GLAAD‘S 2012 Network Responsibility Index reflects the changing times for LGBT people, revealing a broadcast and cable television lineup, despite having grown almost exponentially since GLAAD‘s early days monitoring the mediascape for homophobia and all forms of anti-LGBT bigotry, that is replete with LGBT characters, personalities and issues portrayed or presented in realistic, often positive ways.
That’s not to say there’s not a lot of room for improvement.
Non-satisfactory representation of LGBT people and issues earned two networks, TBS and History, failing grades in the index. Showtime, TNT, ABC Family and HBO all won the rating “good.” The CW was the top earner of kudos among all broadcast networks.
Following are highlights from the GLAAD Network Responsibility Index:
Broadcast Networks:
- The CW remains the top broadcast network with 29% of its primetime programming hours being LGBT-inclusive. The CW also registered the most racial diversity with 62% of impressions made by LGBT people/characters of color.
- ABC improved enough (+4%) and Fox declined enough (-5%) for the two to swap places for second and third place in percentage of inclusive hours compared to last year. NBC remained in fourth place despite an increase of 4% in LGBT inclusive hours.
- For the fourth year in a row CBS remained in last place with 8% LGBT-inclusive hours of primetime programming, dropping 2 percentage points from last year. After receiving an “Adequate” score last year, the network is back to a “Failing” score.
Cable Networks:
- Showtime (46%), ABC Family (34%), TNT (34%), and HBO (33%) all received “Good” ratings for the quantity and quality of their LGBT-inclusive original programming.
- MTV (23%) which received an “Excellent” score two years ago received an “Adequate” score this year along with FX (34%), TLC (20%) and USA (17%).
- For the fourth year in a row TBS (5%) received a “Failing” rating, as did the History network (3%).
The 2012 index bears out a familiar issue. Transgender people are not nearly sufficiently represented, neither in frequency or quality, according to GLAAD. But, there were bright spots even on the trans front.
“The appearance of Chaz Bono on Dancing with the Stars was a groundbreaking step in transgender representation on television this year,” said GLAAD president, Herndon Graddick. “His very candid appearance on the program taught many that transgender Americans deserve respect and acceptance.”
GLAAD’s Where We Are On TV report is on deck as the organization’s next scheduled annual release of data and analysis of LGBTs’ evolving place in the media. Where We Are On TV focuses specifically on the diversity of LGBT portrayals in terms of gender and race. Look for it in the fall.
