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thomas davison

BBC told to put more gay presenters on children's TV to 'familiarise' youngsters with different sexualitiesStudy said gay presenters would 'validate' the feelings of gay children

It said this was important for young people in their ' formative years'
Report said BBC News gave too much time to 'homophobic' viewpoints
It also recommended having more gay characters in dramas and soaps
By Daily Mail Reporter
PUBLISHED: 09:16, 14 December 2012 | UPDATED: 11:37, 14 December 2012

..The BBC should have more gay presenters and characters on children's TV, a report has concluded.

This could mean following ITV's lead in using personalities such as former Big Brother star Brian Dowling, who presented SMTV Live on Saturdays for two years.

The BBC was called upon in the report to ensure that audiences are 'familiarised' with different sexualities 'from an early age'.

Exposure: Audiences should see lesbian, gay and bisexual people on television 'during their formative years', the study said
The study claimed that lesbian, gay and bisexual (LGB) people are still 'relatively invisible' across the media.

It said that it was important to help validate the feelings of gay children by 'incorporating representation within programming for children who are going through their formative years'.

Demonstrating positive experiences and outcomes will stop LGB children feeling isolated, it said, particularly in rural areas.
The report commissioned by the broadcaster, which drew on audience surveys and nine 'LGB experts', concluded that all genres of programming should regularly feature non-heterosexual people, with news and drama currently the biggest problem areas.

Of BBC News, the study claimed that too much time was given to 'homophobic' viewpoints.
'As a public service broadcaster and a standard bearer on moral issues, the BBC is asked to reconsider the way in which it is perceived to set up these debates with two extreme perspectives and to be more creative and nuanced in its presentation,' wrote Clare Luke of Solitaire Consulting, who produced the report.
Role models: Gay actor Andrew Payden-Smith, left, starred in CBBC drama Byker Grove and presented its breakfast shows for children. Former Big Brother Brian Dowling, right, hosted a showbiz slot on BBC Radio 1

For dramas and soaps, she recommended bolder storylines featuring gay characters, while documentaries were deemed to need more LGB presenters and portrayal of gay people in history.

As for comedy, the report concluded that the 'biggest risk' was LGB people being the focus of a joke.
This was judged as only truly acceptable when the comedians themselves were gay.
The report drew on a survey of around 3,000 viewers, in which one in five heterosexual men said they thought there were too many LGB people on BBC television.
More than one in ten people said there were uncomfortable with the portrayal of gay, lesbian and bisexual people in the broadcast media.
Acting director general Tim Davie, chair of the BBC Working Group which commissioned the review, said: 'The BBC has a fundamental obligation to serve all its audiences. In fact, it�s one of the BBC�s public purposes to reflect the diversity of UK life.

Stalwart: BBC children's presenter Kirsten O'Brien said in 2007 that 'everyone at CBBC is either gay or childless and don't like kids'
'I�m proud to have led this work for three years, and this review underlines our commitment and sets a direction for the work to continue.'
Big Brother star Dowling became the first openly gay children's TV presenter in the UK when he began presenting ITV's SMTV Live in 2002.
In 2002, Dowling co-hosted the Elle Style Awards with BBC Radio 1 presenter Jo Whiley and he hosted a showbiz slot on Vernon Kay's BBC Radio 1 Saturday morning show from 2004 to 2006.
Gay actor Andrew Hayden-Smith made his name as Ben in CBBC youth drama Byker Grove, and in 2002 became half of the main presenting team for the afternoon slot on BBC1, a position he would hold for just under four years.

During that time, he also occasionally presented the CBBC breakfast shows on BBC1 and BBC2 as well as the digital CBBC channel.
Performer John Barrowman, who has since appeared on BBC shows Doctor Who, Torchwood and Strictly Come Dancing, began his career presenting CBBC's Saturday morning show Live and Kicking.

Gay rights campaigner Anthony Crank, best known for fronting Channel 4 youth show T4, works for BBC Radio Manchester as a regular cover presenter and presented BBC family shows including Holiday and Holiday Hit Squad.

BBC children's presenter Kirsten O'Brien said in 2007 that 'everyone at CBBC is either gay or childless and don't like kids'.
However, the corporation insisted that her remarks about her colleagues during a stand-up show at the Edinburgh festival had been made in jest.

The SMart presenter's words came shortly after a series of gaffes relating to BBC children's shows.

Blue Peter was found to have used a studio guest to pose as a competition winner and presenter Richard Bacon admitted taking cocaine.

BBC already appears to have more gay presenters than hetrosexuals. What exactly are these childrens gay presenters going to do, hang a sign around their necks to tell the children that they are gay.

Whats next from the BBC for the kids, how to put a condom on when they are three or movies showing the gay side of life.
The BBC wants shutting down.