Jim Halterman has published part one of a new survey profile of several working TV showrunners aimed at finding out what their experience is with studios in terms of including LGBT stories and characters in their work. Showrunners featured in this piece include David Goyer (“Da Vinci’s Demons,” “Constantine"), Marlene King (“Pretty Little Liars"), Hart Hanson (“Bones,” “Backstrom“), Caroline Dries (“The Vampire Diaries“), Jill Soloway (“Transparent,” “Six Feet Under“), Carter Covington (“Faking It“) and Bradley Bredeweg, (“The Fosters“). Part 2 will run on Xfinity this Monday, September 22.
"But what is it like from the creative perspective of making television in the 21st Century? Are the studios and networks supportive of having LGBT characters in the development process of a series or episodes? Is it easier for bisexual or lesbian characters to get the green light? What about trans characters? Are there still battles being fought or can we hang it up and call it a day?
To find out, I reached out via an email questionnaire to a group of working TV showrunners gay and straight to find out what they’re experiencing in 2014 in terms of incorporating LGBT characters and stories into their work. And while some of the responses make you think we’re right where we need to be, others show that we’ve still got a way to go before having LGBT characters or stories no longer being a point of discussion or contention. They just are."