LOS ANGELES (AP) – Sixteen gay, lesbian and bisexual characters are depicted in network TV series scheduled for the 2005-06 season, a small increase over last year but still inadequate, the Gay & Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation said.

Out of 710 characters appearing on a regular or recurring basis on the six major broadcast networks in the new season, about 2 percent are gay, lesbian or bisexual, according to the group’s annual study.

Last season, GLAAD counted 11 such characters on network shows.

While there is no definitive figure available for the U.S. gay and lesbian population, GLAAD believes the number is “certainly higher” than that represented on network TV, spokesperson Damon Romine said.

“This is a shocking misrepresentation of reality and of the audience watching these programs,” Romine added in the report of the group’s findings.

Although GLAAD has conducted the study for 10 years, this was the first time the specific percentage of gay characters on TV was calculated, Romine said. The figure is intended to provide a benchmark to measure progress in future seasons.

Many gay and lesbian characters fall into minor or supporting roles in the TV season that begins the week of Sept. 19, GLAAD found. Gay and lesbian characters also tend to lack ethnic and gender diversity.

The study looked at 110 scripted shows and found 16 characters on 14 shows. There were 13 males and three females. Thirteen were white.

“If you’re looking at network television to see a good cross-section of our community, you’re not going to find it,” Romine said. “What you will find is primarily gay white males.”

Cable TV is ahead of broadcast in “exploring our lives, families and careers,” and features 25 lesbian and gay characters in the new season, the group said.

Among the shows cited on cable with major gay or lesbian characters: Showtime’s “The L Word,” Comedy Central’s “Reno 911!” and FX’s “Starved.” Broadcast shows with gay or lesbian representation include NBC’s “Will & Grace” and ABC’s “Desperate Housewives.”

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. (AP) – Six Florida congregations petitioned the world leader of the Anglican Communion to help them gain oversight by a different bishop, saying their local bishop hasn’t distanced himself from the Episcopal Church and its election of an openly gay bishop.

The congregations wrote in their letter to Archbishop of Canterbury Rowan Williams that they are “in serious theological dispute” with Bishop John Howard so it was impossible to remain under his leadership, The Florida Times-Union reported.

The Rev. Sam Pascoe, a rector in Orange Park, said the north Florida churches believe that with another bishop they can minister “with a clean conscience.”

Like conservative congregations in other states, they oppose the denomination’s approval of New Hampshire Bishop V. Gene Robinson, who lives with his male partner, as a violation of the Bible and Christian tradition.

“It’s disappointing that political tactics are being used, real disappointing,” said Canon Kurt Dunkle, Howard’s chief of staff. He said if Williams were to intervene his decision would be a mere suggestion since he cannot dictate to a U.S. bishop. The Episcopal Church is the U.S. branch of the 77-million-member Anglican Communion.

Howard rejected a request from the congregations that he temporarily assign another bishop, saying this amounted to a “divorce” with the diocese, but said he would consider other options.

Three of the other protesting congregations are in Jacksonville, joined by one in Gainesville and one in Tallahassee. Together they include about 4,000 of the diocese’s 33,000 members.

MILWAUKEE (AP) – Those Naked Boys Singing! hope to resume taking off their clothes this month.

The Milwaukee Gay Arts Center plans to reopen the musical revue, which features nudity, in mid-September, said Richard Hart, the center’s attorney.

Police shut down the show Aug. 18 in a dispute over whether the center needed a theater license for the production. The center received a letter from the city’s license division indicating officials believed the center’s non-profit status meant it did not need a theater license after all, Hart said.

The center started staging performances of Naked Boys Singing! Aug. 11 and was scheduled to continue them until Sept. 3.

Naked Boys Singing! has run into trouble with authorities before in such cities as Provincetown, Mass.; San Juan, Puerto Rico; and Atlanta. Eventually, all three cities held performances of the show.

