Sifter

The Gay and Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation’s annual survey of network TV characters is out. While the number of LGBT characters in “scripted” programs is up from last year, the new 2005-06 season is still far from a realistic representation. Of the 710 regular characters in 110 shows, only 16 are gay, lesbian or bisexual (there are no transgender characters), or less than 2 percent of the total. Last year there were only 11. Cable is predictably much more progressive, with 25 characters slated for new season, though it should be noted that 10 of those characters—including one female-to-male transgender—all appear on one show, Showtime’s The “L” Word.

One question: Why isn’t the Mr. Burns-obsessed Waylon Smithers from The Simpsons on the list? He hasn’t officially come out, but c’mon…

Show (network) Character Actor Orientation

Crumbs (ABC) Mitch, Fred Savage, gay

Emily’s Reasons Why Not (ABC) Josh, Khary Payton, gay

Out of Practice (CBS) Regina Barnes, Paula Marshall, lesbian

Will & Grace (NBC) Will Truman, Eric McCormack, gay

Will & Grace (NBC) Jack McFarlane, Seane Hayes, gay

Book of Daniel (NBC) Peter Webster, Christian Campbell, gay

Desperate Housewives (ABC) Andrew Van De Kamp, Shawn Pyfrom, bi

Half & Half (UPN) Adam, Alec Mapa, gay

Inconceivable (NBC) Scott Garcia, David Norona, gay

Inconceivable (NBC) Jim, Jonathan Slavin, gay

Love Monkey (CBS) Jake Dunn,e Christopher Wiehl, gay

ER (NBC) Kerry Weaver, Laura Innes, lesbian

Kitchen Confidential (FOX) Cameron, Sam Pancake, gay

The Simpsons (FOX) Patty Bouvier, Julie Kavner, lesbian

The War at Home (FOX) Kenny, Rami Malek, gay

Twins (WB) Neil, Christopher Fitzgerald, gay

From Gay & Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation site—www.glaad.org