Portrayals of Gays on TV?

[FloridaCouple]

Does it make anyone else angry the way Gays are portrayed on TV? For decades we were told "Homosexuals are just like you and I. They are doctors, lawyers, teachers, construction workers, etc." And "You cannot tell a person is homosexual just by looking at them."

Then Reality TV happened. And the Gay guy on the show is the most flaming one the producers could find. So yeah, we all can pick out the Gay guy, if not on sight, as soon as he speaks. TV just plays into the Gay "stereotype." Am I wrong?

 

[Stella_Omega]

He never has sex, either.

He's always the main girl's best gay pal.

He never has any hidden darkness, even though there's one obligatory scene when we see through the gay layer of paint to the sweetly wistful (non-threatening) man inside.... Which the network will advertise for weeks and weeks before it shows.

If there is no female lead for him to buddy up with, he'll probably take a bullet for the hero.

 

[Somehowyou]

He never has sex, either.

He's always the main girl's best gay pal.

He never has any hidden darkness, even though there's one obligatory scene when we see through the gay layer of paint to the sweetly wistful (non-threatening) man inside.... Which the network will advertise for weeks and weeks before it shows.

If there is no female lead for him to buddy up with, he'll probably take a bullet for the hero.

And every damn sterotype...wearing pink, drinking Perrier water, Barbra Streisand music blaring while rearranging the furniture.

No shit!

 

[Chrissi]

I think I have posted this before, and yes it does somewhat bother me about the stereotyping on TV.

I am athletic (indeed an ex-pro athlete), and still very much in shape. I like sports, in general, and have always been considered somewhat of a jock.
While I am somewhat creative, I couldn't decorate or color coordinate a room if my life depended on it. I am very handy, and will do a home project before I consider ever hiring a contractor.
While I like music, and love to dance on occasion, I am more of a homebody, and I prefer rock and roll and really don't care much for disco, alternative or electronic, although it can be fun to dance to now and then. I do like the occasional musicals, but for the most part I couldn't tell you the current show tunes on or off Broadway at any given time, nor could I tell you what musical it is from either. I don't like Madonna, very much dislike Barbara Streisand, but I do like Lady Gaga...go figure?
While I do cry at movies, both sad and happy, I prefer spy thrillers, and actions movies. I don't watch much TV at all, other than sports.
I like to dress casually, but I like to dress up too. I own a tux (and no it's not for work), I do not own any grey sweats, although I have a ton of T shirts and all my jeans are loose fitting. It doesn't take me much more than 10-15 minutes to get ready.
I drive an old jeep (cause I like it), I like pets, kids, and all people in general. Have never smoked, and rarely drink, although will have a beer or a glass of wine on rare occasion.
Oh yeah, and I like men, real men. I like their smells, looks, eyes, smiles, and mannerisms. I like them physically and emotionally.

I am certainly not alone, there are many gay men that I know that don't fit any stereotype, other than being a normal guy. However, we are boring, and don't make for a good TV character I suppose.

Topher

 

[Jander1]

I consider myself bisexual, and yes the way gay men are portrayed on TV and movies is sometimes embarrassing to me. I'm a man that sometimes gets turned on by other men, plain and simple. It does not imply anything else about my personality, although TV would not lead us to believe this. I think it contributes to a lot of mental problems with guys.

 

[Missouribiguy]

Yeah, it gets a bit irritating, especially when you have the gay guy talking a like a chick in a very high, almost shrill, voice.

What do you think of Lafayette and other gay characters protrayed on True Blood?

 

[AmberMoore]

I personally think that Lafeyette is an exceptionally strong character. I mean sure he dresses in drag but for him it doesn't make him less than the other characters. He's one of the most self sufficient and strong characters on the show. He beat down a booth full of rednecks for being homophobic, he's a great character who transcends whatever stereotypes he takes on.

I'll step out on a limb here and say that Television is getting slightly better about how they portray Gays and Lesbians on tv.

 

[FloridaCouple]

I'll step out on a limb here and say that Television is getting slightly better about how they portray Gays and Lesbians on tv.

You apparently missed every episode of Big Brother, Will and Grace, and Glee (these shows have absolute flamers). And True Blood season 1 (or 2, I forget), the white gay vampire. TV is not getting better. It's getting worse.

 

[AmberMoore]

Big Brother is a reality tv show, those people actually exist somewhere. Will and Grace did have a Flamboyant gay man but it was counter balanced with other portrayals of gay men. It was a sitcom and every character was a little extreme. I actually like Kurt Hummel on Glee, he stole every scene he was in, Glee is also a show built on stereotypes and extremes and all of their characters are a little bad.

But Kurt's relationship with his father is just amazing, how can you not watch the scene where he comes out to his dad and it not bring a little tear to your eye. Or the episode where Burt (Kurt's dad) stands up to Mr. Shue so that Kurt could audition for the lead solo in a song. How about the episode where Burt confronts Finn about his use of the F-Word? I'm sorry but a disdain for the character doesn't change the fact that this relationship between a gay son and his father is actually one of the best portrayal's of a father/son relationship on television.

And the white Gay Vampire on Trueblood, I don't know who you're talking about unless it's the character that Jason and his Girlfriend hide in their basement? The Vampire that Lafayette was getting his blood from. I don't think he was a Flamer as much as the actor just had a bad southern accent.

At the same time we also have Cam and Mitchel now on Modern Family, who are fantastic, the bad ass Mobster hit man and father Figure for a young Captain Adama on Caprica (SyFy), and a few more that I can't think of right now. Obviously there's room for growth here things needs to get better but there are positive gay characters on tv. We complain about the stereotypes on sitcoms but every character on a sitcom is a stereotype.

Honestly what we're missing is more Lesbian characters on television, there are plenty of Bisexual women on tv but so few lesbians. And this is all better than it was 10-20 years ago when an LGBT person on television was almost guaranteed to be a villain who would get his in the end.

Like I said It's getting slightly better. Not all the characters are victims and villains. Hell the healthiest relationship I've ever seen on tv is still the gay couple from Six Feet Under.

 

[Kanomi]

Who watches TV?

You have the Internet, the knowledge of the world at your fingertips, conversations with people from all over the world.

And you're going to sit and look at a fucking box programmed by assholes and shoved full of corporate shit?