ABC, FX Top GLAAD Report, Fox Named Least Gay-Friendly Network

NEW YORK — The marriage between the gay characters Kevin and Scotty in the season finale of ABC's "Brothers & Sisters" helped the network win the highest praise Sunday from an advocacy group that pushes for more visibility of such characters on television.

It was the first wedding of two gay or lesbian characters in a prime-time scripted series, said the Gay and Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation. ABC has had other historic moments, including introducing a gay character to "Soap" in 1977, having a gay teen in "My So-Called Life" and Ellen DeGeneres coming out on "Ellen" as well as in real life.

ABC ranked highest among the broadcast networks in hours where gay and lesbian characters were portrayed, with FX topping the 10 cable networks monitored, GLAAD said.

ABC is owned by the Walt Disney Corp. and FX by Rupert Murdoch's News Corp.

"We know that programming to lesbian and gay viewers is good business and these are two networks that realize the social and economic benefits of including images of our community in their programming," said Damon Romine, GLAAD's director of entertainment media.

FX was praised for "Nip/Tuck," which GLAAD said had one gay, lesbian or bisexual character in every episode. "Rescue Me" had a minor story line with a gay couple having a commitment ceremony and "It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia" had a transgender character.

Fox, also owned by News Corp., and NBC both had "failing" grades from GLAAD. While GLAAD was pleased by the inclusion of gay characters on "House" and the games "American Idol" and "So You Think You Can Dance," the group didn't like a "New Amsterdam" episode where two lesbian characters fell in love with a straight man.

GLAAD is pushing NBC to include more gay characters, particularly after the prominent lesbian doctor Kerry Weaver left "ER."

Comments

[MissingAmerica]

I'm sorry?! I thought this website was about news! This really isn't news!

[MrVinegar]

News is newly received or noteworthy information. This really IS news. It's about the media and it is under the media tab. Shocker huh? If it isn't news for you then move on.

And, yes, you do come across as sorry.

[johnnyjust]

So Fox is the network least trying to pretend a perverse lifestyle is normal?

Thanks.

[MrVinegar]

Your ignorance speaks volumes. Please give us one shred, one tiny iota of evidence that being gay is a perverse lifestyle and isn't normal.

Oh gee, you can't.

[Jezdukowski]

Are you talking about republican pedophiles?

[MadTeaArmy]

This is just stupid. I'm all for homosexuality and equality on TV, and I love Brothers & Sisters - but the moment gay rights advocates start getting caught up in counting how many gay or lesbian characters are on certain shows and networks is the moment the wagon gets stuck in the mud. Do these people have nothing better to do? How about we focus on the real issues, such as electing gay-friendly politicians and defeating homophobic legislation?

[andvoodoo2]

Because once the television viewing public begin to see gay characters as "normal", then it becomes that much easier for "gay-friendly politicians" and actual GAY politicians to get elected and to defeat "homophobic legislation".

[Eric8869]

There is a whole generation raised on WILL & Grace who aren't as homophobic as their parents. It makes a difference.

[imsosure]

I'd say that's the least of Faux's problems.

[LiberalAl]

This is no surprise at all...FAUX News demographic is bigoted angry white males, the mentally delusional, and the geriatric set.

[bookon]

Primetime TV is DEAD.

There are channels for gay people, black people, nerds and wonks. Every type of person can find every type of channels.

I watch the Discovery channels and Sci-Fi, MSNBC and CNN. I watch a few network shows, but VERY few. This stuff mattered when I was a kid and there were 3 channels. Today it does not. This is like complaining about what's wrong with vaudeville in the 1930's.

[Eric8869]

Not just primetime TV but HBO also.

I used to love Six Feet Under, Sex and the City, - they had the Sopranos - now what do they have??? not much.

Showtime is kicking their a** with Weeds, Dexter, etc.

[Nitehawk]

Have these voters ever watched BBC America? I mean Torchwood has two guys who like to play naked hide and seek.

[frankifrost]

I GUESS THE AUTHOR OF THIS ARTICLE
HASN[T SEEN ALL THE EFFEMINATE GUYS HOSTING
ALL THE FAUX-NEWS SHOWS.

[Eric8869]

Naked Hide and Seek? Is that some sort of frat boy gay joke lingo? It's not funny.

Torchwood is original and nothing like an American Television show. (and I mean that as a compliment)

PS: frankifrost - please don't type all in caps it's annoying.

[ianmcc]

In my area BBC America is part of an expanded package that I cannot afford. And I find it interesting that the Sci-Fi channel shows both Dr. Who and it's spin-off The Sarah Jane Chronicles, yet Torchwood is conspicuously absent to make a true trifecta. I think that it's because the show has actively MALE bisexual characters Sci-Fi has chosen to censor the program from American audiences. And THAT is the reason why gay characters need to be inclusive among a variety of networks and types of programs, to show the reality that gay people are ALREADY in ALL these various environments.

[SouthJerseySteve]

This is as it should be... Fox "Noise" will always be anti-anything not pro Rupert Murdock! That way, the rest of us with 1/2 a brain can continue to watch Keith Obermann. LOL

[Eric8869]

ABC and "Brothers and Sisters" deserves this praise.

To put this in perspective:

http://www.thisisby.us/index.php/content/why__quot_brothers__amp__sisters_quot__is_groundbreaking_for_gay_men

[huffyISaHottie]

ALERT THE MEDIA........WHAT A SHOCK