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LGBTQ+ media or gay media refers to media whose primary target audience is members of the LGBTQ community.[1][2] Secondary targets are LGBTQ+ allies, and in some instances those who oppose gay rights may be targeted as a form of activism.[1] Gay or queer media can also be defined as web sites, films, magazines and other cultural products that were created by queer individuals, or groups that are typically out, meaning that they are public or open about their identity.[3] LGBTQ creators do not always include LGBTQ themes or issues in the media that they produce, but there are often at least subtle references to queerness in these media.[3]

There have been both positive and negative representations of gay people across popular media, including film, television, literature, press, etc.[4]

LGBTQ representation in the media is powerful, particularly for youth.[5] There have been studies that have shown that media can have an influence on LGBTQ+ people's self-realization, coming out, and current identities.[6]

United States

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Film

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Motion Picture Production Code (Hays Code).

The Motion Picture Production Code, an industry guideline in which Hollywood's motion picture producers agreed to self-censor all major motion pictures from 1934 to 1968,[7] led to LGBTQ invisibility in film in United States film. However, even in the 1960s and 1970s, when LGBTQ representation in film was becoming more commonplace, it was also becoming more homophobic. Gay characters in this time period were represented very negatively, whether that meant they were dangerous and suicidal, or predatory and violent. Examples of such movies include The Children's Hour, The Boys in the Band, Midnight Express, and Vanishing Point.[3]

In the 1990s, films that included LGBTQ themes, such as The Birdcage, Philadelphia, To Wong Foo Thanks for Everything, Flawless and In & Out were quite popular.[citation needed] 2005, Brokeback Mountain grossed over $178 million[8] and in 2017, Moonlight won the Academy Award for Best Picture along with Actor in a Supporting Role and Adapted Screenplay.[9]

The gay man and heterosexual woman couple has become a popular film genre in recent years. This coupling exists in popular films such as My Best Friend's Wedding, The Object of My Affection, and The Next Best Thing. According to Helene Shugart, writing in Critical Studies in Media Communication, homosexuality is recoded and modified in these films to approve sexism and heteronormativity.[10]

Television

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Chris Colfer as Kurt Hummel, an openly gay character on the hit television show Glee, performing on the tour "Glee Live! In Concert!" in 2011

The Code of Practices for Television Broadcasters indirectly prohibited positive homosexual representation from 1952 to 1983, preventing many queer actors in the television field from coming out and further preventing representation of the LGBTQ+ community in the media.[citation needed]

In 1997, Ellen became the first show to have a gay main character.[11] After this, there was an increase in shows that included recurring gay characters such as Will & Grace, Dawson's Creek, Spin City, ER, Buffy the Vampire Slayer, Nightline, Queer Eye for the Straight Guy, Queer as Folk, The Young and Restless, Ugly Betty and Glee.

Reality TV shows have also frequently represented openly gay people, such as MTV's The Real World, CBS's Survivor and The Amazing Race.[citation needed]

In recent years, there has been a notable increase in the portrayal of LGBTQ+ characters and storylines across a wide range of television genres.[12]

Modern Family, a family sitcom that was released in 2009, was one of the first times the media had seen a loving and committed same-sex couple. In the first episode, Cameron and Mitchell explain that they have been together for five years and just adopted their first child, Lily. Mitch and Cam, at times, do play into the heterosexual relationship gender norms during the show, and especially in the beginning seasons. Cam appears more dramatic, emotional, and creative compared to Mitch, which makes him seem more feminine based on female stereotypes. Mitch is more emotionally distant, career oriented, and reserved which seems more manly to viewers. As the show progresses, and acceptance within our society grows, the audience sees that Mitch and Cam steer away from these heterosexual relationship norms. Cameron's character starts to exhibit more traditionally masculine characteristics. He is extremely into sports, gets job at head coach for the high school's football team, and is stronger, handier one on the relationship. In season 5, episode one Suddenly, Last Summer, it shows Mitch and Cam's proposal after the Supreme Court legalized same-sex marriage in 2015. This episode showed Mitch and Cam as equal partners in the relationship and not feeding into heterosexual relationship norms. For instance, they both decide to plan their engagement without the other one knowing. This proves that there wasn't an assumption of which partner would propose to the other, like it is in many heterosexual relationships. This clip shows the progression in their relationship, but also within the LGBTQ+ representation in the media and in society. Their relationship throughout the show moves from novelty to normalcy as acceptance grows within our society. Modern Family, especially Mitchell and Cameron's relationship improved acceptance and normalcy of LGBTQ+ representation in the media by showing a loving and committed LGBTQ+ relationship.

See also

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References

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  1. ^ a b Moscowitz, Leigh (November 15, 2013). The Battle over Marriage: Gay Rights Activism through the Media. University of Illinois Press. ISBN 978-0-252-09538-2.
  2. ^ "Gay Images: TV's Mixed Signals". The New York Times. May 19, 1991. Retrieved October 24, 2010.
  3. ^ a b c "Queer Representation in Film and Television". MediaSmarts. March 7, 2012. Retrieved December 3, 2020.
  4. ^ Steiner, Linda; Fejes, Fred; Petrich, Kevin (December 1, 1993). "Invisibility, homophobia and heterosexism: Lesbians, gays and the media". Critical Studies in Mass Communication. 10 (4): 395–422. doi:10.1080/15295039309366878. ISSN 0739-3180.
  5. ^ Fürsich, Elfriede (2010). "Media and the representation of Others". International Social Science Journal. 61 (199): 113–130. doi:10.1111/j.1468-2451.2010.01751.x. ISSN 1468-2451.
  6. ^ MS, Sarah C. Gomillion; PhD, Traci A. Giuliano (February 22, 2011). "The Influence of Media Role Models on Gay, Lesbian, and Bisexual Identity". Journal of Homosexuality. 58 (3): 330–354. doi:10.1080/00918369.2011.546729. ISSN 0091-8369. PMID 21360390. S2CID 37534112.
  7. ^ "The Motion Picture Production Code (as Published 31 March, 1930)" (PDF). Retrieved March 6, 2021.
  8. ^ "Brokeback Mountain". IMDb. Retrieved March 6, 2021.
  9. ^ "Moonlight". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved March 6, 2021.
  10. ^ Shugart, Helene A. (January 1, 2003). "Reinventing Privilege: The New (Gay) Man in Contemporary Popular Media". Critical Studies in Media Communication. 20 (1): 67–91. doi:10.1080/0739318032000067056. ISSN 1529-5036. S2CID 29622909.
  11. ^ Cook, Carson (May 1, 2018). "A content analysis of LGBT representation on broadcast and streaming television". Honors Theses.
  12. ^ Raja, Ashikin; Lambert, Karen; Patlamazoglou, Lefteris; Pringle, Richard (May 31, 2023). "Diversity and inclusion strategies for LGBTQ + students from diverse ethnic backgrounds in higher education: a scoping review". International Journal of Inclusive Education: 1–21. doi:10.1080/13603116.2023.2217814. ISSN 1360-3116.

This article incorporates material from the Citizendium article "Gay media", which is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 3.0 Unported License but not under the GFDL.

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