GLAAD ranks ABC first in LGBT representation...Fox gets failing grade
ABC, the network that introduced gay attorney (and great kisser) Kevin Walker to viewers on "Brothers & Sisters" nearly a year ago, received the highest score on the inaugural "Network Responsibility Index" released today by the Gay & Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation (GLAAD).
Kevin, played so wonderfully by Matthew Rhys (kissing Jason Lewis in a scene from last spring), is the openly-gay member of the Walker clan headed by Sally Field.
GLAAD's first-of-its-kind report maps the quantity, quality and diversity of images of lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) people on network television. ABC, with shows like "Brothers & Sisters" and "Ugly Betty," received the highest ranking of the five networks. NBC, once home to "Will & Grace," ranked fourth, while FOX scored lowest.
Says GLAAD Entertainment Media Director Damon Romine, editor of the report: "We know that seeing multi-dimensional, diverse people represented on television changes public perception. Millions of lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender Americans fight every day for equality and for the right to live their lives without fear of discrimination and violence. True equality will be in our grasp when network television presents our stories in a fair, accurate and inclusive way."
GLAAD examined all primetime programming — 4,693 hours — on the five major networks (ABC, CBS, The CW, FOX, and NBC) from June 1, 2006 – May 31, 2007. Each hour was reviewed for any on-screen major or minor LGBT representations. Based on the overall quantity, quality and diversity of these representations, a grade was assigned to each network: Excellent, Good, Fair, or Failing.
ABC received a grade of Good and led the networks with 15 percent of its primetime programming hours inclusive of LGBT representations. The CW followed with a Fair; 12 percent of its programming hours were LGBT inclusive. CBS received a Fair for its 9 percent of LGBT-inclusive programming hours. NBC was given a Fair for its 7 percent. And FOX received a Failing grade for its 6 percent of LGBT-inclusive programming hours. No network received an Excellent ranking.
Copies of the GLAAD Network Responsibility Index have already been delivered to programming executives at the five networks.
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in Hollywood
Greg Hernandez authored Out In Hollywood for the Daily News from June 2006 to February 2009. He can now be found at Greg In Hollywood: www.greginhollywood.com
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