Number of gay, lesbian, transgendered characters on TV at highest level ever

By Catholic Online (NEWS CONSORTIUM)
10/8/2012
Catholic Online (www.catholic.org)

HBO drama

Both cable and network television series are broadcasting series with more gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgendered characters than ever before. Among the major networks, ABC has the highest amount, with 10 out of 194, or 5.2 percent, of their regular characters identified as LGBT. Fox ranks second with six LGBT characters out of 118 total series regulars, or 5.1 percent.

The character of 'Unique,' played by actor Alex Newell on the TV show 'Glee,' is a rare example of a transgendered character on a mainstream TV show.

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LOS ANGELES, CA (Catholic Online) - "It is vital for networks to weave complex and diverse story lines of LGBT people in the different programs they air," Gay & Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation, or GLAAD President Herndon Graddick says.

"More and more Americans have come to accept their LGBT family members, friends, co-workers and peers, and as audiences tune into their favorite programs, they expect to see the same diversity of people they encounter in their daily lives."

On broadcast TV, gay male characters at 64 percent continue to outweigh female characters at 36 percent, including the transgender character Unique on "Glee."

Released last week, the 17th annual "Where We Are on TV" report found that 4.4 percent of actors appearing regularly on prime-time network drama and comedy series during the 2012-13 season will portray lesbian, gay, bisexual or transgender characters, up from 2.9 percent in 2011, which saw a dip in what had been a growing annual trend.

The group applauded CBS as much improved, with four out of 142 LGBT series regulars, or 2.8 percent, up from 0.7 percent last year. The network's lineup represents "an authentic and conscious effort by CBS to improve its diversity," the study said.

Forthcoming among CBS's new fall series is a comedy-drama entitled "Partners," a comedy about two childhood friends and business partners, one of whom is gay and in a relationship.

Regular gay and lesbian characters on what the study termed "mainstream" cable television has also risen this season to 35, up from 29 last season. Among those networks, Showtime leads with 12 LGBT characters.

Of course, many people view this apparently intentional increase in characters who espouse openly homosexual lifestyles, along with the promotion of "alternative" sexual lifestyles now touted as morally acceptable by some in the media culture, as another sign of a growing propaganda effort aimed at nothing less than cultural and social revolution.

However, all Americans can agree on the need to represent the legitimate diversity of the American family as reflected in our National racial and ethnic tapestry. Racial minorities within the U.S. have also becoming more regular on mainstream TV. Compared with last year, African-American representation has grown from 9.9 percent to 12 percent, while Hispanic representation has decreased from 5.6 percent to 4.1 percent.

� 2012, Distributed by NEWS CONSORTIUM.

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General Intention: The Faith of Christians. That in this Year of Faith Christians may deepen their knowledge of the mystery of Christ and witness joyfully to the gift of faith in him.
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Keywords: Lesbian, gay, transgendered, bisexual, characters, TV series

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1 - 3 of 3 Comments

J T
7 months ago
Characters in popular fiction generally try to represent people who actually exist. Gay people actually exist, and they live and love and do things that are interesting in a dramatic context, just like everyone else. The mere existence of a group of people is not propaganda.
DLL
7 months ago
Television today is really all about re-indoctrination. If you are Catholic or if you are a traditionalist then you are considered to be narrow minded. The mission of television today is to destroy the Catholic Church. Christianity is in direct opposition to the gay agenda. The media does not like the Christian message. Even to be a traditionalist is considered to be anti-gay and hateful toward the gay agenda. Gay marriage? That term has never existed in the history of mankind. To be gay was before 1974 was defined as a mental disorder. A man-woman marriage has been understood since the beginning of time by all societies as the foundation of the family unit father,mother,child. Dirty sex is dirty sex,it is perversion personified,this has nothing to do with marriage,because marriage between a man-woman,is a vocation and one that serves society as an essential core value. Sex is beautiful in its proper context. Traditional marriage defines what this sexual beauty was meant to be. Adultery destroys the meaning of sex and as well as the essential meaning of relationship. The barriers between people are not always bad. Those barriers can serve to protect an individuals sacred space so sin won't be a divisive force. For instance,to really respect a good friends wife,it would be furthest from ones mind to destroy the sanctity of a man-woman marriage,by having sex with her. That is what I mean by dirty sex. The way I see it adultery is not defined in an alternate marriage proposition. This is a real problem for society in the future. Because there really is no such thing as adultery in an alternate lifestyle proposed marriage,the boundaries of ethical behavior in such a marriage can not be legally defined. That is why alternate lifestyle marriage is dirty sex. That relationship is prone to medically physical,psychological,legal and social problems. If our society insists on there being gay marriage,there better be an ethical definition that makes it satisfactory for all of the parties that get themselves parties involved in it. GBLT is too vague a definition of a lifestyle that can be subjected to the natural law the way traditional marriage is. Co-habitating persons can have similar legal protection because it is a less personal term and not considered to be marriage. Marriage,traditional marriage,produces family and all families producing this way must by law be protected by our society. That to me is a fundamentally basic understanding of basic law. In conclusion these silly television shows don't take any of these points into consideration they just are appealing to emotion alone! Traditional Marriage falls into the category of a sacred space and that sacred space must be protected. Man-woman-child,Traditional,that marriage is the nucleus of any great nation. That Concept,must never be destroyed.
abey
7 months ago
The networks are to profits through the senses of the people, but then the important question is whether God accepts the senses of the people which through Biblical understandings clearly shows that he considers such census as senseless to Spiritual harlotry to enslavements, but through Prophecies brings about curses & destructions, 'cause he is one, the only one who sees the end from the beginning, as is stated. The end is thus foretold.

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