Gay men:
We’re not all white, not all flamboyant, not all catty, not all fashionable and not all “fabulous”. But watching mainstream television, you’d be hard-pressed to know otherwise; the stereotypes of gay men, rather than the depth and breadth of our culture, are often what’s depicted on TV.
Before the 1970s, gayness on television was unheard of; in a very real way, we’ve made a boat-load of progress. When I was growing up in the 90s, I seldom saw people like me on TV. In fact, I was 12 years old before I knew that other guys were also attracted to men – until then, I thought I was all alone in the world. Stereotypical or not, there’s something to be said for how far we’ve come.
Kurt, from Fox’s Glee, is certainly the most watched gay character in recent memory. But just like the boys of Will & Grace and Sex & The City, he’s white, flamboyant, catty, fashionable and fabulous. I’d love to see a greater balance and some of the more common stereotypes challenged on TV.
In short, I want to see a gay character that doesn’t fit a certain predictable mold on a mainstream show during prime time. Is that too much to ask?
The gay community isn’t one dimensional, and we homos are as diverse as the world in which we live. I’d love to see a broader, more inclusive spectrum of our gayness beamed into the TV sets of people across this country and around the world. Yes, our progress is truly astounding – but I think there are many barriers yet to be broken.
Have you seen any non-stereotypical gay characters on TV? If so, let us know in the comments below!
September 6, 2010 at 5:17 pm
Brian’s obsession with sex is a male stereotype, not a gay one.
September 6, 2010 at 5:20 pm
I agree with u. Degrassi, best teen series in history. Grew up watching Degrassi: The Next Generation. And I loved Marco, for coming out in such a way. He kinda fits the stereotype, but not completely.
September 6, 2010 at 6:06 pm
LOOOOOOOOOOL !!! No he’s reeeeally sexy ! And Ianto is actually better !
September 6, 2010 at 6:12 pm
I thought about him as a non-gay-stereotype…
September 6, 2010 at 7:20 pm
Brothers & Sisters?
September 6, 2010 at 7:56 pm
This may be very naive of me but could it be to distinguish immediately (for us straightys) between gay and straight in the shows mentioned. Also I wonder do the program makers,or even the actors,do enough research for their roles or do they just fall back on the stereotype to make their job easier? There’s also the question of ratings.Flamboyance is more entertaining for the most part
September 6, 2010 at 8:03 pm
I agree with most of the above mentioned couples, but I would also like to throw out the only lesbian couple on Prime Time Television that I can think of.
Arizona Robbins and Callie Torres
- Grey’s Anatomy (ABC)
I am also glad to see that Scotty and Kevin, from Brothers & Sisters have been mentioned so much. They are adorable and freakin’ amazin’!
September 6, 2010 at 8:24 pm
Yeah, but it doesn’t actually SAY he’s gay in the books, JK Rowling just said that after the fact.
September 6, 2010 at 8:25 pm
Does anyone remember Billy Chrystal in Soap in the 70′s. that was one of the first on TV
September 6, 2010 at 9:05 pm
Actually, one of the characters in the short-lived new Melrose Place was bisexual. She was always making out with guys and girls…
September 6, 2010 at 9:45 pm
“soap” – great show!- jonathan L
September 6, 2010 at 10:58 pm
What about Degrassi? Zane is Asian and gay!!! haha
September 6, 2010 at 11:07 pm
Noah’s Ark was a television series that was canceled. Later created a movie.
Show was based on the lives of a group of gay black men from different walks of life.
September 7, 2010 at 2:01 am
Omg that’s exactly the first thing that popped into my head when I read this post.
September 7, 2010 at 2:23 am
This was just the most nicest gay series ever…. and BLACK !!! Stereotypes? Yes, but not all of the caracteres were. Pity it was cancelled,w e loved it !!!
September 7, 2010 at 2:47 am
On the show “The Office,” there is a gay character, Oscar, who is kinda shy and doesn’t seem to fit the gay stereotype.
September 7, 2010 at 7:45 am
I think a part of breaking the illusion, something you are seeking, is to understand that television is the grandest illusion of them all and wanting it to reflect “real” gay men is pretty futile. I’m pretty surprised that you don’t realize this.
