WWE Says It’s Adding LGBT Characters To Storylines

"We want to make sure that we’re telling the right messages in the right way."

From: NewNowNext

 WWE Chief Brand Officer Stephanie McMahon confirmed the news at a Beyond Sport United event in New York last August, saying that the introduction of LGBT characters into the WWE universe will help the brand to become more inclusive.

 “Throughout my life I have grown up knowing gay [WWE] superstars and executives,” McMahon said. “It’s always been accepted, but now it’s about getting that message out there.”

The brand officer also mentioned the pioneering example of WWE International Champion Pat Patterson, whose new book Accepted details his life as a closeted wrestler before coming out on the WWE reality television show, Legends’ House.

 “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 words, why those words matter,” McMahon continued.

“In terms of any issues that require a degree of sensitivity in terms of how they’re being handled. We are always going to incorporate our partners, like GLAAD, to help us tell those stories the right way.”

“We want to be sensitive to our audience,” she concluded. “We want to be sensitive to the community and we want to make sure that we’re telling the right messages in the right way.”

 Though she didn’t mention any specific plans for how the entertainment company plans to incorporate these LGBT characters and narratives into future projects, that the traditionally conservative WWE is discussing the matter at all is extremely promising.