Homosexuality and the Media

Political Media:

In recent years, the debate over homosexuality/ gay rights went from being a dismissed, umentioned subject to becoming one of the most prominent and determining topics in American elections. The media played a large role in the debate over this topic, contributing to the perception that homosexuality was an important moral and ethical issue. However, instead of depicting the events that effected the people in the gay community, the media largely dehumanized the subject; seperating the label from the actual people. It encouraged voters to divide over what should be done about this "issue" as opposed to promoting peaceful integration between the parties, voters, and the LGBT community. In short, the media brought the topic of gay rights to the forefront of american politics, but at the same time manipulated the news to exaggerate the various stands on the issue. Thus intensifying the events in order to keep the consumers engaged in the media's product.

Entertainment

Homosexuality seems to have become a popular trend in movies, television, and with celebrities. However, the popluar media, instead of using this form of media to normalize the gay lifestyle, homosexuality is often stereotyped and mocked, or portrayed as being mischievous and perverse, often accentuating the physicality of a gay relationship.




Often times, gay male characters are more generalized and stereotyped, often seen as flamboyent, gaudy, and obsessed with fasion while female characters are often "bisexual", and either used as purely sexual or occasionally as a sincere plot twist. the entertainment industry is deifinitely more understanding about female homosexuality than male. however, for both genders, mainstream television and film are becoming more and more positive about the portrayal of gays and lesbians. shows like Will and Grace and Grey's Anatomy are depicting a more real version of homosexuality, gay celebrities like Ellen Degeneres are creating a new, family approved image for the community, and homosexuality is even being presented in certain ads, such as this one for Levi jeans:



I predict that appealing to the gay community in mainstream advertisments will soon become a poplular investment from certain industries like fashion, travel, and food (all of which are popular in the gay community). We are starting to see LGBT direced television channels such as LOGO, and many websites/blogs devoted to appealing to and enriching the lives of gays and lesbians. a popular site being afterellen.com

Thusly, even if there are some kinks currently in the portrayal of the gay community, the broader coverage coverage of their issues and support from certain entertainment mediums are making the topic easily accessible to the american people, and helping the masses to understand the homosexual lifestyle and accept the members of the gay community as equals.