New Study proves DADT has no Negative Effect on Troops

Most of us knew this was the case, but now, everyone does.

A new study points out that the repeal of DADT causes no harm or morale issues. Here's more from the Palm Center:

The authors of the study, who included professors at U.S. Military Academy, U.S. Naval Academy, U.S. Air Force Academy and U.S. Marine Corps War College, arrived at this conclusion after soliciting the views of 553 generals and admirals who predicted that repeal would undermine the military, as well as with expert opponents of DADT repeal, a number of watchdog organizations and more than 60 active-duty heterosexual, lesbian, gay and bisexual troops from every service branch. 

They also observed several military units and administered several surveys, analyzed relevant media articles published during the research period and conducted secondary source analysis of surveys independently administered by outside groups. 

"For almost twenty years, experts predicted that allowing gays and lesbians to serve openly would harm the military," said Aaron Belkin, the founding director of the Palm Center and lead author of the study. "Now the evidence is in, and the conclusion is clear: repealing 'don't ask, don't tell' did not harm the military, and if anything made it easier for the Pentagon to pursue its mission."

See, all  the repeal did, was set folks free from foolishness.

BBC gets criticized for the portrayal of LGBT people on TV

The BBC network conducted research of the portrayal of LGBT folks on TV and radio. This is what they found:

• The research found that 37% of the LGB respondents rated the BBC’s portrayal of LGB people as good or very good, but 24% rated it as poor.

• It also said that, while 44% of them agreed that the BBC’s portrayal was realistic, 37% thought it was stereotyped. Of the sample, 27% also thought the BBC’s portrayal was outdated, with 23% describing it as groundbreaking.

• BBC’s research found that half of the UK population is comfortable with LGB portrayal, but that 18% are not. Taking the heterosexual responses alone, 21% felt there was too much portrayal of gay men on television. From the LGB sample, 52% said there was too little portrayal of lesbians on TV, compared with just 11% of the heterosexual population.

• The results found that viewers want LGB characters to become more established before storylines around their sexuality are developed and feel that storylines should not just revolve around their sexuality. 

• Both LGB viewers and those heterosexual viewers who were found to be comfortable with LGB portrayal said that LGB characters should experience “more positive resolutions to storylines”.

• In comedy and entertainment, it was found that jokes at the expense of the LGB community were accepted if they came from within that community. The research found that humour with “apparently malicious intent and without an LGB person present to respond” was considered unchallenged homophobia.

Interesting... I always thought they were waaay ahead of us. For info, go here.

Are Gay and Lesbian Characters Underrepresented on British TV?

I'm a little shocked about this info.

According to this research from UK based gay advocacy group, Stonewall, gay and lesbian characters are underrepresented in British TV:

A survey for the gay equality charity monitored more than 120 hours of programmes watched by the young.

It said gay people were mainly portrayed as promiscuous, predatory, or figures of fun.

Stonewall said homophobic bullying in schools was unsurprising when gay people were so often depicted on TV in a derogatory or demeaning way.

The report, called Unseen on Screen, says ordinary gay people are almost invisible on the 20 programmes most watched by the young.

It says just 46 minutes out of 126 hours' output showed gay people positively and realistically.

I always thought they had a wide range of LGBT characters in everything. Think of the all gay movies that came from the UK. And hell, Queer As Folk (the better one) start there.

I'm really surprised to hear this.