WWE to introduce LGBT characters and storylines in near future

WWE chief brand officer Stephanie McMahon has said that the sport entertainment company is committed to the LGBT inclusivity moving forward. She also said that they would incorporate LGBT characters and storylines into future wrestling matches.

"Throughout my life I have grown up knowing gay [WWE] superstars and executives," Stephanie told NBC OUT. "It's always been accepted, but now it's about getting that message out there."

"When it makes sense ... absolutely we will integrate LGBT storylines into our programming," Stephanie said. "And I do think there will be an opportunity to integrate some of those storylines in the near future."

McMahon further added that WWE had partnered with GLAAD, an LGBT media advocacy organisation, to teach its writers on handling sensitive matters. According to her, GLAAD would tell writers about the right words, the wrong words, why those words matter.

"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, because we do want to be sensitive to our audience, 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."

MacMahon also talked about first-ever former WWE Intercontinental Champion, Pat Patterson, who just released his book titled Accepted.

"It's about his life as a gay wrestler and how from the beginning of his career he had to hide that," McMahon said. "Hefirst came out ... on a show on WWE Network called 'Legends' House.' It was a reality show with a bunch of our legends, and he had such a positive response. It was so warm and supportive that he then decided to tell his story."