Television Tries To Represent Gay And Lesbian Folks. But Usually Fails.
Posted by: Nikki Dowling
Filed in:
news
4:00PM, Saturday August 1st 2009
I gotta say, given that it’s 2009 and all, I’m just not impressed with how gay and lesbian folks are portrayed on television. Sure, you might see gay couples on TV, particularly of the lesbian variety. But often, these portrayals smack of being publicity stunts. This week, the Gay and Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation did a study of how the biggest 15 networks represented LGBT characters in their shows last season. They looked for shows that reflected “the lives of gay, bisexual and transgender people.” And, of course, they found that HBO did the best—with 42 percent of its prime-time programming hours devoted to this. Showtime, with shows like “The L Word” and ‘‘The United States of Tara,” was next with a 26 percent. But once the study got to the more mainstream media, the numbers dropped significantly. Of the five major networks—ABC, CBS, NBC, Fox and the CW—ABC ranked the highest with 24 percent. NBC had only eight percent, and CBS came in with a pathetic five percent. At first glance, these numbers don’t sound too terrible. But I’m going to go ahead and argue that things are a lot grimmer than they appear.
Most of the shows the study claimed dealt with LGBT issues, well, just don’t. For HBO, “True Blood,” “Entourage,” and ‘‘The No. 1 Ladies’ Detective Agency” were all said to have counted. Why, because the short order cook in “True Blood” is a gay, male prostitute? I don’t think I’ve ever seen the peeps on the vampy show grapple with issues that affect the queer community. And “Entourage,” now that’s a real stretch. The dudes on that show spend more time chasing tail that I care to remember. So maybe, once in a while, at fabulous beach party a few girls get drunk and make out. Lesbian issues? Sorry. No.
I’ll give Showtime credit for “The L Word,” but I’d like to point out that most of the lesbians on this show are skinny, white, and ultra femme. About a year ago, I did an interview with a black lesbian couple and this show came up. Neither one of the girls liked it one bit, saying it made them feel isolated and underrepresented. The study also cited “Weeds” which, again, is totes ridic. So one of the sons has a lesbian friend who shows up every once in a while to make a few funny jokes. Doesn’t count, sorry.
While it is very, very difficult to put a number on the queer community in the U.S., it is estimated that about about one in 10 people are LGBT. The point is, the gay and lesbian community is underserved in the world of media. When queer peeps are shown, it’s usually pretty bogus. And transgender people and others “outside the norm” are nowhere to be found.
I could go on and on but I’ll just punch a hole through my computer and lose my job. So instead I’ll ask you, what’s your opinion? [NY Times]
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Netty
wrote on August 1 2009 @ 03:12 pm: [report]
I think that lots of minority groups are still represented poorly or stereotypically when it comes to the tube. Not just gays and lesbians but blacks, Asians and Spanish/Latino people.
To a certain degree I get why “The L-Word” emphasizes sexy, femme, skinny women. Look at heterosexual characters in television, how many of them are just average looking? TV is simply obsessed with looks plain and simple. So Showtime makes a show about hot, skinny, white lesbians and not about the big, black lesbians that you see posts on craigslist about (lol).
When it comes down to it, I’d like a show where not all gay guys are man whores like Queer As Folk, or a movie where a black man is not speaking Ebonics or a gangster or a token black character that was seemingly casted for affirmative action reasons. I don’t want a Asian kid who is just really smart and good with computers like the kid from Disturbia.
And maybe a Latino woman who doesn’t speak fragmented English or is an illegal immigrant would be nice. #&@$%, what did Ugly Betty show up for work in on the first episode, a poncho? Maybe I am just being sensitive.
Ginger
wrote on August 1 2009 @ 03:23 pm: [report]
I think there needs to be a show where someone is just gay. That’s it. No making it the center of their character. No using them to make a point about problems every time that they come up. Just a character who happens to be gay or lesbian or transgender or whatever. Or even, as Netty said, a racial minority who isn’t there for the race jokes/affirmative action reasons (and isn’t it ironic that the affirmative action characters often fall into racist stereotypes?).
Caysek
wrote on August 1 2009 @ 03:39 pm: [report]
I agree with Netty that this issue encompassess all minorities. I, for one, was incredibly excited when I saw the little boy, Russ, in the Pixar movie _Up_ was Asian, yet he did not conform to any stereotypes, not did his race come up at all. He was just a sweet, fun kid.
However, I am a little confused. You said HBO devoted 42% of its programming to LGBT lifestyles and then proceeded to say many shows don’t count because the character(s) in question are not the focus of the show. While I agree that the LGBT community needs more, truer representation, what percentage will be enough? Does 100% of programming have to reflect their lifestyle? In what ways?
For instance, assume some kid’s show had a gay couple on it. I am fine with that, but since it is a kid’s show, I wouldn’t want sexuality to be focused on. Like Ginger said, maybe the characters are gay, but it isn’t their defining trait. Would that “count” as dealing with LGBT issues?
Ginger
wrote on August 1 2009 @ 03:51 pm: [report]
@Caysek : I can’t remember if it was on Lulu.com but it was a children’s book that someone was trying to self publish. It was narrated by a little girl and was about the city she lived in or something. And she just happened to have two mothers. The book had nothing to do with kids who have gay parents and I think the text only referred to her as having ‘moms’ oncem but there they were in the illustrations. Just going about their daily life, riding bikes with their daughter.
Maybe someday a kid’s show will manage to do that.
LostInStars
wrote on August 1 2009 @ 05:23 pm: [report]
You know, I kind of feel that the entirety of the show True Blood represents the LGBT community. The vampires are kind of like the gays, accepted by some, hated by others. The church attacks them and tries to take away their rights. Not making excuses, that’s just how I relate to the show.
