User:NikosKouts4/sandbox

The LGBTQ community is represented in a majority of the shows that appear on television that is watched by millions of people. The representation of this group is vital for the equality of the queer people and the representation they need in the larger community that we call the world. Although the representation of this community is there, stereotypes are still prevalent on what the media consumers watch everyday. The acknowledgment of these stereotypes is important for the LGBTQ community because it represents the identities that the media gives them and portrays them in the world. The stereotypes of homosexuality, seem to be reiterated from the stereotypes of gay men themselves. These stereotypes derive from overtly feminine men that is presented through television and makes the awareness of these stereotypes more available and noticeable to heterosexual people.

Some stereotypes that are presented through todays media is that gay men love fashion, have nice apartments, and view famous singers as godly figures. They can also be looked at as being overly promiscuous, and going to nightclubs dancing provocatively. On the show Queer as Folk, the character Brian is portrayed like this. He has a nice apartment that is always clean, he has fancy clothes, and can be seen at the dance clubs being sexually promiscuous with other men. The mainstream gay stereotypes are presented in this show, but it can also be viewed positively for the portrayal and incorporation of HIV, and how someone lives with it. Another show that pushes the gay stereotypes is the New Normal. The two main characters push the heteronormative stereotypes of gay men. Brian plays the effeminate character who cares more about female things like shopping and what their child should wear to the christening. His partner David is more masculine and enjoys football and drinking beer. Denying these stereotypes would ask the audience to ignore what is right in front of them, but also asks them to connect and see the stereotypes for what they are.

Gay men seem to dominate mainstream media, but the roles of Lesbians do not go unnoticed. In the show Orange Is The New Black, they challenge how viewers, look at lesbian relationships, and how complex they really are. Specifically on a show like this they add twists like prison love, mental illness, and health care. These women portray lesbians in a way that changes how the heterosexual people relate to gay characters. The viewers can experience a wide field of emotion without the media presenting these women in a stereotypical fashion. Instead of playing on the stereotypical lesbian roles, they focus on more of a universal outlook on how these women are portrayed, and represented in the mainstream media.