new additions comes from Fox: Sit Down, Shut Up, an animated series that will include a gay Latino drama teacher among the series regulars, and Do Not Disturb, which will feature a gay man, Larry, as one of the employees of a hip New York hotel. New recurring characters will include two lesbians named Mo and Trish on ABC's freshman animated series The Goode Family, as well as an unnamed character played by Orlando Jones on CBS’ returning comedy The Rules of Engagement.

Do Not Disturb’s Jesse Tyler Ferguson, Fox

Returning favorites include Desperate Housewives, in which Bree's gay son Andrew will once again be joined by Wisteria Lane’s newly married gay couple, Bob and Lee. On Ugly Betty, openly gay assistant Marc will continue to be featured as a supporting series regular, while his boyfriend, Cliff, and transgender CEO Alexis will appear in recurring roles. Other recurring characters will include Earl’s friend Kenny on My Name is Earl and network executive Devin Banks on 30 Rock, each of whom appeared in previous seasons.

“Many of the most popular and critically regarded shows in primetime are inclusive of the our community, sending a clear message that audiences are responding to authentic and engaging stories of LGBT characters,” says GLAAD Director of Entertainment Media Damon Romine.

Sex and Gender Identity Diversity

Ugly Betty’s Rebecca Romijn, ABC

Examining the sex and gender identity of all 616 series regular characters on the five broadcast networks, analysts found that each network features more male than female characters, demonstrating a divergence from the general population (where Census figures from 1990 and 2000 consistently give women the slight edge¹). GLAAD analysts found that ABC leads with the largest total number of female characters in the upcoming season, with 49% of its series regular characters being women. The CW comes in a close second with 46%, while Fox is ranked last, with only 38% of its total series regular characters being women.

Series that explore gender identity are rare. In fact, ABC is the only broadcast network to depict transgender characters on their scripted series. The network features two transgender characters, and one of them is played by a transgender actress (Candis Cayne as Carmelita on Dirty Sexy Money). Unfortunately, ABC has announced that Rebecca Romijn’s character, Alexis, will have reduced involvement in the new season of Ugly Betty, meaning that there will be no series regular transgender characters on any broadcast network. Moreover, the two existing characters are white women, leaving both transgender people of color and transgender men unrepresented.

LGBT People of Color on Television

Scripted Series with LGBT People of Color Broadcast Bones, Fox ER, NBC* Grey's Anatomy, ABC Knight Rider, NBC Privileged, The CW The Rules of Engagement, CBS* Sit Down, Shut Up, Fox Cable Dante's Cove, here! Degrassi: The Next Generation, The N Entourage, HBO GREEK, ABC Family The L Word, Showtime Nip/Tuck, FX Nurse Jackie, Showtime Paradise Falls, here! Rick and Steve: The Happiest Gay Couple in All the World, Logo Shameless, Sundance Channel South of Nowhere, The N True Blood, HBO Weeds, Showtime* *Denotes recurring character

GLAAD analysts found that NBC leads the networks in overall racial and ethnic diversity, with people of color comprising 24% of the total series regular characters. ABC and Fox follow with 21% each, The CW with 20%, and CBS trailing with 19%.

The Office’s Oscar Nuñez, NBC

When examining the racial and ethnic diversity of each network’s LGBT representation, the numbers shift only slightly. On broadcast television, NBC and Fox are positioned to present the highest number of series regular LGBT characters of color in the upcoming season, with NBC featuring biracial bisexual woman Carrie on Knight Rider and Latino gay man Oscar on The Office, while Fox has Latino gay man Andrew on Sit Down, Shut Up and Asian-Pacific Islander bisexual woman Angela on Bones. Despite this increase in the number of LGBT people of color in broadcast programming, there is still room for improvement. Even on ABC, a standout in its total number of LGBT representations, Callie (Grey's Anatomy) is the exception to the rule. Out of 15 regular and recurring LGBT characters on ABC, Callie is the only one who is a person of color.

On cable, 27 series feature at least one LGBT character, but only 13 series have an LGBT character of color. The LGBT-interest cable networks, here! and Logo, are overwhelmingly white, with 86% of their LGBT characters sharing the same race.

