James McDonaldFor the ninth year, GLAAD has released its Network Responsibility Index, which ranks the quality, quantity, and diversity of LGBT representation on television. It's a comprehensive look, which takes into account criteria such as actors, characters, story-arcs, and air-time. For the first time a major a major broadcast network, FOX, received a top mark of Excellent, along with ABC Family. The announcement is made even more significant by the fact that FOX received a Failing grade in the inaugural 2006 index.
Across the board, networks have been upping their LGBT game, which GLAAD CEO & President Sarah Kate Ellis says is no surpise:
"Television has always had a reciprocal relationship with the society watching it – reflecting social attitudes while also shaping them – and that relationship has without a doubt helped the country move closer to full equality and accelerate acceptance for all its citizens."
She added:
"It’s not enough to simply see more LGBT characters. We need to push media companies and creators to represent the full diversity and humanity of the LGBT community. No character should be reduced to a token. All of us live at the intersection of multiple identities and experiences making us much more than our sexual orientation or gender identity, and it is critically important we see that reality reflected in the media. Networks that continue to lag behind in diversity must hear the message that simply putting LGBT people onscreen isn’t enough; there must be thought, care, and substance behind it."
While FOX and ABC Family scored Excellent, ABC, CW, FX, HBO, MTV, and Showtime were ranked Good. CBS, NBC, TLC, TNT, and USA recieved a score of Adequate, and A&E and History rounded off the grouping with Failing.
The full Network Responsibility Index can be read online.
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