The center filed a claim that contends that police selectively enforced the license ordinance against the center and seeks about $630,000 in punitive damages, legal fees and lost revenue. It says that proceeds from the production had been designated for various AIDS research groups and theater groups.

“This issue has really put a black eye on the city,” said Don Hoffman, a co-director of the center.

NASHUA, N.H. (AP) – More than 300 people spoke their minds on same-sex marriage at a recent public hearing.

The hearing was supposed to take place in Nashua’s City Hall auditorium, but so many people showed up that the venue was changed to the Grace Fellowship Church.

New Hampshire’s commission on same-sex unions spent this spring and summer touring the state to find out what people think about same-sex marriage. Other hearings were held in Littleton, Portsmouth and Keene. The commission will hear from experts on both sides of the issue this month.

The panel of lawmakers, private citizens and state officials is charged with studying which laws would be affected if civil unions or marriage were approved for same-sex couples. The commission is expected to deliver its report to the Legislature by Dec. 1.

SANTA FE, N.M. (AP) – A Santa Fe-based liberal leader has assailed a Presbyterian Church task force’s proposal to keep a law barring actively gay clergy and lay officers until at least 2008, allowing time for “discernment” and work for church unity.

A conservative leader also criticized a recent task force report, saying it provides leeway for violations of that gay ban.

A national church assembly next June will decide on the task force proposals and gay policy.

Michael Adee, national field organizer for More Light Presbyterians, said the report is “a call to continue prejudice and discrimination” and “spiritual violence” against “lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender Presbyterians.” His organization vowed continued work for pending legislation that would repeal the ban.

Meanwhile, Michael Walker, executive director of the conservative Presbyterians for Renewal, said the task force proposal to let local church bodies decide what national standards of conduct are “essential” and enforceable would cause violations of church law and “several years of wrangling.”

Walker called the idea “an end run around the will of the church,” which approved the gay ban in three nationwide referendums.

Another conservative caucus, Presbyterian Coalition, agreed that the language on conduct standards “appears to permit” what church law prohibits.

SANTA FE, N.M. (AP) – A 17-year-old Santa Fe boy has pleaded guilty to aggravated battery and other charges in a February attack on two gay men.

David Trinidad, the first of six defendants to go to court, pleaded guilty to aggravated battery, battery, conspiracy and criminal damage to property.

An attorney for another man charged in the beatings said his client will not plea bargain, while a lawyer for a third said his client will plead to some charges and testify against co-defendants who go to trial.

State District Judge Michael Vigil ordered a 15-day evaluation of Trinidad before sentencing. The teen could be sentenced as a juvenile, which could include being committed to the state up to his 21st birthday, or be sentenced as an adult, in which he could get up to seven and a half years in prison.

He was on probation for a rape conviction involving a 4-year-old boy at the time of the beating, prosecutors said.

James Maestas, 21, and Joshua Stockham, 23, were attacked by a group of men Feb. 27 in the parking lot of a Santa Fe motel after an earlier confrontation with them at a restaurant.

District Attorney Henry Valdez has said he will seek tougher sentences under New Mexico’s hate crimes law.

Maestas, who spent more than a week in intensive care, had to undergo extensive physical and speech therapy, said Assistant District Attorney Heidi Pircher. Stockham suffered minor injuries.

Maestas was not at the hearing. Stockham, who attended, had no comment.

Also charged are Isaia Medina, 19; Gabriel Maturin, 20; Paul Montoya, 20; Joseph Cano, 19; and Jonathan Valdez, 23. Lawyers have said prosecutors have offered pleas to at least four, though none has appeared in court.

Prosecutors would not comment on any plea offers.

Maturin and Medina are charged with aggravated battery, battery and conspiracy. Cano, Valdez and Montoya are charged with aggravated battery, conspiracy, contributing to the delinquency of a minor and criminal damage to property under an accessory theory.

Valdez’s attorney, Dan Marlowe, said his client will not take a plea deal.

“He’s not pleading; he didn’t do anything,” Marlowe said.