September 7, 2010 at 8:22 am
I had to way in on this one! Yes there are growing number of ‘what you call’ stereotypical gay characters on televison. But, isn’t it part of that stereotype that makes us visible to the otherwise ‘less than socially savvy straight community’?
There are more and more non-stereotypical characters in both current running shows and some syndicated programs. One of my personal favorites was from the show. “Six Feet Under” (an interracial gay couple that, went through the highs and lows that everyone in a long term relationship goes through). I thought the characters were portrayed with diginity and pride always. Kudos to Michaeal Hall and Matthew St. Patrick (do and internet search and check out their credentials).
This year alone on the daytime soap opera (One Life to Live) there was a storyline with a doctor and cop in a relationship.
If you watch the Law and Order series, the department pyschiatrist is deftly portrayed by openly gay actor, BD Wong. His character on the show is gay as well and it is simply a fact…not an issue or specail point.
Even the primetime sitcom has brought us a gay male couple as part of the “Modern Family”. Another excellent portrayal by two amazingly talented actors, Jesse Tyler Feugerson and Eric Stonestreet(one who is openly gay…and I’m glad to say a friend). The portrayal of his character was good enough for an Emmy nomination!
So…in time. There will be more. I’m just a bit older than you Davey and remember a time when there were “no” openly gay characters on televsion…just the occasional reference to a “Confirmed bachelor”, an “ever-single-Uncle” or the occasional “sissy boy”.
Just keep watching…the best is yet to come.
September 7, 2010 at 9:02 am
Well, nowadays raelly think the character of Matthew Rhys as Kevin Walker is a great one.
September 7, 2010 at 9:53 am
Riley and Zane on the Degrassi!
They are definitely not what normal people would expect of a gay couple. Both play football (one qb, one kicker).
September 7, 2010 at 9:57 am
I absolutely agree with you.
Each one of us is unique, and to tag a person get humanity to hate…
So, even the characters can be seen as different beeings, as persons in the real world, as collorfull as they are!!!
September 7, 2010 at 11:31 am
No we are definately not all the same. I am white, a little overweight, in my fortys, been with my partner for ten years. I do drag, and I hangout with the bears. My partner and I both ride motorcycles. His is a Harley Davidson V-rod and I have a custom soft tail. I highly doubt you will see us on tv anytime soon. Smile we are not the gay cultural norm, we are not Fabulous enough for tv.
September 7, 2010 at 11:32 am
As previously mentioned, the British soap “Emmerdale” features gay Aaron, a troubled youth, who lives with his mother’s estranged boyfriend. The character is rich depicting at times a happy go lucky country youth, a delinquent, a hurt son, a compassionate teenager. As his character evolves over the past year he accepted that he is gay but struggled with his identify and the perception of others in his small village. The soap was generous in its latitude allowing Danny Miller, who portrays Aaron, the opportunity for several dramatic scenes where is able to explore the depth of complicated emotions his character is going through. This is rarely seen on soaps or prime time television so hats off to the producers. This story line is also complimented by Danny’s acting ability, which has been outstanding.
September 7, 2010 at 1:01 pm
As much as I have to agree with you, Davey, that’s pretty much what Glee is–everybody plays the extremes of a certain stereotype. That said… Kurt is supposed to be getting a boyfriend this season, so we’ll see what happens there.
Scott Evans [brother of Chris Evans] had a story arc on One Life To Live [even if it IS a soap, it's TV--I didn't watch it, at any rate] that was very gay-centric. I’ve seen clips and such and if it were possible to find online or something, I’d probably go watch said arc just to see how it was done.
September 7, 2010 at 1:34 pm
I completely agree with you Davey, it is completely one sided. I can feel where you are coming from as a gay male who is of African-American descent, not really into fashion, not really into the club scene, and if still want to reference the antiquated attitudes of masculinity and femininity, a very masculine guy.
A couple characters that I have seen that are kinda different than the original portrayal of gay characters are the African-American character from the show Greek on ABC Family. He is not the stereotypical gay guy as he is a frat boy (kinda hot, lol) and very strait acting. (I kinda identify with him as a gay man in college who is not as “effeminate” as some people would assume a gay male to be.
