WWE News:WWE Planning to 'Integrate LGBT Characters' Into Programming

LGBT characters have never been too integral to WWE television. There have been references, but never usually direct storylines involving them, with exceptions such as “Chuck and Billy’s wedding”.

However, WWE is a corporate brand, and publicity is everything to them. With pretext to this, they do lot of philanthropic work, whether it is anti-bullying campaigns such as “Don’t be a bully, be a star” or helping pediatric cancer through “Connor’s Cure” or anything else, they are sensitive to topics of the 21^st century, and LGBT is no different.Speaking at a Beyond Sport United event in New York this week, WWE Chief Brand Officer Stephanie McMahon said WWE is committed to LGBT inclusivity."Throughout my life I have grown up knowing gay [WWE] superstars and executives. It's always been accepted, but now it's about getting that message out there.". She spoke about WWE Hall of Famer Pat Patterson, the first ever Intercontinental Champion, who came out of the closet only a couple of years ago on the show Legend’s House.

He released a book this week “Accepted” which deals with his life as a professional wrestler and the struggle of hiding his sexuality back in his day. It was due to the extremely positive response he had when coming out that encouraged him to tell his story in “Accepted”.Stephanie McMahon also spoke to NBC OUT and said that WWE is committed to integrating LGBT characters into WWE storytelling and storylines going forward.

Through WWE’s partnership with GLAAD, an LGBT media advocacy organization, they are also prioritizing sensitivity in their writers' room.

"We've had GLAAD come in and speak to our entire writing team and give a whole tutorial on sensitivities, the right words, the wrong word [and] why those words matters," she explained. "I think that with their guidance and support, we will be able to portray that [LGBT storyline] appropriately."Darren Young is the first wrestler to come out while still signed under a wrestling promotion. He came out in 2013 in a TMZ interview at the airport.

The instant speculation of Stephanie’s annoucement would be that they will be working it into his current character, and perhaps be going forward with this. Now that it is such a sensitive topic, WWE cannot afford to make any stereotypes, otherwise they are bound to face heavy backlash.