Gay Characters on Network TV: 2009-10

Gay and lesbian characters on television have gradually been gaining greater representation on television in recent seasons. This year, according to GLAAD, 18 regular characters on network scripted series are gay, lesbian, bisexual or transgender -- 3 percent of all regulars. That's an increase from 2.6 percent of regular characters last season and 1.1 percent the previous year.

Here's a look at those characters, along with several gay and lesbian recurring characters on network shows.

-- Hanh Nguyen and Rick Porter, Zap2it