Gay characters "dying off" on TV Larry Buhl, PlanetOut Network Thursday 1 September, 2005 13:12 | US TV has long dominated British screens, and along with it the slew of gay characters from shows such as Queer Eye and Will and Grace.
But a new study points to a loss of gay characters from America's big shows. And as the six major US broadcast networks unveil their autumn schedules new offerings still aren't as diverse they should be, according to an analysis conducted by the Gay and Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation (GLAAD). Out of 710 "series regulars" that will appear over the next few months, gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender characters make up less than 2 percent, GLAAD Entertainment Media Director Damon Romine told the GAY.COM/PlanetOut Network. "This is a shocking misrepresentation of reality and of the audience watching these programs," he said. Even skimpier are representations of lesbians or LGBT characters form ethnic minorities, the study concluded. Of the 16 'series regular' and recurring LGBT roles, 13 are male, and three are female, with one character each representing African Americans, Latinos and Asian Pacific groups. "TV is a reflection of reality," Romnie continued. "When gay characters are on TV it sends a signal to America that we are part of the fabric of everyday life. We are everywhere and we should be represented." Romine also criticised shows like CSI which feature gay 'crime of the week' stories but no gay series regulars. "What message does it send to the audience when the only gay people on the show are either murderers or victims?" But Richard Kravitz, creator of TVgayguide.com, suggested that other factors should be considered beyond characters on prime-time fictional shows. "GLAAD didn't take into account reality shows with gay contestants or hosts, such as Extreme Makeover-Home Edition, and I don't think they mention Queer Eye or contestants on Survivor," Kravitz told the GAY.COM/PlanetOut Network. Kravitz continued that there is a significant and encouraging trend of openly gay actors doing straight roles on TV something that was relatively rare just a few years ago. But Kravitz does see a disturbing trend on the horizon, with the dearth of gay-themed shows since Queer as Folk is gone, and 8-year-old Will and Grace is on the way out. "The only show left is The L Word," he said. "There is nothing left to replace these shows and that's disturbing. I hope the networks aren't again being afraid of LGBT-themed shows." The brightest spot for LGBT characters is cable TV, the GLAAD study showed. And, not surprisingly, the best variety of representations are on the three gay cable networks, Logo, Q and here! According to Stephen Macias, a representative from here!, the channel's goal is to have fully fleshed-out LGBT characters in its acquisitions and original programming. "Those characters are husbands and wives, detectives and students, heroes and villains," he told GAY.COM/PlanetOut. "In other words we are after an authentic and accurate portrait of gay and lesbian Americans." While committed to LGBT portrayals, here! and the other gay networks are still finding their footing in the US. Logo was launched only two months ago, here! is a premium (pay) channel, and Q's distribution is still relatively small. These three may have a bigger impact on the overall TV landscape over time. Until then the bulk of viewers still get ideas of "gay life" from shows on the big six networks. In the UK, the only gay channel Faze TV is not set to launch until later this year. ------------------------ Yahoo! Groups Sponsor --------------------~--> Make a difference. Find and fund world-changing projects at GlobalGiving. http://us.click.yahoo.com/j2WM0C/PbOLAA/E2hLAA/WfTolB/TM --------------------------------------------------------------------~-> Group Site: http://www.gaybombay.info ========================== This message was posted to the gay_bombay Yahoo! Group. Responses to messages (by clicking "Reply") will also be posted on the eGroup and sent to all members. If you'd like to respond privately to the author of any message then please compose and send a new email message to the author's email address. Post:- gay_bombay@yahoogroups.com Subscribe:- [EMAIL PROTECTED] Digest Mode:- [EMAIL PROTECTED] No Mail Mode:- [EMAIL PROTECTED] Individual Mail Mode:- [EMAIL PROTECTED] Contact Us:- [EMAIL PROTECTED] Archives are at http://www.mail-archive.com/gay_bombay%40yahoogroups.com/maillist.html Classifieds for personal advertisements are back on www.gaybombay.info site. Please exercise restraint in the language of your personal advertisement. Yahoo! Groups Links <*> To visit your group on the web, go to: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/gay_bombay/ <*> To unsubscribe from this group, send an email to: [EMAIL PROTECTED] <*> Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to: http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/
