What Ever Happened to The TV Rainbow?
Is it uncouth to go from a piece on a band called “White Town” to an article on the dearth of gay black characters on television? Probably, but oh well…
As you remember, earlier in the television season, GLAAD spilled much ink (and we probably loads of dough) on the lack of gay characters on network television. Now, Hikaru Freeman over at AfterElton is taking on the deficit of gay blacks in general.
While we think examinations of gays in media can be a bit tiresome, we’re actually intrigued by this piece. Okay, maybe intrigued isn’t the right word. Dare we say impressed?
Sure, it’s the standard flair: gay black men are either flaming queers or sexless props, but we have to admit that Freeman’s incorporated some pretty good voices into this study, including Keith Boykin and Rod McCollum.
While they’re all well and good, perhaps the most notable comment comes from Steven Emmanuel of Queer Kid of Color:
Now that I think of it, how come all the white gay men I see are more masculine then our black gay brothers? Brokeback Mountain … was about two masculine, white men on the down low. Everyone thought Brokeback Mountain was a love story. I beg to differ. It was a gay cowboy love story. Gay in the sense that they were both gay, cowboy in the sense that they were both cowboys, love in the sense that they were both in love, and let’s just throw in the words ‘down low’ since they had female partners while being together. There’s your gay cowboy love story. My point: The reaction to the film would have been different if it was two masculine black men who were closeted. It wouldn’t have been a love story. It would have been a black gay love story about two men on the down low who play basketball.
We can’t even imagine what GLAAD would do if Brokeback had been about two black guys. Undoubtedly they’d have said something, although we suspect they would have found a way to turn it into an argument about a lack of faggot crackers or something.
Anyway, check out the article and come on back, kiddies. You won’t regret it. If you do…well, tough.
(Oh, and if anyone out there plans on writing a racist comment, keep it to yourself, thanks. We’re not in the mood.)
I don’t understand why GLAAD thinks there are no gay characters on TV. Are they not watching? Consider the following: Ugly Betty, Help Me Help You and Brothers & Sisters for starters. And the REAL gay/lesbian folk? Ellen, Trading Spaces, While You Were Out, Cash In The Attic, Grey’s Anatomy, What Not To Wear and just about any program on HGTV. I will take quality over quantity any day, but the quantity isn’t that bad either!
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For GLAAD and the folks at afterelton.com there will NEVER be enough. I used to read that site but it seems these days all they do is lament the lack of gay representation in EVERYTHING – including het porn, I’m sure. Talk about myopia (or just a severe lack of anything else to write about)!
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The article didn’t provide much but tired complaints. I love querkidofcolor blog and Keith Boykin, but this article was blah.
Men on the DL is an issue that needs to be discussed and addressed, but at the same time cannot be the only representation of black gays in the media of course.
The writer mentioned Noahs ark and neglected to say that there ARE masculine guys on that show.
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The proportion of gay representation on TV is less than in real life, that is the problem. And almost all the gay people and characters are side acts. All of them have no romantic life so not to threaten or offend others. When gay people get fair and equal treatment I’ll be satisfied.
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I was glad to be apart of this article. And MK thanks for liking my blog, but I dont think the article is bland. It’s actually very helpful and authentic.
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For me, as a gay man of color, I think the article reveals the obvious. Though, that could be because I live this life everyday, and hardly see anyone on television who really represents me and my experiences. I also don’t expect to see it.
Just as Sex and the City portrayed various female personalities on a weekly basis — for better or worse — so too does Noah’s Ark. But since gay men of color are just as individual as others, my experiences are just that: MY experiences. I have a great time with my gay (also Black) cousins (yes, plural), but we’re all different and appreciate different things, whether sports, physical attractions or clothing options.
Instead of just adding gay men of color to a program, they need to be interesting, complex, well-written and well-acted. For all the great diversity I think Noah’s Ark brings to television, I also find myself turned off by the program because I personally find it poorly acted. I’d rather see good show than one that leaves me grimacing from poor acting skills — regardless of the color of the actors or their sexuality.
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I agree with Chuck Martens; gay characters on tv are far from sparse these days. Particularly, I have found, when regarding recent lesbian dramas-Sugar Rush is a considerably accurate portrayal of gay, teenage life (if a litte diverse at times). In addition, The L word, although not strictly a British drama, represents the lesbian culture in as positive a way as possible, despite being a little idealistic. But where are the gay dramas? Why are lesbians becoming increasingly “accepted” by the media, yet gay men are still being cruely shunted to one side? Sure, gay men appear frequently on tv, but what it really comes down to is how accurately do these characters (and, effectively, actors) represent the gay culture?
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The U.S.-Mexican border fence works, doesn’t work
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I’ve just been letting everything pass me by. Shrug. Basically not much notable going on lately.
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I’ve just been staying at home waiting for something to happen. I’ve just been letting everything wash over me. I can’t be bothered with anything recently.
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My life’s been generally bland today. I just don’t have anything to say recently. I guess it doesn’t bother me. Basically nothing seems worth doing, but I don’t care.
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My life’s been basically boring. Such is life. Nothing exciting going on worth mentioning.
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The government should be persuaded to pay for all healthcare
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You said “faggot crackers.”