WWE plans to integrate LGBT characters on television
According to WWE Chief Brand Officer Stephanie McMahon, gender inclusive characters could soon be integrated into the company’s programming.
McMahon was a featured speaker at an event hosted by Beyond Sport at the Barclays Center in Brooklyn, NY on Tuesday and spoke about the WWE’s role in ensuring gender inclusion in sports.
“We will integrate LGBT characters into our programming … and I do think there will be an opportunity to integrate some of those storylines in the near future,” McMahon said.
McMahon made similar comments to The Daily Beast in 2015 when asked about Darren Young’s on-screen character. It is unclear if she is now speaking about the current state of the creative process or if it only remains a future goal.
McMahon’s comments come during the same week that longtime employee Pat Patterson’s life story is receiving attention after the release of his autobiography “Accepted: How the First Gay Superstar Changed WWE.”
During her speech, McMahon noted that she grew up knowing gay WWE wrestlers and employees, but now wants to get the message out there on television.
Joseph Currier is the lead editor of F4WOnline.com, directing daily news coverage and writing articles on professional wrestling. He is a graduate of the University of Massachusetts, obtaining a journalism degree in 2016. Joseph joined F4W during his time at UMass and has now been writing about the industry for nearly a decade.
In addition to his work with F4W, Joseph has previously contributed to Sports Illustrated's wrestling coverage. He lives in Massachusetts and is a diehard fan of the Boston sports teams and Liverpool Football Club.