Nowadays, we can see a lot more LGBTQ people appearing in movies and TV shows compared to before. Some might wonder why is there more LGBTQ characters appearing in TV shows and movies now? What causes these changes? Most people enjoy watching shows or movies that can reflect on society and somehow resonate with it. Since people are more willing to express their sexuality nowadays openly and the LGBTQ community is part of society, so TV shows and movies started to have more LGBTQ characters to reflect society. As a result, LGBTQ characters are normalized in the media.
Gay, lesbian, and bisexual stereotypes in media
When it comes to the LGBTQ community, there have always been certain pre-conceptualized ideas. The media stereotypes that most gay characters in TV shows and movies are white people, and they are mostly portrayed as having effeminacy and skinny. Moreover, these gay characters usually talk in a high-pitched voice and are fashionable. One example is the character Kurt from the drama series GLEE, he is feminine compared to the other male characters, and he acts like a girl, and even his female friends treated him like a girl as they bring him to the girl’s bathroom. As for the lesbian stereotypes, lesbians are portrayed as masculine, have short hair, and wear unisex clothes. Bisexual people are always associated with negative stereotypes, such as people who are bisexual are indecisive and promiscuous. Because of their sexuality, bisexuals are believed to have STD and cannot have a long-term relationship. Bisexual characters in TV shows and movies are negatively presented as “slutty” and change easily. They are portrayed to have many sexual encounters with both sex and change their sexuality easily from straight to gay just because they suddenly fall in love with the same sex.
Transgender stereotypes in media
Because of the inaccurate portrayal of transgender on TV shows and movies, people assume that trans people are all drag queens, kings, crossdressers, and sex workers. People also stereotype that all transgender people are gay, and they have mental disorders. Compared to gays and lesbians, trans people are less likely to be accepted by the public.
Positive & negative effects
With the representations of the LGBTQ community in media, there are some positive and negative effects. On the bright side, it is great to have LGBTQ characters in TV shows and movies because it allows more exposure to the LGBTQ community and normalizes these LGBTQ characters. Moreover, the LGBTQ community can relate to these characters. It enables people to understand more about the LGBTQ community and helps to change minds about LGBTQ rights. On the downsides, the bad representations of the LGBTQ community in media could lead to people having wrong assumptions about the LGBTQ community and more discrimination against the LGBTQ community.
What do you think about the media representation of the LGBTQ community? Is it better to have bad representations than have no representations of the LGBTQ community at all?
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