GLAAD’s annual report card on LGBT characters on TV shows that the networks still lag way behind cable

Thank God we still have Scotty and Kevin on ABC’s Brothers & Sisters!

Their storyline was not exactly stellar this past season but hey, they are the most highly visible couple on network television and we appreciate them – especially since they are played so wonderfully by Luke Macfarlane and Matthew Rhys.

ABC, once again, led the way, had the highest representation of LGBT characters (24 percent) of the five broadcast networks, according to the third annual Network Responsibility Index released Monday by the Gay & Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation.

For the report, GLAAD reviewed all prime-time programming – totaling 4,901 hours – for inclusion of such characters or issues on the five major networks (ABC, CBS, NBC, Fox and the CW) from June 1, 2008, to May 31, 2009. The study also examined all original prime-time programming – 1,213 hours – on 10 prominent cable networks. The programming included dramas, comedies, unscripted fare and newsmagazines.

Kevin and Scotty are not the show’s only gay characters: Saul, played by Ron Rifkin, came out as gay last season.

ABC also has bisexual Calle Torres (Sara Ramirez) on Grey’s Anatomy who had two female lovers this past season while Desperate Housewives made more use of its gay character Andrew Van de Kamp (Shawn Pyfrom) than it had in several years – even giving Andrew another boyfriend, finally! The show has two other gay character played by the talented Tuc Watkins and Kevin Rahm but their characters have still not been developed after two seasons.

ABC’s Ugly Betty also helped ABC’s stats with the gay character of Marc (Michael Urie) but lost its high-profile transgender characger of Alexis Meade played by Rebecca Romijn.

ABC’s Dirty Sexy Money, now canceled, also had a transgender character (Candis Cayne) who was having a relationship with the politician played by Billy Baldwin. The fact that Cane is transgender in real life added to the authenticity.

It’s the third year in a row ABC led the broadcast networks in LGBT-inclusive content. Of its 1,146.5 total hours of primetime programming, 269.5 hours (24%) included LGBT impressions and 9% were transgender-inclusive, making ABC the most fair, accurate and inclusive of the five broadcast networks.

ABC is clearly open to scripted LGBT characters while the other networks would score even lower if they did not have gay contestants on their various reality shows like America’s Top Model on CW or The Amazing Race on CBS..

The youth-skewing CW, which such shows as 90210 and Gossip Girl, came in second with 20 percent but Fox at 11 percent made a significant improvement from 4 percent. Of course, there was nowhere to go but up! The numbers for CBS (5 percent) and NBC (8 percent) were abysmal!

COMING UP: GLAAD cable television report.