Homosexuality in the Media

Published on- http://ocw.usu.edu/English/introduction-to-writing-academic-prose/homosexuality-in-the-media.html

May 22nd 2007



''It can be rare to see homosexuality portrayed on a media screen so when speaking about a homosexual identity, it has proven difficult to do so without some form of stereotype''

- Proves that sexuality is difficult to portray in film and other media text without the characters falling into generic stereotypes that most homosexual characters do.

''The identity of the homosexual seems to stem from a stereotype itself, sometimes as if homosexuals have created their identities based on these stereotypes. When it comes to men, the ideal is effeminate''

- This point backs up the idea that the stereotypical homosexual male is based on other stereotypes of homosexual males.


''Homosexual male identities are formed from stereotypes of femininity and are perhaps, not true identities at all. They have perhaps been formed by the need to no longer be invisible in media productions, and hence, the public have allowed the stereotype to take over the homosexual identity in order to make it easier to understand this very identity''

-Homosexuals need not be hidden in in film and TV, so therefore the stereotype has been created,


''Before television and film, there was no real visual connection with homosexual traits that could be made in a public domain.''

- There was not much of an obvious homosexual stereotype before homosexuals were being portrayed in the media.



''Society allows for stereotypes to be made of homosexuals. The idea that they must be a certain way, otherwise they are not gay at all, shows that society will accept seeing homosexuality in media only of it presented in a way they best understand.''

- What the audience wants, the audience gets. This article suggests that if a character does not live up to the homosexual stereotype, then they are not even homosexual at all.