By GLAAD.org
Photo Credit: Jussie Smollett in “Empire” – © FOX
The Where We Are on TV report analyzes the overall diversity of primetime scripted series regulars on broadcast networks and looks at the number of LGBT characters on cable networks for the upcoming 2014-2015 TV season.
Following a decline last year, GLAAD has found an increase in the percentage of lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) characters anticipated to appear on scripted primetime broadcast television in the coming year. The annual Where Are We on TV report forecasts the expected presences of LGBT characters for the upcoming 2014-2015 television season.
The analysis of characters for the 2014-2015 scripted primetime broadcast television schedule found that 3.9% of series regulars will be lesbian, gay or bisexual characters. This is up from 3.3% last year but still down from the record high of 2012 when 4.4% of primetime broadcast scripted regular characters was LGBT characters on primetime broadcasts series. The number of LGBT characters on scripted primetime cable television continues to rise with an additional 22 regular characters, for a total of 64 in the 2014-2015 seasons up from 42 last year. Additionally
GLAAD counted 41 LGBT recurring characters on scripted cable series.
The season marks the 19th year GLAAD has tracked the presence of LGBT characters on television by counting their numbers in scripted primetime programs on both the broadcast and cable networks. The creation of the Where Are We on TV report in 2005 has allowed GLAAD to track trends and compile statistics for regular characters on broadcast television with regards to sexual orientation, gender identity, and race/ethnicity. This information remains subject to change based on programming adjustments over the course of the television season.
This year, the Where Are We on TV report counts characters on scripted series that started after May 31, 2014, and looks at anticipated cast for the upcoming 2014-2015 season. At the end of the 2014-2015 seasons GLAAD will compile an in-depth analysis of these images presented on television in its ninth annual Network Responsibility Index. (NRI)
Out of 813 primetime broadcast scripted series regulars, 32 will be LGBT this year, or 3.9%. This is up from 3.3% last year but still down from the record high of 2012 when 4.4% of primetime broadcast scripted regular characters was LGBT. In addition, GLAAD found 33 recurring LGBT characters on primetime broadcast series.
FOX showed an increase this year with 6.5% of primetime broadcast scripted regulars being lesbian, gay or bisexual, the highest percentage among broadcast nets. ABC, which tied with FOX for first place last year, has dropped to 4.5% of primetime regular characters on the network being LGBT. NBC is in third place at 3.8%, up from 1% last year. CBS is in fourth for the second year in a row with 3.2% of its regular characters being LGBT, up from 1.9% last year, while The CW will have no regular LGBT characters.
Of the 813 overall regular characters on broadcast primetime, the percentage of female characters has declined to 40% from 43% last year. People of color will make up 27% of all regular characters, while just 1.4% will be depicted as people with disabilities.
Of the 65 LGBT regular and recurring characters on broadcast networks, 43% (28) are women and 26% are people of color. While last year a transgender character was amongst the primetime broadcast series regulars (Unique on FOX’s Glee), this year there are none.
On cable, GLAAD counted 64 regular LGBT characters, up from 42 last season. An additional 41 recurring characters were counted. HBO will have the most characters with a total of 15 regular or recurring characters expected, followed by ABC Family and Showtime with 13 characters each. Of those LGBT characters, 44% are women and 34% are people of color. Only one transgender character, Cole on The Fosters, was counted.
To download the full report click here .
