The Gay and Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation (GLAAD) released its report on the expected 2008-2009 television season. Their findings show an overall increase in the inclusion and visibility of LGBT characters on broadcast and cable networks.
According to GLAAD, broadcast networks like ABC, CBS, Fox, NBC and The CW will include a total of 16 LGBT characters this year — more than twice the seven characters announced at the launch of the 2007-2008 season.
Fox will feature the most LGBT characters — a total of five out of a total 97 series regular characters in the 2008-2009 season.
For cable networks, LGBT series regular characters dropped to 32 from the 40 present during the 2007-2008 season.
A sampling of the expected characters are below. The full report is available online at www.glaad.org/eye/ontv/2008/.
Broadcast lead characters
Each entry follows this legend for description: Show, Network, Character, Actor, Orientation/Ethnicity
“Brothers & Sisters,” ABC, Kevin Walker, Matthew Rhys, gay/white
“Grey’s Anatomy,” ABC, Callie Torres, Sara Ramirez, bisexual/Latina
“Grey’s Anatomy,” ABC, Erica Hahn, Brooke Smith, bisexual/white
Cable characters
Each entry follows this legend for description: Show, Network, Character, Actor, Orientation/Ethnicity
Lead Characters
“Nip/Tuck,” FX, Julia McNamara, Joely Richardson, bisexual/white
“South of Nowhere,” The N, Spencer, Gabrielle Christian, lesbian/white
“South of Nowhere,” The N, Ashley, Mandy Musgrave, bisexual/white
Supporting Characters
“Entourage,” HBO, Lloyd, Rex Lee, gay/Asian-Pacific Islander
“Mad Men,” AMC, Salvatore, Bryan Batt, gay/white
“Nip/Tuck,” FX, Liz Cruz, Roma Maffia, lesbian/Latina
“Skins,” BBC America, Maxxie, Mitch Hewer, gay/white
“The Starter Wife,” USA, Rodney, Chris Diamantopoulos, gay/white
“True Blood,” HBO, Lafayette Reynolds, Nelsan Ellis, gay/black
“Weeds,” Showtime, Isabelle Hodes, Allie Grant, lesbian/white