GLAAD Reminds Us to Love MTV and ABC - They Are as Gay as Gay Can Be!

GLAAD's fourth annual Network Responsibility Index is now available to be viewed online. The 2010 report of your favorite networks and television shows offers a few surprises – some interesting and some, well, expected. One of the top mentionable items is the fact that MTV reigns supreme in the report for receiving GLAAD’s “Excellent” rating. Way to go, MTV! 

With reality television the norm today and music videos not so much anymore, many of us over the age of 30 have tuned out the once controversial television network (MTV) in favor of old movie re-runs on USA, A&E and TBS. Let’s be honest, how many times can you watch MTV’s 16 and Pregnant not being able to relate at all to the fact that the main character on the reality show is accidentally pregnant when you, as a lesbian woman, will never be in that situation? After viewing GLAAD’s fourth annual Network Responsibility Index, we may all want to reconsider the decision to dismiss the Jersey Shore empire of MTV.

GLAAD President Jarrett Barrios released a statement today regarding the monumental decision to award the first-ever “Excellent” rating in the history of the Network Responsibility Index to MTV. “It is with great pride that GLAAD honors MTV with our highest mark of excellence in recognition of the network’s commitment to fair and accurate representation of the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender community. From their inception, MTV programs like ‘The Real World’ and ‘America’s Best Dance Crew’ have offered richly diverse portrayals of gay and transgender people that help Americans better understand and accept our community.”

The numbers are quite staggering and the disparity between the networks is hard to overlook. In total, GLAAD reviewed 4,787.5 hours of primetime programming between the timeframe of approximately one year (from June 1, 2009 to May 31, 2010). Five networks were examined – ABC, CBS, The CW, Fox and NBC. GLAAD’s Entertainment Media Program assigned a rating to each network. The choices were: “Excellent”, “Good”, “Adequate”, or “Failing”.

Here is the long and short of it: For the first time since its inception four years ago, GLAAD’s Network Responsibility Index recognized MTV for offering the world 42% of LGBT inclusion (the percentage point was concluded upon by the basis of reviewing 207.5 hours of original primetime programming). Using the same judging method, it was decided that CBS (7%), USA (4%), A&E (3%) and TBS (2%) all received a big fat “Failed” rating. For the record, this is not the first time that CBS has received a “Failing” rating from GLAAD for LGBT inclusion on their network.

“When television networks share real stories of our community, audiences begin to see the common ground that we all share,” said Barrios. “Over the last year, viewers across the country celebrated the arrival of Mitchell and Cameron’s baby on ABC’s ‘Modern Family’, while teens and parents everywhere were moved by Kurt Hummel’s relationship with his father on Fox’s Glee. These images and stories are being noticed by viewers, critics and Awards programs and we urge other networks to open their airwaves to such powerful and inclusive messages.

View the Executive Summary and full report.

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