GLAAD Gives A&E Network 'Failing' Grade In LGBT Diversity

Rebecca Bellecci Wednesday, October 01, 2014

(Photo: Courtesy of A&E and Howard Books, an Imprint of Simon and Schuster)

The GLAAD gay advocacy group has released its annual diversity report for television networks, giving MTV, ABC Family and HBO high ratings, but marking the A&E network with a "failing" grade.

The gay advocacy group released its eigth annual Network Responsibility Index this week, which rates different television networks on their diversity in portraying same-sex couples or homosexuality in general on their television shows. The Index rates LGBT content from the 2013-3014 season.

GLAAD awarded three networks a grade of "excellence," including NBC, which reportedly contributes 37 percent of its primetime airing to LGBT issues, and Fox with 36 percent and ABC with 34 percent. All of these networks broadcast shows that include gay couples or situations inclusive to homosexuality. ABC has the hit show "Modern Family," while Fox has shows like "Glee" and "Brooklyn Nine-Nine."

Other networks, including TNT, History and A&E, received "failing" grades for their lack of LGBT-friendly storylines. A&E is home to the reality show "Duck Dynasty," with one of its characters, Phil Robertson, receiving criticism back in December 2013 for sharing his evangelical views on Christianity in an interview with GQ Magazine.

GLAAD instigated Robertson's suspension from his reality show for his comments, but the family patriarch was reinstated shortly after due to public outrage over the stifling on his free speech rights.

In a press release announcing their results, GLAAD President and CEO Sarah Kate Ellis said her organization believes television plays a key role in promoting the LGBT community.

"Television networks are playing a key role in promoting cultural understanding of LGBT lives around the world and are now producing some of the best LGBT-inclusive programming we've yet seen," Ellis said.

"As they move forward with new programs and storylines, networks must also keep an eye towards diversity and strive to include significant transgender content comparable to those efforts being made by their online competitors, such as Netflix's Orange Is The New Black and Amazon's Transparent."