Glee and True Blood have been applauded by gay rights campaigners for bringing more homosexual characters to the small screen.
A report by the Gay & Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation (GLAAD) has found the number of gay, lesbian or bisexual characters appearing on TV in the U.S. has risen over the last year.
The study claims homosexual characters now make up 3.9 per cent of all those seen on U.S. TV.
Hit vampire show True Blood, which stars bisexual Anna Paquin and has featured six gay characters, was singled out for praise, along with musical show Glee and Modern Family.
GLAAD president Jarrett Barrios says, "The increase in lesbian, gay and bisexual characters on primetime television not only reflects the shift in American culture toward greater awareness and understanding of our community but also a new industry standard that a growing number of creators and networks are adopting.
"The recent critical and commercial success of shows like Modern Family and Glee clearly indicate that mainstream audiences embrace gay characters and want to see well-crafted stories about our lives."
In related news clean-cut Glee star Lea Michele has revealed her only vice - a secret love of tattoos.
The singer/actress doesn't smoke or take drugs and rarely indulges in more than one glass of wine on a night out, but she insists she does have a rebellious streak which has led to her covering herself in body art.
Michele admits she has nine tattoos, but they are all discreetly hidden.
She tells Britain's Marie Claire magazine, "I don't smoke and I don't do drugs... These days I have one glass of wine and I'm completely gone. I've never been a 'Let's go out and have a cosmopolitan' kind of girl. I don't even think I've ever tasted a cosmopolitan before...
"(My tattoos are) all tiny. I mean, you saw me in the shoot today, I was practically nude. Did you see any? No. I'm telling you, I have nine. All so, so, so little."
Tagged in True Blood Glee