Study: ABC Family has most gay characters

http://www.sbcbaptistpress.org/printerfriendly.asp?ID=35875 ^ | Aug 3, 2011 | Whitney Jones

[ZGuy]

ABC Family became the second network to receive an excellent rating from a gay advocacy organization for its positive portrayal of gays, lesbians, bisexuals and transgenders, according to a report released August 3.

The Gay & Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation (GLAAD) completed its fifth annual Network Responsibility Index -- a report that grades broadcast and cable networks for the quantity and quality of homosexual characters and issues included in their programming.

ABC Family was given an excellent rating because more than half of its programming included gay characters or discussions about homosexuality. ABC Family had the highest percentage of hours -- 55 percent -- that included gays or references to them. In a year, the network's homosexual content rose 18 percent.

The only other channel to receive an "excellent" rating in the report's history was MTV (2010). GLAAD evaluated five broadcast and 10 cable networks in this year's report.

"Programs like Pretty Little Liars and Greek have woven gay, lesbian, and bisexual characters into their stories in a way that mirrors the diversity of our community and the experiences of younger generations," said Herndon Graddick, senior director of programs at GLAAD. "Viewers expect to see television environments that accurately reflect what it's like to be a young adult, and today that includes young adults who happen to be gay."

GLAAD evaluated networks and scored them as excellent, good, adequate or failing. Broadcast networks that received a "good" score were The CW (with 33 percent of its hours depicting gay themes or characters), Fox (29) and ABC (23 percent). Among the leading cable networks were Showtime (37), TNT (33), HBO (31), AMC (29) and Syfy (22).

"GLAAD has seen time and again how images of multidimensional gay and transgender people on television have the power to change public opinions," GLAAD said in its report

Dwayne Hastings, a vice president at the Southern Baptist Convention's Ethics & Religious Liberty Commission, agreed that TV has shaped the culture, but not for the better. Hastings said parents should instill strong morals and stand on biblical truth, which condemns homosexuality.

"For families who seek to follow Christ and earnestly live out their faith, there is nothing happy in this report," Hastings said. "Those who push for so-called homosexual rights and lobby for same-sex interests ... have a powerful ally with deep pockets in the entertainment industry who are more than willing to use their media to recast the homosexual lifestyle as normative."

He added, "Unfortunately, many Americans are willing to allow Hollywood to manipulate their perspective on the world."

Broadcast programs with regular gay characters and plot lines included The CW's "America's Next Top Model" and "90210" and ABC's "Ugly Betty," "Grey's Anatomy" and "Modern Family." Fox even airs an animated show, "American Dad," that has gay themes in addition to its hit show "Glee," which has five regular gay characters.

Networks GLAAD graded "adequate" included CBS (10), NBC (15), FX (19) and USA (18). Only two networks failed GLAAD's standards: A&E (5) and TBS (5).

Said Hastings, "The reality is that if we were to publish the same kind of report that GLAAD has produced but instead focus on the presence of evangelical Christians on television, it would be a very short report. But few are concerned about the lack of accurate, portrayal of Bible-believing characters on television or in the movies.

"Whether we want to admit it or not, there is a well-financed and detailed plan at work to change Americans' opinions on those who practice homosexual and lesbian lifestyles. Given reports like this one, we can tell it is a very effective plan."

[massmike]

ABC Family had the highest percentage of hours -- 55 percent -- that included gays or references to them.

Does this include Obama press conferences?

[NRA1995]

GLAAD, put it where the sun don’t shine! Oh, that’s right, you get off on that kind of thing!

[Hatteras]

I can’t remember the last time I watched anything on ABC unless it was a college football game in a sports bar or something...

[kittymyrib]

We are ditching our Dish system at the end of this year. We can use the extra $96/mo. for gas and groceries instead of supporting gay and lesbian programs.

[Olog-hai]

“ABC Family” . . . an oxymoron?

[arthurus]

I can say,”so what?” I don’t have a box. Haven’t had one for 23 years. Don’t miss it or its homosexual characters and games.

[Molon Labbie]

Let them have some episodes showing the “Wholesome Folsom” and see their ratings drop...

[sickoflibs]

RE :”ABC Family became the second network to receive an excellent rating from a gay advocacy organization for its positive portrayal of gays, lesbians, bisexuals and transgenders, according to a report released August 3....ABC Family was given an excellent rating because more than half of its programming included gay characters or discussions about homosexuality. ABC Family had the highest percentage of hours — 55 percent — that included gays or references to them. In a year, the network's homosexual content rose 18 percent. “

This type of thing explains poll demographics on SS marriage and DADT open homosexuality in military.

I remember MTV in the early 1980s and it was incredibly wholesome and clean especially compared to todays cable ‘family’ shows.

[Red Badger]

Maybe they should call it the ACDC Network...................

[SW6906]

For less than 10% of the population (even less that are "out"), they sure seem to be extremely over-represented on TV.............Is there an agenda going on here?

/s

[ZULU]

I like that. It goes well with See-BS, one of their liberal co-Channels. We need a designation for NBC too.

[Grizzled Bear]

My family got cable when I was in High School. At the time, “Showtime Movie Channel” seemed to be little more than a queer advocacy mouth piece.

I spent my rare television time watching HBO, Cinemax and MTV (that was when MTV showed these things called “music videos”).

[apillar]

ABC Family had the highest percentage of hours -- 55 percent -- that included gays or references to them.

Pretty good for a lifestyle choice practiced by, at most, 5% of the population. I stopped watching the major networks about 10 years ago when they were just starting to push gay programming, the sitcom "Will and Grace" is what finally sent me packing. I can only imagine what a cultural wasteland the current programming lineup must be, like a San Francisco gay pride parade right in your home every evening.

[End Times Sentinel]

For less than 10% of the population (even less that are "out"),

Excellent point, but the number is closer to between 1.5-2%

[Impy]

Never watched that network once.

"Programs like Pretty Little Liars and Greek have woven gay, lesbian, and bisexual characters into their stories in a way that mirrors the diversity of our community and the experiences of younger generations,"

I think plenty of people don't know any gays.

[rlmorel]

I stopped watching completely back around 2000 or thereabouts. For much the same reasons.

[Tax-chick]

I think plenty of people don't know any gays.

There's a cashier at my local Walmart (bright young man, very quick with the scanner!), but other than that, nope.

[fwdude]

I knew there was a reason I ditched my t.v.

[baddog 219]

ABC family is not family.... It takes pre-teen girls and turns them into sex dolls.This channel has more sex than the playboy channel. It should be the "ABC Pedophile" channel.