Where We Are On TV Report 2013 – 2014

The Where We Are on TV report analyzes the diversity of primetime scripted series regulars on broadcast networks and looks at the number of LGBT characters on cable networks.

Below are some of the most remarkable points GLAAD found in its research this year, download the full report now to read more.

• Out of 796 primetime broadcast scripted series regulars, 26 will be LGBT this year, or 3.3%.  This in down from 4.4% last year but still up from 2.9% at the beginning of the 2011-2012 season.  In addition, GLAAD found 20 recurring LGBT characters, down from 25 last year.
• ABC and FOX are the only networks to show increases this year and have the highest percentage of LGBT characters at 5.4% each. The CW is in third place at 3%. CBS is no longer last with 1.9% of its regular characters being LGBT, while NBC dropped from last year to 1%.
• Of the 46 LGBT regular and recurring characters on broadcast networks, half are women and 28% are people of color. While last year there weren’t any regular transgender characters on broadcast television, there will be one this season with the character of Unique on Glee.
• On cable, GLAAD counted 42 regular LGBT characters, up from 35 last season. An additional 24 recurring characters were counted. HBO will have the most characters with a total of 11, followed by Showtime with 8 characters. Of those LGBT characters, 39% are women and 29% are people of color. Only one transgender character, Adam on Degrassi, was counted though he no longer appears on the program.
• Of the 796 overall regular characters on broadcast primetime, the percentage of female characters has declined somewhat to 43%.  People of color will once again make up 23% of all regular characters, while just 1% will be depicted as people with disabilities.

GLAAD’s annual TV reports not only propel national conversations about LGBT representation, but inform GLAAD’s own advocacy within the television industry.  GLAAD uses this yearly data to create a clearer picture of the stories and images being presented by television networks, and to encourage networks to include diverse LGBT representations within them. The next NRI and Where We Are on TV will be released in 2014.