4. REPORT
Are Gay Stereotypes Gaining Ground and Losing Bite?
By
Michael Wilke
May 14, 2002
Less than 10 years ago Tom Hanks played the
first gay lead in a big budget film, Philadelphia, and just under five years ago
Ellen DeGeneres did the same on a prime time TV show. Back then, the community
held its collective breath whenever a lesbian or gay character was to appear,
and hoped it wouldn't be a predictable stereotype to feed the flames of bigotry
or confirm the fears of our parents.
But today classic male stereotypes
are being spread far and wide with tres fey network hit Will & Grace,
Showtime's steamy Queer As Folk, and movie blockbusters like The Birdcage, so
why aren't gay groups protesting? Because things are changing.
In the
last five years, a variety of representations in media of lesbians and gays have
popped up relentlessly, moving many in the community to look at things with a
whole new set of shades. While an effeminate man milked for laughs years ago was
considered narrow and offensive, today's sissy men -- like Jack on Will &
Grace or Emmett on Queer As Folk -- are increasingly considered liberated and
are embraced. It seems gender expression doesn't quite have to impress straight
people as much as it once did.
Nearly 75% Polled Said Stereotypes Are
Less Threatening
A recent poll of 2,200 visitors to CommercialCloset.org
found that 74.4% said they found such stereotypes in commercials "less
threatening than they used to be," 17.2% said "same as always" and just 8.5%
felt that stereotypes were "more threatening" than before.
One program
bringing significant change to perspectives is Queer As Folk, which has been
both praised and attacked for its representation of the gay community. On
sissies, Daniel Lipman, who co-executive produces the program with his 25-year
life and business partner, Ron Cowan, notes, "People love Jack and Emmett, they
have a great affection for these characters. But there are two camps: some think
they're very positive and others say no. Yet there's a certain degree of truth
to stereotypes and clichZs.". . .
. . . COLUMN CONTINUED AT THE WEB SITE
http://www.commercialcloset.org/cgi-bin/iowa/index.html?page=column