Gay characters on TV. WHAT THE HELL?

[spooky]

I'm surpriised no one has mentioned American Horror Story yet.

The series is an anthology series and even then, the gay characters were minor side stories, hardly the focus of the show.
That first season had a gay couple who couldn't keep it together and then they died in horrible ways and one of them was even violated upon death. What was it, a bat stuck up his ass or something?! Can't really remember, I just rolled my eyes.

 

[spooky]

I haven't seen much of Shameless and don't really know the characters well enough but I did see an episode where finally the closeted character admitted being gay.. not only to his lover but in front of a whole bar and got beat up pretty badly for his troubles, but was finally glad to be himself and not hide anymore in the closet. Very raw, disturbing but honest scene and I should watch more... lol I was wondering the one other show you meant, sokker ... was going to write you forgot to name it but domx named the show.

Yep, spooky.... equal footing would be great to see not only it that genre but every one.

Am gonna check out this show Shameless.

 

[goldenmoth]

Penny dreadful has some good gay characters doesn't it? I haven't seen it yet

 

[sokker]

Penny dreadful has some good gay characters doesn't it? I haven't seen it yet

Not really.. the gay characters are only minor characters.

 

[axlwhity]

There was an interesting gay storyline on Masters of Sex - not the main plot though. But I thought it was pretty good! Kinda tragic and sad to watch how difficult it was back then to be gay...

Be careful, the article contains SPOILERS:
http://musingsofamildmanneredman.co...-creator-on-the-shows-exciting-gay-storyline/

 

[AlphaKennyBody]

I know, and come on, I doubt introducing a strong gay character will hurt any of the popular shows that are on TV. I mean have you SEEN all the shipping? Fangirls would back up a strong gay lead 100%, so I don't see the reasoning behind not having one :/

 

[sokker]

I know, and come on, I doubt introducing a strong gay character will hurt any of the popular shows that are on TV. I mean have you SEEN all the shipping? Fangirls would back up a strong gay lead 100%, so I don't see the reasoning behind not having one :/

Unpopular opinion, but I think shipping is what has destroyed gay tv in recent years. I think it's made it easier for producers to just add some hugs and looks here and there, aka "homoeroticism" without adding any actual gay characters, and get away with it. Why add gay characters when you can have only straight characters and have the fangirls swollow it up? I mean.. just look at Teen Wolf. OK, so the show has a minor gay character, but still.. that character is so minor you often forget he's on. That show was made popular exactly because of the shipping culture. Why would the producer risk anything by giving more screen time to the gay character when he can make the fangirls happy just by having Stiles and Derek share some scenes together?

The shipping culture, combined with lesbianism going mainstream, is what has lead to the death of gay (male) characters on tv. Just my opinion.

 

[goldenmoth]

That's an interesting point. I hadn't thought of that. I guess it's the same with kpop

 

[Irish Queer]

I want to see characters again like Omar from the Wire who is a Drug dealer, gangster etcetera and is gay. He's not a nurse, make up artist, fashion designer, hairdresser etc he doesn't have a hag and doesn't tell women what the should wear. I cheered when I first saw this type of gay character he said we can be this too.

 

[sokker]

I want to see characters again like Omar from the Wire who is a Drug dealer, gangster etcetera and is gay. He's not a nurse, make up artist, fashion designer, hairdresser etc he doesn't have a hag and doesn't tell women what the should wear. I cheered when I first saw this type of gay character he said we can be this too.

I agree. I want to see real, complex gay characters. Not stereotypes. It has gotten better in the last few years, but right now it's definitely at a low point. I want to see more characters like Omar from the Wire. He was badass. More gay badass characters like him would be awesome! They'd even get an extra point if it was in sci-fi or CBM tv shows. Heck.. I'd even be happy with more guys like Max from Happy Ednings. He wasn't badass, he was just normal. They even joked about how NOT gay he was! He didn't care about fashion, or much about appearance at all. He was lazy and into sports.. loved to eat. I found that a nice change from what you normally see of gay characters on tv. BTW.. I really miss Happy Endings They cancelled it too soon! It was a great show.

 

[Irish Queer]

I loved Max in Happy Endings and the show. He broke the mould.

 

[Sausy]

I agree. I want to see real, complex gay characters. Not stereotypes. It has gotten better in the last few years, but right now it's definitely at a low point. I want to see more characters like Omar from the Wire. He was badass. More gay badass characters like him would be awesome! They'd even get an extra point if it was in sci-fi or CBM tv shows. Heck.. I'd even be happy with more guys like Max from Happy Ednings. He wasn't badass, he was just normal. They even joked about how NOT gay he was! He didn't care about fashion, or much about appearance at all. He was lazy and into sports.. loved to eat. I found that a nice change from what you normally see of gay characters on tv. BTW.. I really miss Happy Endings They cancelled it too soon! It was a great show.

