LGBT Characters Drop on Primetime Broadcast TV, Study Finds

Gay characters are becoming more racially diverse, but there are very few transgender characters.

Thanks to shows like “The New Normal,” “Glee” and “Happy Endings,” gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender characters were given bigger primetime roles than ever before last season, but broadcast networks will have a hard time matching those record-breaking results as a new television year kicks off. Following a record high last season, an analysis by advocacy group GLAAD found that 3.3 percent of series regulars on the 2013-2014 scripted primetime broadcast television schedule will be LBGT. This is down from 4.4 percent in 2012, but still higher than the 2.9 percent recorded in 2011. Among the 796 series regulars characters popping up across 109 primetime scripted television programs on the five broadcast networks, 26 are LGBT, while 770 are straight. The number of LGBT characters fell from 31 in the previous season. Half of the 46 LGBT characters on broadcast networks are women and 28 percent are minorities. Moreover, though last year’s programs failed to feature any prominent transgender characters, “Glee” will have one with the addition of Wade “Unique” Adams, a young transgender woman in the singing club, to the regular cast.