September 7, 2010 at 1:37 pm
The creator has said that he will be a typical confused boy with life problems, kurt helps him through them, and they develop a relationship.
September 7, 2010 at 2:55 pm
I agree with an earlier statement that the entertainment industry isn’t completely. I am a 29 yr old gay African American male. I work in education. I make the choice to not be out at work. I don’t discuss my romantic life at all. However, I’m not stereotypically gay I discovered recently that people I have known over a year had no idea that I am gay. This disturbed me because I’ve been out for 6 years. No one has had a negative reaction which speaks to character. But it is sad that many people had no idea even with my openness in discussing it.
Part of me feels shocked, part of me is a little offended, another part of me remembers that coming out is a constant thing and resents that. But a large part of me feels excited that I don’t fit all the stereotypes. That I can be a vessel to educate people that we are more than what meets the tv screen.
September 7, 2010 at 3:22 pm
As a follow up I would be misrepresenting myself if I did not mention that this is doesn’t fit everywhere. There are urban pockets of black and poverty stricken people whom it seems could spot me from 100 yards. I don’t behave any differently. However, I am not of that culture so I am curious if it is more about my speech and attire being so out of the norm. People have a tendency to assume people who are different are wrong. The school I work in is in a bad neighborhood and I stay because I feel its important to expose these students to other facets of life outside of their neighborhood. It’s sad.
September 7, 2010 at 3:52 pm
Exactly! Much love for Dumbledore! <3
September 7, 2010 at 5:05 pm
Watch Brothers and Sisters. The two gay guys are professionals, have their issues, but are generally pretty normal guys.
September 7, 2010 at 6:04 pm
Thank God for True Blood. Of course, while we’re still talking about True Blood, there are still Eric and Pam, who have both had gay scenes (Eric with Talbot and Pam with Yvetta). Anything with vampires usually depicts them as bisexual (we can still count that as gay, even if they prefer to have romantic and intimate relationships with members of the opposite sex) – except Twilight which seems insistent on portraying them as completely asexual. As much as I hate Bill, I’m looking forward to his eventual gay scene. (Has he already had one? Did I miss it?)
September 7, 2010 at 6:04 pm
Wait, he was gay? (I stopped reading the books after the 5th though.)
September 7, 2010 at 7:20 pm
there was a couple in ‘Six Feet Under’ which was a show that Allan Ball produced, like True Blood. I think he likes to reflect the life as purely as it is, since the gay characters there (David fisher by Michael C. Hall and Keith Charles by Mathew St. Patrick) were not to be classified as gay-stereotypes, but only natural.
and also there was the miniseries ‘Angels in America’ which I was amazed at the performance, characters, script… everything. Everyone in the show was gay but none of them was ‘fabuluos’-especially not the character Al Pacino was playing.
I think these stereotypes are just another producer trick to appeal to more audiences, and they don’t have any concern for showing actual gay nature, except for getting offensive and losing audience.
September 7, 2010 at 7:53 pm
Their was one Non-stereotypical gay male on TV… Remember Jack from Dawson’s Creek? Yes he was white but he wasn’t flamboyant nor was he fabulous. But he was hot and handsome like the “new stereotype” that is out there lingering on all straight girl minds alike… LOL. Just wanted to put that thought out there and by the way Davie I really like watching your blogs. Thanks for all the good advice.
September 7, 2010 at 8:30 pm
as they are doing a great job with ” brothers and Sisters ” they did also with “six feet under”..in an other way..
September 7, 2010 at 9:47 pm
i see a lot of myself in kurt…yeah I’m less flamboyant, but being of similiar age i think he is a breathe of fresh air to see on tv each week
September 7, 2010 at 9:48 pm
queer as folk us version
September 7, 2010 at 10:34 pm
Brian Kinney from Queer as folk. US version.
September 7, 2010 at 11:36 pm
I LOVE Lafayette!! Such a vibrant character
Although I think our definitions of in-your-face must be out of sync because I think he’s REALLY in-your-face about his gayness. I do love his expressiveness.