I don't mind having gays portrayed in some of the "stereotypical" situations because many do gravitate towards that kind of persona or field but many don't as well, so it's wonderful to have portrayals as well of gay characters who don't fit the stereotypes and are visible and represented. Andre Braugher in Andy Samberg's comedy cop show , Brooklyn 99 or something like that... he plays his boss and his being gay is pretty much treated as a matter of fact, but there isn't any stereotypical behavior. Has won a lot of praise for that portrayal and he is an actor with great dramatic gravitas from previous roles in the movies and television.

 

[Irish Queer]

^
I forgot about this character Jinx in Warehouse 13 was the same, he was accepted for his sexuality by the team. Don't get me wrong his love life issues got me but truth be told no character really had a love life and if and when they did it wasn't in your face taking screen time up.

 

[hylas]

I really loved Captain Jack Harkness when he was introduced in Doctor Who, but I never got into Torchwood.

I wouldn't dismiss Felix on Orphan Black. He may not be the main character, but he's pretty important, he's smart, funny, has agency, and is overall pretty cool.

I love Ser Loras on Game of Thrones, but I wish he had a bigger role. But I read the books, where he's actually even less important than in the adaption.

Btw, I'm not trying to disprove your point or anything... just listing some gay male characters off the top of my head that I enjoy.

 

[sokker]

^
I forgot about this character Jinx in Warehouse 13 was the same, he was accepted for his sexuality by the team. Don't get me wrong his love life issues got me but truth be told no character really had a love life and if and when they did it wasn't in your face taking screen time up.

I agree, that no character on that show really had a private life.. or you didn't get to see much of it. That said, I still think it was a cop out. Here they had an excellent chance to actually depict a gay character in a real way.. with a love life. They didn't. Sure.. he was gay, the rest of the team took it well, they even mentioned he had a boyfriend, and made a few jokes. All of that is good, don't get me wrong.. but I'd STILL like to see more of it. But alas.. it never happened. I don't want to be too harsh though, because honestly.. at least they tried. It's a start. They deserve major credit for that. And considering all the vitrol this character sparked online from homophobic bigots, especially on IMdB, I can see why shows like W13 never get gay characters, only lesbians. Adding gay characters is just too much of a controversy. Truth is the comic book geeks are actually quite homophobic. They don't have anything against lesbians, of course.. because they get turned on. But gay men? MAJOR issues. Sadly.

And btw.. I stand by what I said. There's still more lesbians in CBM shows on tv, like Once Upon a Time, Agents of SHIELD, The Walking Dead, Arrow, Supernatural, Gotham.. and the list goes on and on and on. The ONLY gay character (as in male) we've ever had in such a show is Steve Jinks. I don't count Torchwood, because that wasn't really a mainstream show.

So yeah.. we still have a LONG way to go before full equality. Sad fact is lesbians are more accepted in society, research shows it. Hence why it's easier to depict them on tv. I don't think we'll ever have as many gay characters as lesbians. That said.. what we have now is a new low. I've never seen this few gay characters on tv. And it doesn't help that the only shows adding gay characters are so crappy that they get cancelled right away, sigh

 

[sokker]

OK.. I just started watching Tyrant and it's actually REALLY good. Also, the son is gay. So that's a bonus

 

[sokker]

Just a heads up.. there's a new gay storyline on the VH1 show Hit the Floor. Here's a gif:

 

[RRUGER]

Two ladies getting hot and heavy.......... MMMMMMMMMMMMMMMM closeups!!!!!!!!!!!!

Two guys getting it on....... REALLY tread carefully and move aftersex or out of scene entirely asap!!!!!!!!!!

lol thats funny

 

[RRUGER]

Just a heads up.. there's a new gay storyline on the VH1 show Hit the Floor. Here's a gif:

hmmm something is up, they are sure including a lot of gay characters on TV nowadays

i wonder if this is worth watching. I bet they wont show nudity like they do the other hetero relationships.

 

[falconfan]

Honestly I have no problem relating to straight characters and enjoying shows that don't have any gay characters on them. That being said it's hard to think of real solid good examples of gay characters in current media.

I would say check out Looking. It's not my favorite show by far but Patrick is the closest the media has ever gotten to writing a gay character who is like me.