Which gay characters are most accurate?

Question

A lot of people complain that gay characters on TV and film are stereotypical, and not a true representation of real gay and lesbian people. Do you think this is true? Also, which characters in which shows do you think are the most accurate?

Answer 1

Well, Rent is right out, because anyone expecting realism from musicals is asking a liiiittle too much from the genre. And I don't know any sheepherders, gay or straight, so I can't really speak on Ennis and Jack (although I thought Jake Gyllenhaal was able to disappear into his role a lot more; it always seemed like 'Hey, it's Heath Ledger!' whenever Heath was onscreen).

And, not to stereotype, but there are real-life men and women who are as flaming and out-there as the so-called 'stereotypical' gays portrayed in Hollywood. I know a guy who, if they made a movie about his life, would definitely be played by Nathan-Lane-as-Albert from The Birdcage.

The complaints about stereotyping seem to me to be more directed at the fact that, if a given male character is gay, he's either 1.) Jack from 'Will and Grace' or even farther out of the proverbial closet, or 2.) Sympathetic, asexual, Heroine's Best Friend (Rupert 'My Best Friend's Wedding' Everett). And any lesbian is either wrestling other lesbians in pudding or teaching gym.

I'd like to see more gay characters in situations where being gay is the seventh- or eighth-most important thing about their character. Of course, you can always assume that every character you see is gay until you see them acting straight. It's an interesting little exercise.

Answer 2

The most accurate and honest depiction of lesbians I've ever seen was on HBO's movie "If These Walls Could Talk 2"- real issues faced by women who seemed like plausible lesbians. Still one of my favorites.

To be quite honest, though, I have to say that I actually enjoy most shows and films having to do with gay and lesbian characters, basically because even though the characters may be stereotypes, stereotypes are, after all, based on a grain of truth. It's the media, not me, who looks at "Will and Grace" and thinks that all gay men are femmey queen Jack MacFarlands. I just see him as a wonderful character, because I do know people like that.

You know? Does that make sense? I'm not offended by stereotypical gay characters . . . I just like it when a variety of people are portrayed. It's why I like "Another Gay Movie" so much- you get a variety of different types of gay men, both playing with stereotypes and disregarding them, too. Fun stuff.

Answer 3

The English version of "Queer as Folk" was a fairly accurate representation of most of my gay friends, and a brilliant show to boot! That said, everyone is different and a TV show or film cannot ever really represent a community accurately. Though I do have a number of gay friends who wish they were Stuart...

Answer 4

I'm only bi, so I'm not that good of an example, but my gay friends ALWAYS complain about TV being inaccurate. Most of my gay friends hated Rent and Brokeback Mountain because, and I quote, "It made us all seem like such victims!" I can understand that. I think it's stupid that movies and shows can't have a gay character at all without him or her having horrific conflicts in life. I understand main characters having problems, of course, but it's always something like AIDS or hate crimes. Not everyone hates homosexuals, guys. They're not the poor pathetic souls Hollywood loves to make them.

Answer 5

Your question is similar.The TV and film always guide the people in wrong way if you not really study it and understand the situation.There are many issue can influence someone became "gay" beside than born in nature one.For example is one man having the break up times with female ones and cause his disappointed and give up and wouldn't try it again due to sometimes female is difficult to understand it.Thus, a male which like to do housework and beautiful himself than football activity ,people may think he is a gay but actually he just born in act like woman ( like our mother always baby sister for us) , thus, the break up parent cause the relationship between child going to a bad memory times and cause his very difficult in trust on male side and many cases.Your real gay or lesbian will tell you the real world that he/she had pass by.You need to respect all before you try to be friend with them.

Answer 6

Ellen Degeneres

Answer 7

Loving ,caring,people just like straight people and gays do not all hit on you any more than the straight population and all gays do not sound effeminate.They are descent people who just want to live and be left alone

Answer 8

Somewhat related, did you know there are now some gay superheroes in comic books? They're not exactly accurate, but they're superheroes...

There's a list with descriptions at http://www.gayleague.com/gay/characters/ although I'm not sure how current it is.

Answer 9

I think the character "Gayman....Ta TaTa Taaaaaa". It was a joke by comedian Jeff Dunham on a comedy central special. If you never heard of him, he is a puppeteer and has the character 'peanut'.

Gayman has an impeccably perfect costume and when he flies....his butt whistles.

Answer 10

hmmm which str8 character is completely accurate to str8s?

i'm happy with a cross section of characters as long as they arent all either dying or drug addicts that have to sell themselves. :D