{"id":57753,"date":"2017-11-09T10:01:16","date_gmt":"2017-11-09T15:01:16","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.gayfriendschat.com\/socialblog\/glaads-where-we-are-on-tv-report-highlights-why-representationmatters\/"},"modified":"2017-11-09T10:01:16","modified_gmt":"2017-11-09T15:01:16","slug":"glaads-where-we-are-on-tv-report-highlights-why-representationmatters","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.gayfriendschat.com\/socialblog\/glaads-where-we-are-on-tv-report-highlights-why-representationmatters\/","title":{"rendered":"GLAAD’s ‘Where We Are on TV’ report highlights why #RepresentationMatters"},"content":{"rendered":"

GLAAD’s ‘Where We Are on TV’ report highlights why #RepresentationMatters<\/b><\/p>\n

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Photo Credit: GLAAD<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
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GLAAD today released its annual Where We Are on TV<\/em> report<\/a>; a comprehensive forecast of the lesbian<\/a>, gay<\/a>, bisexual<\/a>, transgender, and\/or queer (LGBTQ) characters expected in primetime, scripted programming in the 2017-18 television season. This is the 22nd<\/sup> year that GLAAD has tracked the presence of LGBTQ characters on television, and the third year since GLAAD expanded that count to quantify LGBTQ characters on original series that premiere on the streaming content providers Amazon, Hulu, and Netflix.<\/p>\n

Of the 901 series regular characters expected to appear on broadcast primetime scripted programming in the coming year, 58 (6.4%) were counted as LGBTQ. This is the highest percentage of LGBTQ regular characters GLAAD has counted on primetime scripted broadcast programming. There were an additional 28 recurring LGBTQ characters. This is 86 total LGBTQ regular and recurring characters on primetime scripted broadcast TV, up from the previous year\u2019s 71. The five broadcast networks are ABC, CBS, The CW, FOX, and NBC.<\/p>\n

VIEW THE FULL REPORT HERE<\/a><\/strong><\/center><\/h2>\n

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The number of LGBTQ regular characters counted on cable increased from 92 last year to 103 this year, while recurring LGBTQ characters is up from 50 to 70. This is 173 regular and recurring LGBTQ characters, though it should be noted that 27 of these characters are not expected to return for the 2018 season due to series cancellations, announced finales, or characters being written off but who appeared as a regular or recurring character during the research period.<\/p>\n

On streaming originals on Amazon, Hulu, and Netflix, LGBTQ regular characters are up with 51 (from 45), but recurring characters are down by one to 19 this year. This is 70 LGBTQ characters on streaming original series, up from last year\u2019s 65.<\/p>\n

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\u201cAs LGBTQ acceptance in government and the broader American culture reverses course, television is a critical home for LGBTQ stories and representation matters more than ever,\u201d said Sarah Kate Ellis, President and CEO of GLAAD. \u201cAt a time when the Trump administration is trying to render LGBTQ people invisible, representing LGBTQ people in all of our diversity in scripted TV programs is an essential counterbalance that gives LGBTQ people stories to relate to and moves the broader public to support LGBTQ people and families.\u201d\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n

\"\"For the first time, GLAAD has been able to count regular and recurring characters who are non-binary and asexual characters in the Where We Are on TV <\/em>report. While these identities have been depicted on screen before, those characters were often relegated to one-off episodes, which did not allow for nuanced exploration. Broadcast is the only platform tracked without a canon asexual character; cable and streaming each count one asexual character (Raphael of Freeform\u2019s Shadowhunters<\/em>, Todd on Netflix\u2019s BoJack Horseman<\/em>).<\/p>\n

The emergence of these new stories is reflective of the real world. GLAAD\u2019s Accelerating Acceptance survey found<\/a> that 20 percent of Americans aged 18-34 (a key demographic for networks) identify as LGBTQ. Twelve percent of 18-34 year olds would call<\/a> themselves \u201cnot cisgender,\u201d and four percent identify as asexual. The inclusion of these stories is a welcome change, and GLAAD looks forward to seeing more of these characters.<\/p>\n

Other encouraging findings include a record-high percentage of series regulars on broadcast television who are people of color (40 percent, 356 out of 901), as well as a record-high percentage of regular characters with disabilities on broadcast television (1.8%).<\/p>\n

\"\"While much progress has been made and TV remains far ahead of film in terms of LGBTQ television, it is important to recognize where programming is still falling short. This report brings to light the continued lack of diversity among LGBTQ portrayals on television. In all forms of television that GLAAD tracks, LGBTQ characters are still predominantly white (77% of LGBTQ characters on streaming, 62% on broadcast, 64% on cable). The majority of LGBTQ characters are men<\/a> (55% of LGBTQ characters on broadcast), and cisgender. There are only 17 transgender characters across all three platforms tracked \u2013 broadcast, cable, and streaming originals.<\/p>\n

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\u201cNumbers are only a small part of the story when it comes to LGBTQ representation on TV and simply being present onscreen is not enough,\u201d said Megan Townsend, Director of Entertainment Research & Analysis at GLAAD. \u201cWhile we\u2019re pleased to see numbers on the rise, consideration of how LGBTQ characters are woven into storylines and whose stories are making it to screen is crucial for judging progress of the industry. And there is still work to be done.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n

Additional findings include:<\/p>\n