Increase in Bisexual Representation on Broadcast Television

House’s Olivia Wilde, Fox

While an overwhelming number of LGBT characters on broadcast television are white gay men, now there are a greater number of bisexual characters on scripted shows. On Fox's House, Thirteen (played by Olivia Wilde, who previously portrayed bisexual character Alex on Fox's The OC) was revealed to be bisexual during the 2007-2008 season. Angela, an existing character on Fox's Bones, has been announced by the network as being bisexual this season amidst rumors of an ex-girlfriend returning to the picture. At the end of last season, ABC's Grey's Anatomy showed Callie and Erica in the early stages of mutual attraction, suggesting a potential relationship that would be the only romance between female series regulars currently on broadcast television. On NBC, Knight Rider's Carrie was romantically involved with a woman in the television special upon which the series is based, though it remains to be seen if that aspect of her character will be explored in the series. There is only one male character on broadcast television counted as bisexual: Roger the Alien on Fox's animated series American Dad!

Scripted Programming on Cable

Mad Men’s Bryan Batt, AMC

Series with Leading and Supporting LGBT Characters on Cable Dante's Cove, here! Degrassi: The Next Generation, The N Entourage, HBO Eureka, Sci Fi Channel Exes and Ohs, Logo General Hospital: Night Shift, SOAPnet GREEK, ABC Family The Lair, here! The Life and Times of Vivienne Vyle, Sundance The L Word, Showtime Mad Men, AMC Nip/Tuck, FX Nurse Jackie, Showtime Paradise Falls, here! Raising the Bar, TNT Rick and Steve: The Happiest Gay Couple in All the World, Logo The Sarah Silverman Program, Comedy Central Shameless, Sundance Channel Skins, BBC America South of Nowhere, The N The Starter Wife, USA Sugar Rush, here! True Blood, HBO The United States of Tara, Showtime Weeds, Showtime Series with Recurring LGBT Characters on Cable Brotherhood, Showtime Summer Heights High, HBO

Last season, the mainstream cable networks announced 40 series regular LGBT characters. This season, that number has slipped to 32. LGBT visibility on cable is suffering from the loss of shows such as HBO's The Wire, the death of gay characters on series like Showtime's The Tudors, and the lack of confirmation about the 2008-2009 return of LGBT-inclusive shows such as Comedy Central's Reno 911!, FX's The Riches, and BBC America's Torchwood. Showtime, Sundance Channel and HBO provide the majority of LGBT characters on mainstream cable, but other networks should strive for the same degree of inclusivity.

In addition, GLAAD has included programming from LGBT-interest cable networks Logo and here! in the cable statistics this year. 39 of the 71 (55%) LGBT series regular characters on cable will air on either Logo or here! during the 2008-2009 season. These networks were included in the study to acknowledge the considerable volume of original programming coming from the two networks, including Dante’s Cove and Rick & Steve: The Happiest Gay Couple in All the World.

Beyond the need for more LGBT characters in general, there are also a few specific areas where networks can improve. Just as in broadcast television, bisexual representations are heavily slated towards women (five series regulars) over bisexual men (one series regular). And LGBT representations on cable are no better than those on broadcast networks in presenting what might be considered an accurate percentage of people of color. Indeed, white gay men (such as Salvatore on AMC's Mad Men or Charlie on TNT's Raising the Bar) continue to be the dominant face of the LGBT community in cable programming, with white characters comprising 83% of the total number of series regular LGBT representations.

Visibility on Animated Programming

Rick and Steve, Logo

There is considerable LGBT representation in animated primetime programming. On broadcast television, Marge's sister Patty on Fox's The Simpsons is a lesbian, and the show has frequently implied that Mr. Burns’ assistant Smithers is gay. Another animated Fox program, American Dad!, features an bisexual alien named Roger as a series regular, and gay couple Terry and Greg as recurring characters. Fox is also introducing a new animated series, Sit Down, Shut Up, which will include Andrew, a gay teacher, as a series regular. A new animated program in ABC's line-up, The Goode Family, will include a lesbian couple, Mo and Trish, as recurring characters. On cable, Logo's animated program Rick & Steve: The Happiest Gay Couple in All the World features one gay couple and one lesbian couple as series regulars, and one gay couple as recurring characters.

