It is important to remember that even though the director intended to use his picture for one purpose it may have had a different effect on the public who viewed the picture. A lesbian college student (Lela) raised this point to the director by calling it �dumb but harmless�.
But is it really harmless? If we as a people are socialized by our surroundings, then what we see in the media also works as a socializing institution. What it is that we are exposed to by that institution will then become what we believe to be true about that minority group. Smith brings this point to the surface when he mentions a conversation he had with his homosexual brother. Smiths brother says that most mainstream films contain no homosexual themes to which he can relate. Not being able to identify with a film or television show is a common issue among homosexuals. The mainstream homosexual roles being presented on the screen are usually the stereotypical, overly flamboyant and feminine types, as seen in such films as The Birdcage, 28 Days or In and Out or criminals as in Rollercoaster or The Jackal. These roles ingrain stereotypes into the minds of the populace. While mainstream film remains rather heterosexist and reinforces many stereotypes, perhaps television may prove different.
We will now take a look at a few of the shows that play into the stereotypes. First we have mainstream Will and Grace on NBC. This hit television show is the most popular since Ellen to have been viewed as dealing with homosexual issues on prime time television. These shows are rare, as the main characters are either gay or in one way or another directly tied to homosexuals. It should be taken into consideration that Ellen failed and Will and Grace became a success because many considered Ellen�s television coming out to be too gay and political. Will and Grace do make political statements about the homosexual lifestyle; however, these statements are made while poking fun at the very issues they are promoting. James Keller points out that while the character of Will is homosexual the main relationship that he has with any individual in the show is Grace, a woman while in fact tried to father her baby. This suggests an underlining heterosexual theme, while homosexual romantic relationships are rarely shown, though they are frequently discussed. Perhaps one of the reasons that the show is so popular is that, while it is obvious that two of the main characters are gay it still doesn�t break the walls of heterosexism in the sitcom.
The second show that I would like to focus on is the Showtime drama Queer as Folk (the American version). This show has been a hit and appeals to homosexuals for multiple reasons. The majority of the characters are homosexual, Showtime is a private company and the show is rated mature, most episodes have multiple soft core pornographic sequences, and most importantly there are many different characters that the viewer can either identify with or relate to some one they know. We have the comic book loving Michael with the proud mother who supports him in every way possible, young Justin dealing with issues of being a teenager who just came out, Ted the struggling entrepreneur, Emmett the stereotypical overly flamboyant homosexual, and Brian whose rudeness, crudeness, and overbearingness can only be outdone by his overdriven sex life. Lindsey and Melanie are the only two recurring lesbian roles and they are also the only individuals who are in a committed long-term relationship and trying to raise an infant son.
One of the drawbacks of the show is held in representation of the character of Justin. Justin�s character is young and when the first season of the show aired Justin�s character was still in high school. Often the experience of being gay in high school carries with it many complications. Peer pressures, issues of dealing with homosexuality, depression, thoughts of suicide, and even rejection of ones own sexuality are all major issues in pre and post pubescent ages. For example the show neglects to deal with teen suicide rates as a result of dealing with the questioning of ones sexuality and coming to terms with one�s sexuality; the show also fails to acknowledge the gay teen groups that many schools offer.
Will and Grace is designed for a target audience of prime time heterosexual and homosexual viewers, while Queer as Folk is designed and targeted for a primarily homosexual audience. This can be seen in the structures of the shows, and also of the content. I would however like to point out that both of these shows illustrate only one side to the homosexual lifestyle. While providing a form of entertainment to a minority group who can�t identify with the mainstream, these shows also provide a reinforcer for the classic stereotypes. These shows provide a service to the homosexual movement towards civil rights by providing representation of the homosexual life style to the masses. With this step it becomes more difficult to ignore the existence of homosexuals and the issues they deal with.
As stated earlier many people believe that there is in fact a homosexual agenda (a scheduled plan that will ultimately result in homosexuals expanding recruiting them selves and there lifestyle to become the dominant power, leading the world to sin). This belief is a great way to begin looking at stereotypes that are made about the homosexual culture, and the homosexual lifestyle. My main concern of the idea of a homosexual agenda rumor is that it is very similar to a tool used by the Nazis to promote and make socially accepted the genocide of the Jewish people.
Betty Bowers has taken it upon herself to make an actual tongue and cheek homosexual agenda, which includes�
�3:33 p.m. Assume complete control of the U.S., state, and local governments (in addition to other nations' governments); destroy all healthy Christian marriages; recruit all children grades Kindergarten through 12 into your amoral, filthy lifestyle; secure complete control of the media, starting with sitcoms; molest innocent children; give AIDS to as many people as you can; host a pornographic �art� exhibit at your local art museum; and turn people away from Jesus, causing them to burn forever in Hell.�
Please keep in mind that this excerpt is camp humor, but even in camp humor we can see truth in the beliefs in the misunderstanding about homosexuals. If we compare these issues with those of an organization who believes that there is a homosexual agenda we will be surprised to see similarities. The American Family Association (AFA), is a religious lead organization that actually uses the homosexual agenda myth in order to oppress homosexuals and further spread the misconceptions of the entire minority group, much like the KKK does with the African Americans.