Study: British TV often stereotypes gay characters

Positive and realistic gay characters are almost nonexistent on the TV shows most watched by young British people, according to the results of a study published today.

Research by Stonewall, which campaigns for the rights of lesbian, gay and bisexual people, found only 46 minutes of "positive and realistic" portrayals of gay people in 126 hours of footage. Half of portrayals of lesbian, gay and bisexual people were stereotypes, such as gay people being depicted as promiscuous or predatory. Homophobia was present in many TV shows, but three fifths went unchallenged. “TV gives the wrong view of gay people because every storyline is about them being beaten up and discriminated against," one 16 year old interviewed for the research said. "They are never accepted by their family. In real life they just want to fit in." The research follows a 2009 poll by YouGov in which 71 percent of secondary school teachers said anti-gay language in the broadcast media increases homophobic bullying in schools. Ben Summerskill, Stonewall chief executive, added: "It’s hardly surprising that there’s still almost endemic homophobic bullying in Britain’s secondary schools when, even if gay people do appear on TV shows watched by young people, they’re depicted in a derogatory or demeaning way."