One particularly noteworthy trend about the list of animated gay characters is the visibility of same-sex couples – two couples on broadcast, and three couples on cable. Unfortunately, the majority of animated LGBT characters are still recurring rather than regulars, and with the end of Drawn Together on Comedy Central, the only animated LGBT representations on cable appear on LGBT-focused cable network Logo.

Alternative Programming

America’s Next Top Model’s Isis, The CW

Although not included in the statistics within this report, it is important to acknowledge the strong presence of reality programming on broadcast and cable networks, and the consistent high level of LGBT visibility found in this genre. Series such as Project Runway, Top Chef, Kathy Griffin: My Life on the D-List, Million Dollar Listing, Shear Genius, Top Design, Flipping Out, and Work Out ensure that Bravo maintains its status as a leader in LGBT representation within reality programming. CBS, despite its lackluster performance in the scripted arena, outshines other broadcast networks in reality series, continuing a trend of LGBT inclusion on shows such as Big Brother and Survivor.

One positive development GLAAD analysts noticed within reality programming is an increase in transgender representations. This pertains to both broadcast and cable networks, with contestant Isis receiving much media attention for her participation on The CW's America's Next Top Model and Laverne Cox as a viable contender on VH1's I Want to Work for Diddy. Over the past summer, Dorae Saunders, a transgender woman and Tina Turner impersonator, appeared on NBC's America's Got Talent. And on Logo, the romantic reality series Transamerican Love Story featured transgender actress Calpernia Addams as the bachelorette, and included a transgender man among the contenders vying for her affection.

Daytime Dramas

Daily dramas – which, like reality programs, are not counted in this primetime report – also deserve acknowledgment. CBS' As the World Turns continues to follow the romance between Luke and Noah. ABC's All My Children, which broke ground with the coming out of Bianca, the transition of Zoe, and the exploration of romance between the two, will see Bianca return to the show this fall for a long-term storyline, along with a new girlfriend, Reese.

In the syndicated market, Emmy Award-winning The Ellen DeGeneres Show and Emmy Award-nominated Judge David Young both star openly gay personalities who have addressed issues pertinent to the LGBT community. This year, Ellen spoke openly on her show about the need for LGBT acceptance in the wake of the murder of gay youth Lawrence King, attempted to phone Oklahoma politician Sally Kern on-air to discuss her anti-gay comments, questioned Presidential candidate John McCain about his lack of support for gay couples who want to marry, and proudly showed her wedding video from her summer wedding to actress Portia de Rossi.

Conclusion

In a recent New York Times article², Robert Mendez, senior vice president for diversity at the Disney-ABC Television Group, was quoted as saying, “When you look at our programs, the most popular ones — ‘Grey’s Anatomy,’ […] ‘Desperate Housewives’ — one of the things they have in common is diversity in lead characters and stories. We believe that diversity makes those shows much more interesting.”

All networks should embrace the same philosophy. “GLAAD applauds the series that have proven a commitment to diversity in their representations,” says Romine, “and we look forward to what the networks have in store for us in the coming year.”

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Notes on Method
In preparing this report GLAAD has compiled as best as possible complete character data for all scripted broadcast network shows, and the identities of all LGBT characters on scripted cable programming. The report constitutes the most accurate information available at press time, and thus is presented with the disclaimer that some character information may change before or during the programming season.

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Footnotes
1 U.S. Census Bureau press release available at http://www.census.gov/Press-Release/www/releases/archives/population/000440.html
2 "Generation Mix: Youth TV Takes the Lead in Diversity Casting," August 20, 2008, available at http://www.nytimes.com/2008/08/21/arts/television/21disn.html?_r=1&oref=slogin

Where We Are on TV Home Overview & Analysis Diversity on Scripted TV LGBT Characters: Broadcast LGBT Characters: Cable Leading Roles Supporting Roles Recurring Roles Download a PDF Report Press Release

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Drama Series on Broadcast Networks
Comedy on Broadcast Networks
Sex and Gender Identity Diversity
LGBT People of Color on Television
Increase in Bisexual Representation
Scripted Programming on Cable
Visibility on Animated Programming
Alternative Programming
Daytime Dramas
Conclusion