Florida Agenda

By DUNCAN ST THIBAULT

MSNBC Anchor Ties the Knot

MSNBC anchor and host Thomas Roberts wed his longtime partner, Patrick Abner, this weekend, in a small ceremony at Manhattan’s toney Gansevoort Hotel. Roberts is the first cable news anchor to marry a person of the same sex. In June 2011, he and Abner served as honorary Grand Marshals for Wilton Manors’ Stonewall Street Parade and Festival. “Good Morning, America” weather guy Sam Champion’s similar announcement last week of an engagement brought sharp reaction—including from some who support his nuptials but thought GMA made too big a deal of it on the air.

This Is What a “Modern Family” Looks Like

For the third year in a row, ABC’s smash sitcom “Modern Family” won a clean sweep in most of last month’s Emmy Awards categories.  Star Eric Stonestreet, who plays chunky Cameron on the hit series, was up against— so to speak—his TV hubby, actor Jesse Tyler Ferguson (who plays uptight redhead Mitchell) for Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Comedy Series.

After Stonestreet (who is straight) proved a repeat-winner, co-star Ferguson stopped by the set of “Jimmy Kimmel Live!” to playfully bitch about the loss. Asked by host Kimmel if Stonestreet had been pulling for his screen-partner, Ferguson said with smarm, “Who knows if it’s true, but he said he wanted me to win.”

To bolster his chances of a win at next year’s Emmys, Ferguson, 36, unveiled a mock “attack ad,” in which he accuses Stonestreet of “steal[ing] gay American jobs,” and calls him a “liar” and an “ass-kisser.” Ah, family.

Etheridge Rocks for Maryland Marriage Equality

Still-rocking singer Melissa Etheridge has sent out a letter on behalf of Marylanders for Marriage Equality, calling for equal treatment under the law for every American. As some added incentive for supporting same-sex marriage, Etheridge is offering campaign donors a chance to meet her backstage during an upcoming show in Bethesda.

Last month, the singer (“Come to My Window”) told TV host Joy Behar, “I’m for gay marriage, because I’m for gay divorce.” She added: “I don’t think people realize what a system heterosexuals have for marriage. You can marry someone and then, oops.

WASHINGTON, D.C. – The Gay and Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation (GLAAD) announced that lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender character account for 2.9% of regular characters in primetime scripted broadcast TV for the 2011-12 season. This figure is down from 3.9% in 2010.

However, GLAAD praised shows such as “Modern Family,” “True Blood,” “Glee” and other shows that are both critically acclaimed and receive high ratings while developing LGBT characters.

Among broadcast channels, Fox emerged as the leader with eight regular LGBT characters. On cable, GLAAD, in a written statement, said that standout series include HBO’s “True Blood” with lesbian and gay characters caught up in the occult, and TeenNick’s “Degrassi,” which features Adam, a transgender teen. “Degrassi” won a Peabody award for the two-part episode “My Body Is a Cage.”

“I think we’re going to see more and more gay characters on both cable and network TV as time goes on,” said Herndon Graddick,GLAAD’s senior director of programs. “The American public is hungry for diverse characters. They want TV to be reflective of their experiences in life.”

LOS ANGELES, CA:

The Gay, Lesbian and Straight Education Network (GLSEN), honored the Emmy Award-winning ABC comedy “Modern Family” at the Respect Awards in Los Angeles on Friday, October 8. The series, which recently began its second season, focuses on a diverse suburban family, including a gay couple with an adopted Asian daughter.

It won the 2010 Emmy Award for Best Comedy Series. “I do have the same sort of mixed feeling, in the light of everything that’s happened,” noted Jesse Tyler Ferguson of Modern Family, who is openly gay. “However, I think an event like this echoes the sentiment that we need to change. This cannot continue happening.” The Emmy-nominated Ferguson, 34, said he was “very bullied” in school.