Homosexuality in TV & Movies

Introduction

Everywhere you look nowadays, you cannot avoid the topic of homosexuality. It is in the news, television shows, movies, books, magazines, and as we have most recently seen, in politics. Being a minority group, homosexuals are viewed very differently by society. Though many people think there is nothing wrong with being gay, there are many who still believe it is immoral and unnatural. With all the conflicting views floating around about homosexuals different portrayals and stereotypes can be seen everywhere. These portrayals send intentional or even unintentional messages to the people witnessing them, thereby molding how people view gays. Since the media has such an immense impact on how gays are viewed, it is extremely important that we look at these stereotypes and understand the various messages they send. This project focuses on the portrayal of homosexuality in television & movies.

Discussion

The new century has brought about various changes to the growing world. Among the most talked about topics is the issue of homosexuality. This once taboo topic is now more common as homosexuals feel more comfortable and open with their sexuality. Perhaps the greatest reason for this is because of the rise of new shows on American television that feature gay individuals. Homosexuality and relationships are increasingly common due to the evolving coverage in the mass media.

The first reality show to portray the life of a homosexual on national television was MTV's "The Real World" in 2002. The announcement was first seen as a shock; however, as cast members and viewers got to know the gay male cast member on a more personal level, they realized he was just a typical person. "The Real World" continues to lure viewers into the lives of seven randomly chosen strangers each year. Out of those seven, each season brings with it the promise of a new gay or lesbian character that the viewers will come to know. (Amber 19-38)

"The Real World" is not the only television show that has contained homosexuality. "Will and Grace" is a sitcom mainly based on characters that are homosexuals. In this show, Will and Jack are both homosexuals who do not have a sexual relationship, but are close friends. Grace is a heterosexual female who lives with Will and is very accepting of his lifestyle. This shows how the homosexual lifestyle is increasingly becoming more common and accepted in society. Another reality show, like "The Real World," that often contains homosexuality is "Survivor." In 2000, when self-described "fat naked fag" Richard Hatch emerged as the first-season winning contestant of the phenomenally popular, reality television show Survivor, he credited his survival success in large part to his homosexuality.

Television shows also try to show that they do not always stereotype homosexuals on television. For example, on this season's "The Real World," two homosexuals were put on the cast, instead of the usual one. One of the homosexuals was more flamboyant and was, therefore, considered a more stereotypical homosexual. The other was more conservative so the ...