Gay Characters On TV Increase

Mon., Aug. 18, 1997

New York Daily News

A record 30 homosexual characters will be featured in network series this season, according to the Gay & Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation.

Counting three characters introduced in the 1996-97 season and four others added for 1997-98, the number of gay roles is up 23 percent from the start of last season.

“Television is starting to actually represent society at large,” GLAAD entertainment media director Chastity Bono said. “And because of the earlier pioneers like the ‘Roseanne’ show, and last year with ‘Ellen,’ the door is opened for more and more of it.”

Among the new gay characters will be one on ABC’s “Total Security,” played by Bill Brochtrup. Wallace Langham will play Kirstie Alley’s assistant on NBC’s “Veronica’s Closet.” While the pilot episode has Langham’s character denying he’s gay, GLAAD says he’ll come out later. Karime Prince will play an HIV-positive gay youth on Fox’s “413 Hope St.”

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