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“No term is more frequent in gay criticism of the cinema than stereotype.”

(Richard Dyer, Gays in film, 2005)

This quote is pointing out that in the majority of gay films the gay characters are simple, base stereotypical characters.  This is both accepted and challenged in the film G.B.F. the character Brent VanCamp, is a clear representation of the representational ‘Sissy’. With his exaggerated fashion sense and limp wrist he embodies the dominant belief of what a gay person should act like.  However, the main character – Tanner Daniels – challenges the feminine stereotype, as, although he has a slight high-pitched voice, he doesn’t like most things that one would deem ‘Gay’. This is shown in the scene when the three ‘Queen Beas’ have coffee with him questioning him on his ‘Fabulousness’ and ‘fierceness’.  The dramatic ‘Queen’, Caprice, asks him whether he is auditioning for the school musical only to have him decline saying that he isn’t interested in drama or dance, leading her to ask him; “You sure you’re a ‘mo.” After this the religious “Queen”, Shley, come to the conclusion that “he’s like Caprice. I mean she’s black but she doesn’t talk like them.” This scene not only adds humour but also brings a sense of realism to the character.

In Gays in Film, Richard Dyer talks about gay sensibility, saying that it is:

"A perception of the world which is coloured, shaped, directed and defined by the fact of one's homosexuality."

This can be shown in the film "G.B.F" in the montage where the recently outed gay kid is taken to a "mall" and tries out a magnitude of clothes, which are overly coloured, bright, sparkly and shiny. This plays on the idea that the "queen B's" think that, as he is a gay, that he should have outstanding fashion and be in line with the gay stereotype.

However some could take this as offensive, as the gay character is shown in a feminine light, fitting the main stereotype of 'The Sissy'.

In the Film, The Celluloid Closet, actor/screenwriter Harvey Fierstein talks about the sissy being offensive and says that his

"Visibility at any cost. I'd rather than have negative than nothing." 

This statement shows a viewpoint that has caused a lot of disputes in the past. This is because many people believe that any publicity is good publicity. However I disagree with this statement, as the problem at hand is that we need to change the majority of the audience's view to 'Pro-Gay'. Although this film doesn't promote a bad representation of homosexuals, the use of the feminine character is probably a far off point than where it is needed to be. The way in which the film challenges the stereotype however is that the main character, Tanner, hates most things gay and has no fashion sense.