LGBT issues garner limited coverage and little optimism

An analysis of the image of LGBT people and themes on international TV news

March 4, 2014. New York – Coverage tone on LGBT people as a group on international TV news is strongly negative, with only the coverage regarding the U.S. showing any clear positivity. Additionally, visibility of LGBT people and issues remains below the awareness threshold on international TV news overall, despite periodic strong focus from the U.S. media, according to new research from Media Tenor International.

Since the beginning of 2014, international news programs have focused on anti-LGBT laws in Russia (where visibility was highlighted due to the Sochi Olympics) and Uganda.

“In the U.S., where same-sex marriage rights have become a long-term political issue due to the state-by-state legal process, focus on both international and domestic anti-LGBT laws is greater,” says Racheline Maltese, a researcher with Media Tenor. “The divisive marriage debate has become seemingly uninteresting to the news media,” Maltese continues, “but severe legal sanctions in other countries and the U.S. fight over ‘religious freedom’ bills that would allow businesses and public servants to refuse service to LGBT individuals have received stronger visibility due to the intensity of the rhetoric on both sides of the issue.”

The emergence of openly LGBT players in sport has also been a key focus of international coverage since former German soccer star Thomas Hitzlsperger came out in January, generating positivity from the media even as doubt was cast on fans and teammates being willing to accept the presence of openly LGBT players in active competition.

Media Tenor’s research also found higher levels of volatility regarding the image of LGBT people as a group compared to the image of all protagonists (e.g., politicians, societal institutions, individuals, etc.) who were visible on LGBT-related issues. Media outlets seeking to offer balanced and comprehensive coverage on LGBT issues could smooth this volatility with increased salience on LGBT people as a group.

Media Tenor analyzed 636,715 reports on 20 international TV news programs for this report. For additional information, please contact Racheline Maltese at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.