I agree with Caysek completely though. Russ in Up was Asian but that wasn’t acknowledged, there were no stereotypes involved to make him a humorous, likable character. If we could apply that to other television shows and movies, I think that’d be great. I wish we didn’t call them minorities anymore too. Not to be ultra sensitive, but I don’t really like the implications.
Sonic
wrote on August 1 2009 @ 05:46 pm: [report]
Southland’s John Cooper is the only character I know on primetime TV who’s not played as a gay - he’s a good cop, who’s gay. Only in its first season, I feel the show did a good job about breaking stereotypes about gays. Cooper is a tough, compassionate, professional cop.
snap
wrote on August 1 2009 @ 06:26 pm: [report]
if they’re only 10% of the population, they should be only 10% on tv
Sonic
wrote on August 1 2009 @ 06:31 pm: [report]
@frisked: Holy cripes - you’re right! And since like, 99% of people AREN’T doctors having sex all over the place or Jack Bauer, let’s remove all those shows too and have a TV show with people at their cubicles bickering. Or, or people buying groceries, since 100% of the population has to do that! Or people washing their cars.
Cannot WAIT for HBO to pick up that kind of a series!!!
Netty
wrote on August 1 2009 @ 06:46 pm: [report]
@Sonic!
HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!!!!!!
My lung collasped from laughing.
Ellis
wrote on August 1 2009 @ 10:03 pm: [report]
Thank you for that, Sonic. It was pretty much brilliant.
I’ve had a few discussions with friends about LGBT representation in the media, and I feel like we always come to this idea that at the moment, if LGBT folks want to have a place on tv they need to be attractive, thin, usually white, and generally not too complex or too representative of the real population (read: scary). It makes me mad, but that’s television for you. It’s not exactly deeply invested in social justice.
While I know True Blood isn’t centered around LGBT issues/lifestyles per se, I’ve always thought it dealt with those issues pretty well. Some of the Light of Day dialog perfectly capture the hateful arguments used against LGBT people, and while Lafayette isn’t a paragon of virtuosity, I have to say I really enjoy him.
Anniekins
wrote on August 2 2009 @ 07:38 am: [report]
@Sonic- I get what you’re saying, but Frisked also has a point. Forty-two percent of HBO’s prime time programming deals with LGBT lifestyles? That seems like a lot, no? I’m not saying it needs to change, but I am surprised. (I do agree that the doctor/supercop shows need to go away.)
I do think television needs to reconsider how they’re portraying gay characters. I don’t think that being gay needs to be the absolute center of a character, just like being straight isn’t the core of who I am.
Sonic
wrote on August 2 2009 @ 10:52 am: [report]
@Anniekins: I agree about your second point.
You’re right, Frisked may have a point - about one network. What about the others? HBO is not available to everyone. So who are those LGBT shows reaching? Preaching to choir, I’d say. ABC, NBC, etc. ARE available to most everyone who has a TV.
What about their bastions of shows without gay characters? In the overall scheme, it doesn’t add up.
Anniekins
wrote on August 2 2009 @ 12:37 pm: [report]
@Sonic; you’ve made good points as well. I think networks like ABC, NBC and CBS are still afraid to offend anyone. I think it’s time for them to get a little more progressive. I think some of them watched what happened to Ellen Degeneres’s show, and they still think that America isn’t ready for it. But that’s precisely why they need to start writing more parts with “average” people that happen to be gay. The sexuality of the characters does not need to be central to the plot, but an aspect that develops the character further.
Amy Brown
wrote on August 2 2009 @ 02:09 pm: [report]
Ari Gold’s receptionist Lloyd on “Entourage” is openly gay and is a major character on the show.
Will
wrote on August 2 2009 @ 06:36 pm: [report]
@Ellis,
That completely reminds me of Matt from Melrose Place back in the day. All the other characters were sleeping around and plotting to kill one another, and he has to be the absolute paragon of virtue, because it would be inappropriate for the token gay guy to have steamy love affairs or be nefarious like everyone else.
Not surprisingly, that pretty much left him with nothing to do.
Ellis
wrote on August 2 2009 @ 11:49 pm: [report]
@Will - I actually hadn’t thought of it that way. I just meant that, while Lafayette isn’t a role model or a representative, he’s an amazing character. I’ve never seen Melrose Place, but you bring up a very interesting point. I’m not sure I can think of any examples from tv, but I know many of my LGBT friends often feel like they’re got to be ambassadors to the straight word, never putting a toe out of line lest others attribute it to their sexuality.
sadie
wrote on August 3 2009 @ 09:46 am: [report]
Celia’s daughter on Nip Tuck is the lesbian. She isn’t super femme and pretty, she’s just a normal girl who happens to be gay. I actually think we’ve seen a lot more gay characters in TV these days that aren’t made into a big deal or stereotype. You have Eric on Gossip Girl, the anesthesiologist on Nip Tuck, the policewoman on the Wire (oh and of course Omar on the Wire).
We also have a ton of real life gays and lesbians on TV from Rachel Maddow to cast members of Top Chef and Project Runway.
I want gay rights and equality as badly as the next lefty but I think TV has actually come a long way in recent years. I don’t expect every show to have gay characters. Can we find things to nit pick? Sure. But overall I think the trend in pop culture has been mostly positive and gone a long way to help the gay rights cause.
sadie
wrote on August 3 2009 @ 09:48 am: [report]
Oops sorry, meant Celia’s daughter on Weeds.