September 8, 2010 at 12:00 am
Oh do I wish they would have shown more of Eric and Talbot!! Better yet, how ’bout a plot twist of Eric and Godric somewhere down the line????? LOL
September 8, 2010 at 12:05 am
All stereotypes have truth to them. Plus, as so many have commented before, it’s the stereotypical ones that stand out. For all we know (like Dumbledore) many characters could be gay and not identified as such. Doesn’t make any difference to me. I see plenty of characters on TV with whom I associate closely. And most of them don’t happen to be gay. I don’t really see a problem with that since my sexuality is only a small facet of my whole being.
September 8, 2010 at 12:15 am
Griffin on the secret life of the american teenager is gay, yes hes hella hot, but he still looks hella straight, yeah his style is very nice, but he fits the straight acting category, and ive fallen for him so hard. ha.
September 8, 2010 at 12:18 am
I think a great portrayal of a non-stereotypical gay guy is Marshall on U.S. of Tara. He definitely seems like a normal kid coming to terms with himself. Also, this is a movie, but in Chansons D’Amour [I hope this doesn't ruin it] Louis Garrel plays a very, how to say it, unassuming gay man. It’s a great movie overall, I highly recommend it.
September 8, 2010 at 12:48 am
There are plenty of non-stereotypical gay characters on TV – you just have to look a little bit harder for them.
Jack McPhee (Kerr Smith) of Dawson’s Creek was arguably one of the most important gay characters in recent television history. First gay regular in a teen drama and first kiss between two men on primetime network television. If you haven’t seen the episodes that deal with Jack’s coming out (season 2, episodes 14 and 15 I think) I’d definitely recommend it. His coming out scene is one of the most accurate renditions of how that typically goes (especially in 1999 when it aired). For the record, Jack is anything but stereotypical…it doesn’t hurt that he’s also a hottie.
Andrew Van de Kamp (Desperate Housewives) is also not your standard stereotype and though he’s fallen off the show in recent years, seasons 1-3 had him with a fair presence.
The best example I’d have to say is Kevin Walker from Brothers & Sisters, ABCs hit drama that airs on Sundays. Kevin has his stereotypical traits (but don’t we all?) but he’s given the full treatment as an equal character in the ensemble cast so it’s much easier to see him as a fully round character…he and his husband spent last season trying to conceive (via surogacy) a child so the birth of said child is something to expect this season.
Degrassi (the Canadian team drama that has high school kids enthralled) also has its fair smattering of gay characters who are also somewhat atypical.
I’m sure there are even more but they escape me at present. All in all there are plenty of non-stereotypical representations of gay characters on teleivion (or at least have been in the past) you just might have to look a bit harder to find them.
September 8, 2010 at 6:32 am
Whenever there is a low key, everyday acting, gay character on TV, the homosexual community demands that the character be given more air time, a spouse, some drama, etc. It is hard to be the star of a show, yet just a regular, everyday guy at the same time. Either he gets labeled as boring or else they make him this outrageous queen. On TV, there is no middle ground because nobody wants to watch that.
September 8, 2010 at 1:02 pm
The best example of of non-stereotypical gay character is Jack Harkness (John Barrowman) from Doctor Who & Torchwood
September 8, 2010 at 1:03 pm
The best example of of non-stereotypical gay character is Jack Harkness (John Barrowman) from Doctor Who & Torchwood
September 8, 2010 at 4:26 pm
Not a tv show…but a movie: A Single Man.
September 8, 2010 at 4:30 pm
True Blood: Lafayette is a little flamboyant, but the new character Jesus is definitely more masculine and not as stereotypical
September 8, 2010 at 7:16 pm
The gay couple on The Sarah Silverman Program was the most non-stereotypical I’ve ever seen. Both were overweight, couch potatoes that loved heavy metal and getting stoned. Sarah Silverman said she made them to be pretty much the average Comedy Central viewer demographic EXCEPT they happened to be a gay couple. This was to make the audience relate even more to a gay couple. I thought it was pretty cool. They were total slobs and slackers but they wasn’t anything stereotypically “gay” about them.