GLAAD CLAIMS BIG INCREASE IN GAY TV CHARACTERS

In its latest “Where We Are on TV” report, the Gay and Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation (GLAAD) said Wednesday that more gay and lesbian characters are being featured during the new TV season than ever before. The study found that 3.9 percent of all characters on network primetime television are gay or lesbian — 35 characters, up from 25 during the last season. “The increase in lesbian, gay and bisexual characters on primetime television not only reflects the shift in American culture toward greater awareness and understanding of our community, but also a new industry standard that a growing number of creators and networks are adopting,” said GLAAD president Jarrett Barrios in a statement. Meanwhile, a British study found that 20 percent of viewers in the U.K. are “uncomfortable” with the growing number of gay characters and said that there was too much content relating to gays.