TV’s Gayest Year Yet

That’s right. GLAAD is reporting that the 2008-09 television season is the gayest on record.

Via GLAAD’s press release:

The overall number of lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) representations on the broadcast networks will more than double this year after a three-year slump, according to an analysis of the 2008-2009 television season conducted by the Gay & Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation (GLAAD).

GLAAD’s 13th annual “Where We Are On TV” report shows that LGBT representations will account for 2.6% of all scripted series regular characters on the 2008-2009 broadcast television schedule, up from 1.4% in 2005, 1.3% in 2006, and 1.1% in 2007. In contrast, the number of LGBT series regular characters found on scripted programming on mainstream cable networks has decreased since last year’s analysis, from 40 to 32.

For 13 years, GLAAD’s report has analyzed the characters on the networks’ primetime scripted programming. From information provided by the five broadcast networks – ABC, CBS, Fox, NBC and The CW – GLAAD examined 88 scripted comedies and dramas announced to air this upcoming season, and counted a total of 616 characters, 16 of which are LGBT – more than twice the number of characters, seven, announced at the launch of the 2007-2008 season.

“This dramatic increase shows how far many networks have come in developing complex, multi-layered lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender characters,” says GLAAD President Neil G. Giuliano. “Our analysis also shows where there’s still work to be done. This past year, we’ve seen some real progress from Fox towards making their scripted programming more inclusive, which is something we’re hoping to see from other networks like CBS.”

Fox, which featured zero series regular LGBT characters at the launch of last season, has announced five LGBT characters out of 97 total series regular characters for 2008-2009. The network now has the highest percentage of LGBT characters on any network (5%). ABC continues to excel as it did last year, with seven LGBT characters out of 166 total series regular characters (4%), the highest number of LGBT characters of any network. NBC has three series regular LGBT characters (2%) out of a total of 147. On the negative side, CBS has the most disappointing showing, with not a single LGBT series regular character out of 126, and only one recurring character in the entire series lineup.

Additionally, The CW’s lack of scripted representation is now merely a close second to CBS, as the network has only one scripted series regular LGBT character. For a complete list of LGBT characters on broadcast television, visit www.glaad.org/eye/ontv/2008/broadcast.php.