I gotta say, given that it’s 2009 and all, I’m just not impressed with how gay and lesbian folks are portrayed on television. Sure, you might see gay couples on TV, particularly of the lesbian variety. But often, these portrayals smack of being publicity stunts. This week, the Gay and Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation did a study of how the biggest 15 networks represented LGBT characters in their shows last season. They looked for shows that reflected “the lives of gay, bisexual and transgender people.” And, of course, they found that HBO did the best—with 42 percent of its prime-time programming hours devoted to this. Showtime, with shows like “The L Word” and ‘‘The United States of Tara,” was next with a 26 percent. But once the study got to the more mainstream media, the numbers dropped significantly. Of the five major networks—ABC, CBS, NBC, Fox and the CW—ABC ranked the highest with 24 percent. NBC had only eight percent, and CBS came in with a pathetic five percent. At first glance, these numbers don’t sound too terrible. But I’m going to go ahead and argue that things are a lot grimmer than they appear.

According to the LGBT community, Facebook is useful for more than just sharing photos and favorite pastimes; it’s also great for coming out. Instead of doing it the old fashioned way—face to face—coming out of the closet now only entails checking a box on your Facebook profile page. Friends can then discover your sexual status at the comfort of their own computer, and you can avoid spending precious time engaging in what could be uncomfortable exchanges.

Gays, lesbians, and bisexuals talked to Time about the new Facebook trend, explaining that it has turned what used to be a tedious process into a convenient and liberating one.

“I just came from a courthouse where they practically want you to undress to be approved for official gender reassignment,” said Herrald, a practicing bisexual. “But on Facebook, I could do it myself and under my own terms. I made that announcement in my own town square.”
   
Oh Facebook, how we rely on you.

The Ivy League is making waves toward greater acceptance this week. First, Katie Couric was the first woman to give a commencement speech at Princeton. Now, Harvard University has become the first institute of higher education to create an endowed professorship in lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender studies. Although other colleges and universities offer courses and degree programs in sexuality studies, Harvard is the first to set up an endowed professorship on the subject. Visiting scholars will teach on sexuality and issues affecting sexual minorities for one semester each.

The Harvard Gay & Lesbian Caucus raised $1.5 million to fund the role, which is named after F.O. Matthiessen, an American studies scholar and literary critic who kept his homosexuality a secret while chairing a Harvard undergraduate program. “It’s not so much that we’ve been able to raise this money, it’s that Harvard and the faculty at Harvard have accepted this perpetual endowment for gay and lesbian studies,” said Mitchell Adams of the Harvard Board of Overseers. Now, if we could only get same sex marriage legalized across the board, we’d be one progressive society. [Reuters]

A 17-year-old senior is suing Lebanon High School in Indiana because her principal told her she couldn’t wear a tuxedo to the prom. The teen, whose name hasn’t been released, believes wearing a dress conveys a sexual identity she rejects. The American Civil Liberties Union of Indiana filed a lawsuit in U.S. District Court in Indianapolis on behalf of the girl, and it says that although the school dress code doesn’t specify gender-based requirements, the senior prom dress code dictates that girls wear a formal prom dress. The lawsuit alleges that the prom dress code policy discriminates against students based on gender and the policy violates federal law because the school receives federal funds. The ACLU is seeking an injunction that will allow the teen to wear the same attire as males attending the prom. Meanwhile, school officials are discussing whether to allow the teen to wear a pantsuit, instead. Clearly a women’s pantsuit doesn’t convey the same message as wearing a tux would.

Cases like this seem to come up each year around this time as LGBTQ teens try to enjoy a right of passage that they’ll remember for the rest of their lives. After the jump, other instances in which LGBTQ teens have dealt with similar situations.

To say that I’m displeased with Tyra and the other “America’s Next Top Model” judges for eliminating Isis would be an understatement. I’m actually pissed!

Today is the National Day Of Silence, which brings attention to anti-lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender name-calling, bullying and harassment in schools. This year’s event is being held in memory of Lawrence King, a California 8th-grader who was shot and killed by a classmate because of his sexual orientation. Though we can’t literally keep our trap shut all day, we are going to try and blog as quietly as we can. [DayOfSilence.org]

Calpernia Addams, showgirl, motorcycle enthusiast, and Southern belle, is the newest reality dating show star. She’s gorgeous, she’s smart, she’s funny, and she’s got a better boob job than Miss New York.  What’s her secret? She used to be a man, but after serving as a decorated medic for the Navy in Desert Storm, Calpernia transitioned into the leggy redhead she is today. Ms. Addams has dedicated her life to activism and was the subject of the 2003 film, Soldier’s Girl.  Now, at the ripe age of thirty-six, the femme fatale is ready to open her heart and mansion so eight men, from a car dealer to a professional wrestler, can compete for her love. Calpernia’s show, TransAmerican Love Story, premiers tonight on LOGO at 10pm, so don’t try to phone call us—we’re going to be glued to our LGBTv’s.  What a woman! [ABC News and LOGO]