LGBTQ+ representation in the media

Jaycee Hampton

News & Lifestyle Editor

Heteronormative storylines have always been highlighted throughout the media and the entertainment industry.

Over the course of a few years, there has been a significant rise in diverse LGBTQ+ representation, which is necessary for equality and acceptance.

As time progressed, pop culture icons such as Rosie O’Donnell, RuPaul and Ellen DeGeneres, began to normalize queer people in the media by becoming major TV personalities. Thankfully, public opinion on LGBTQ+ in the media started to shift in the late 90s/early 2000s, and TV and film gained the inclusiveness of the community.

The first recurring LGBTQ+ character on TV was Peter Panama (portrayed by Vincent Schiavelli). The recurring role was showcased on the ABC sitcom, “The Corner Bar,” which ran from 1972-73. In film, Brock Peters played one of the first expressly gay characters in “The Pawnbroker” (1964). These were huge steps for their time, and the bravery illustrated by those involved with their productions paved the way for future inclusivity in the industry.

A little forward in time, one of the first TV shows to show LGBTQ+ main characters just doing normal, everyday things was “Will & Grace” (1998-2020). In this timeless sitcom classic, best friends Will, a gay lawyer, and Grace, a straight interior designer, share a New York City apartment together. As they navigate life alongside friends, Jack and Karen, this Emmywinning comedy talks about sex, dating, divorce and everything you would see on TV with heteronormative plot lines. Comic Sean Hayes (Jack) strikes gold and continues to be an LGBTQ+ household name.

As tasteful as “Will & Grace’’ is, LGBTQ+ representation isn’t always positive. There are different ways representation can become negative quickly, or not exist at all. Negative stereotypes are not shy from the industry; however, these different forms of representation (good or bad) can initiate and achieve different outcomes.

Retroactive representation, queer-baiting, queer people being portrayed as evil, and just overall a lack of representation can make it tough for LGBTQ+ members to break through stereotypes and receive the same level of equality and acceptance from audiences heterosexual characters receive.

First aired in 2009, “Modern Family” made conspicuous efforts to portray a loving, nurturing household between two gay men, their daughter and the rest of their family. The pair, named Cam (Eric Stonestreet) and Mitchell (Jesse Tyler Ferguson), softened hearts everywhere. As specific characters in “Modern Family” learn, grow and come to terms with allyship, the world was watching along, creating a positive connotation for the community. “Modern Family” finished their final season in 2020.

The 2003 Bravo show “Queer Eye” essentially did the same for viewers who would tune in to watch the ‘Fab 5’ makeover straight men and give them a new sense of confidence. Netflix produced a reboot in 2018 and it currently has seven seasons. The allyship between the men and their guests on the original and reboot has always been heartwarming and a fun watch. Everyone deserves to feel good about themselves regardless of their identity and “Queer Eye” has been able to properly administer that since the early 2000s.

Asexuality is overlooked in the media most of the time. In the Netflix original, “BoJack Horseman,” one of the main characters (Todd Chavez) comes to terms with his sexuality throughout the show’s six seasons. Voiced by Aaron Paul, Chavez tackles negative stereotypes and real-world struggles asexual people have to deal and come to terms with. His goofball, stoner persona is the perfect comedic relief for how heavy topics can be within the show. The writers did a fantastic job giving Todd a positive and welcoming embrace into the community.

The first openly transgender person to receive a nomination from the Television Academy was Laverne Cox in 2014. Cox’s character (Sophia Burset) is serving time in Litchfield Penitentiary, alongside a plethora of women in “Orange Is the New Black.” Although the first transgender person was featured in a film in the 70s, Cox and other trans women have normalized the way for a better understanding of what it means to be transgender and why they should be protected. “Orange Is the New Black” is not an easy watch; it is a hard look into what the prison systems are like and the countless struggles those in the community unfortunately face. It feels like a giant reality check during certain points of the seven-season series.

Representation really doesn’t mean anything if it’s not actually shown. It is complex to have representation in the media, human emotions and experiences come with their own baggage and realistic themes. It’s important to translate these discussions in entertainment, and generally in everyday life.

“Sex Education” (2019-present), “Glee” (2009-2015), “The Fosters” (2013-2018) are another few forms of media LGBTQ+ characters are portrayed in. Each of these show a plethora of queer storylines that don’t rely on cliches and harsh stereotypes, which is a step in the right direction.

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The media’s narrative surrounding mental health is often reducing and quick to stigmatize. When instances of violence occur, there is a tendency to label that person as “crazy,” sometimes implicitly linking mental illness with criminality, which is a damaging stereotype to establish.

Do not get me wrong, there are instances where that shoe fits but it seems we are really quick to throw the “crazy” card out. These portrayals of people in the media often focus on the individual and would often never speak on the societal and mental implications that could have led to the event to occur. The way mental health is depicted through the media can lead to victim-blaming and potential oversimplicifations of complex health conditions.

The media portrayals often overgeneralize the mental health illnesses. Each individual’s experience with a mental illness can vary significantly, yet the media often presents a one-sizefits-all depiction of the scenario.

The media, whether it be the intention or not, has established an “ideal” form of masculinity which can lead to self-deprecating comparisons to others. The media often sets unrealistic standards and expectations that can negatively affect men’s mental health. Men across all forms of media are typically portrayed as stoic, physically fit, successful and emotionally resilient, standards that are difficult to meet and consistently maintain. It is common for men in today’s day and age to feel inadequate whenever they fail to live up to these standards. We need to challenge these depictions and advocate for more diverse and realistic representations of men and mental health to foster a more supporting and accepting environment not only for men, but for everyone. These facts are even more prevalent among the younger adults. In fact, teens and young adults often suffer from what they call FoMO, or “fear of missing out,” which is an inherent trait of anxiety. FoMO was a concept prior to the media. However, the media has served as an amplifier to the situation making people scared of missing out on an experience even more. For instance, if someone sees a party on social media they weren’t invited to, it could make them feel negatively about themselves. This could be strengthened by the fact that social interaction is crucial to development at a young age, as it helps you learn to communicate.

If one were to miss out on this developmental stage of their life, it could lead to a negative selfperception.

Young adults who spend time on social media are three times more likely to suffer from depression, according to an article published by the Health University of Utah. The article goes onto state that in the United States suicide rates have declined since 2019. However, women and girls through the ages of 15-24 experienced an 87% increase in depression rates while men and boys through the same ages had an increase of 20% over a 20-year time period.

Despite these challenges, the media has a chance to be a powerful ally in turning the tides in a more positive manner. For instance, the media is able to initiate public debate, publicize positive stories surrounding mental health and educate the world about these conditions. Mental health professionals and advocates need to strategically use the media to reshape the narrative surrounding men’s mental health.

The portrayal of men’s mental health in the media is complex, with significant implications for not only individuals but society as a whole. By acknowledging and addressing these issues, we can work toward creating a more compassionate and accurate reality surrounding mental health. This would ultimately create a culture that supports and values the importance of mental health in everyone all over the world.