MTV gets top marks for gay inclusion on shows

The Real World and America's Best Dance Crew helped MTV became the first TV network to win an "excellent" rating for its portrayal of gay, lesbian and transgender people on television, the US activist group Gay & Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation (GLAAD) said on Friday.

In its fourth annual report mapping the quantity and quality of gay images on TV, the GLAAD also gave high marks to young female-oriented network the CW for shows like America's Next Top Model, Gossip Girl and One Tree Hill.

But despite welcoming gay teen storylines on hit musical comedy Glee on Fox, and the appointment of lesbian Ellen DeGeneres as a judge on American Idol, the Fox network was slammed for offensive stereotypes on Family Guy and The Cleveland Show.

GLAAD said that on both animated series last season, characters vomited at the thought of having sex with a transgender woman.

"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," said GLAAD president Jarrett Barrios.

GLAAD said that 42% of the 207.5 hours of original programming on MTV in the 2009-10 TV season included images that reflected the diversity of the LGBT community.

Four gay members and a transgender competitor appeared on America's Best Dance Crew, while The Real World: Washington DC featured two bisexual roommates.

GLAAD welcomed MTV's efforts because of its large 18-34 year old audience. Public opinion polls show that young Americans are more supportive of the LGBT community than their older counterparts.

The CW -- the smallest of the leading US networks -- had 35% of LGBT-inclusive prime time programming hours, the highest percentage among the five biggest broadcast channels.

GLAAD awarded the CW a "good" rating, along with ABC, ABC Family, HBO, Showtime, Lifetime and TNT. Fox and NBC were both deemed "adequate", while CBS -- the nation's most-watched network -- received a "failing" rating.

GLAAD says portrayals of gay people on television help Americans better understand and accept the LGBT community in their everyday lives.