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Gays Fighting for Accurate, Deeper Roles in
Television
Finally, gays and lesbians are portrayed in a
positive role on television.
After years of being invisible or the subject of
jokes, we are now seen as everyday people. Just as
other minorities have had to fight for their right
to be seen as proper role models and as
commonplace, so now the fight comes to show
lesbians and gays the same way.
Unfortunately, some people want to return to
television when June Cleaver wore pearls while
vacuuming.
The Gay and Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation
has been working against the push for a Homosexual
Content (HC) label before a television program
begins with a gay or lesbian character. Executive
director of GLAAD, Joan Garry, said, "The notion of
adding a distinct label for 'homosexual content' is
clearly based on ignorance and prejudice. Such a
label could only serve to stigmatize members of the
lesbian, gay, bisexual and trans-gender community
by suggesting that something is inherently wrong
with them."
Media-driven ministries, such as the Dr. Laura
radio show, want to associate gays and lesbians
with sex. This serves to fuel those who wish to put
the HC label in place.
We are still somewhat portrayed as superficial
in the media. GLAAD reports 28 lesbian and gay
characters on broadcast and cable networks for the
1999-2000 season, the majority of these in small
recurring roles. Gay and lesbian teens deserve to
be shown with the wholeness they have, instead of
feeling shamed and attacked. New ideas often
frighten people.
No longer do people do their homework, but
instead make instant decisions. Media-driven
ministries continually quote sources that were
written before gays and lesbians risked - or were
permitted - to write about our own lives. The truth
needs to come from the source.
©2010 by Joe Kort
Related: Issues,
Books
Psychotherapist
Joe Kort, MA, MSW, has been in practice since 1985.
He specializes in Gay Affirmative Psychotherapy as
well as IMAGO Relationship Therapy, which is a
specific program involving communication exercises
designed for couples to enhance their relationship
and for singles to learn relationship skills. He
also specializes in sexual addiction, childhood
sexual, physical and emotional abuse, depression
and anxiety. He offers workshops for couples and
singles. He runs a gay men's group therapy and a
men's sexuality group therapy for straight, bi and
gay men who are struggling with specific sexual
issues. His therapy services are for gays and
lesbians as well as heterosexuals. His articles and
columns have appeared in The Detroit Free
Press, Between the Lines Newspaper for
Gays and Lesbians, The Detroit News, The
Oakland Press, The Royal Oak Mirror, and
other publications. Besides providing therapy for
individuals and couples, he conducts a number of
groups and workshops for gay men. Now an adjunct
professor teaching Gay and Lesbian Studies at Wayne
State University's School of Social Work, he is
doing more writing and workshops on a national
level. He is the author of 10
Smart Things Gay Men can do to Improve Their
Lives and
10
Smart Things Gay Men Can Do to Find Real
Love.
www.joekort.com
or E-Mail
*
Gaydar
(gay'.dahr, n.): (1) The
ability that lets gays and lesbians identify one
other. (2) This column--where non-gay readers can
improve their gaydar, learning more about gay men's
psychology and social lives. Also, (3) a regular
feature where gay readers can discover the many
questions and hassles their straight
counterparts--and themselves--must face!
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