#GayMediaSoWhite has been blowing up Twitter as a reaction to lack of inclusion of men of color in media and everyone’s got an opinion about it, including yours truly. We’ve seen this discussion play out in some capacity multiple times over the past decade, and while we have seen change, it’s a bit more incremental than we’d like.
Therefore, we decided to put together a few tips for those out there involved in the discussion as well as those who have the power to make change behind the scenes.
Here are Five Ways To Combat #GayMediaSoWhite:
1. Take Black Cover Guys Out Of The “Black History Month” Ghetto
How about we take this to the next level?
Our newsletter is like a refreshing cocktail (or mocktail) of LGBTQ+ entertainment and pop culture, served up with a side of eye-candy.
We’re always happy to see a black man on the cover of a major gay magazine, but somehow, it always seems to be around that February/March timeframe. Any guesses as to why that might be? Featuring black men on magazine covers only during the first quarter of the year is the least imaginative editorial choice we can think of.
Of course we were thrilled to see Jussie Smollett on the cover of Out Magazine, and Janet Mock’s Advocate cover story on DeRay McKesson was pretty awesome too, but doing stories on black men during Black History Month just strikes us as a bit…lazy.
Empire and Jussie Smollett broke out a while ago, but a bunch of white dudes (most of whom aren’t even gay!) were somehow deemed to be cover worthy long before him. And, yeah, we love that Attitude cover story on Michael Sam too, but take a look at the calendar and you’ll see our point. Do better, magazine editors.
2. Realize “Generic” Photos Can Be Of People Of Color, Too
The idea that “gay = white” is an idea that is so ingrained in our culture that it’s hard to take a step back from it. One possible way is for those of us making photo decisions on the editorial side to open our eyes to diversity in the photos we’re using for stories. For example, there’s no reason why a generic story about gay marriage needs a white male couple to illustrate it.
Ditto a story about gay people on vacations, or dealing with financial issues, or…well, you get the point. It may seem like a small thing, but that baseline level of representation can go a long way towards combating the feeling of erasure that some people of color feel when they go to their favorite gay blogs.
3. Do More To Highlight Black Gay Success Stories
We all shuddered with revulsion when the young black gay couple suffered major injuries after a homophobe poured boiling water on them. We all shook our heads when Tiger Mandingo was sentenced to decades in jail under archaic HIV criminalization laws, but…is that all there is? Fortunately not.
The most important young black man in America right now just happens to be gay and running for Mayor of Baltimore. Another black gay man is breaking through the “old white dude” barriers in political commentary and journalism. There are pretty more where that came from, we promise.
Also, editors and writers take note: if the only black face in your magazine or on the homepage of your site is attached to an ad for HIV medication or a story about HIV/AIDS rates…we notice, and now we hope you do, too.
4. If You Don’t Like It, Don’t Click/Buy It
If you think #gaymediasowhite, don’t consume it. Don’t click on it. Don’t buy the magazines. Don’t download the apps. Don’t talk about it. Don’t tweet about it. The wonderful thing about living in 2016 is that most things are so damn gay there’s even less of a need to seek out traditionally gay media if they’re not reflecting the world you live in.
The days when a single magazine, website, or newspaper dictated the terms of what is talked about in the LGBT community are over. Those of us who don’t fit a specific mold are better off with the wealth of choices we have.
If you give some of these places the push into irrelevancy they’re courting by not being diverse enough, they’ll get the memo when their numbers start to go down. And you can just keep twirling your eyeballs and the ad dollars they attract right along to places that are better at representing you.
5. Support Media By And For People Of Color
We gave you a little push in this direction with our list of 5 Black LGBT Blogs You Need To Start Reading ASAP, but we barely scratched the surface of what’s out there. There is a wealth of content out there for LGBT people of color. While we’ll readily admit that you’ve gotta do a ton of filtering for quality control, it’s there if you look for it.
Let us be clear: Tha Life: Atlanta is nobody’s idea of high class entertainment, but you could do much worse for a trashy reality TV diversion in the annals of YouTube. And we know. We’ve tried. With nearly a million views of the multiple “seasons,” someone is out there watching it, and we’re pretty sure it’s because they got tired of searching for black gay people on TV and looked online.
Rob Smith is a multimedia journalist and author of Closets, Combat and Coming Out: Coming of Age as a Gay Man in the ‘Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell’ Army. Follow him on Twitter and Instagram @robsmithonline.
MarionPaige
Why do Black People need representation in Gay Media? As I see it,
#GayMediaSoWhite only affects Blacks (like Michael Sam) who are delusional enough to think that “Gay” is about Black people (when “Gay” isn’t really about any real life people).
As presented by most of gay media, Gay is divorced from gay sex. As a result, White Gays (who pee, poop and have sex) aren’t represented by most of Gay Media.
Xzamilio
Tha Life? Really? That’s how you end this? Okay… ignoring the fact that Queerty got heavy handed as hell with the stories focusing on black LGBT people in February and March — let’s see if we keep this going — the narrative seems to be that if you are a black LGBT person you need to support other black LGBT people even if what they do does not conduce with your own value system. And you hit the nail on the head talking about not consuming things that are not geared to you, but I would go further and say that if something isn’t being geared towards you to go out and see it happen yourself.
Also, I’m sorry to be that guy, but as a black gay man who has felt the cruel bitchslap of rejection and racial exclusion, I’m a little disappointed to see this article playing into the media obsessed dichotomy of black and white, completely discounting LGBT persons of other races who are even more underrepresented in mainstream media. You’re not gonna solve the problem of race just by putting more gay black men on magazine covers. Who the fuck still reads magazines anymore.
Bob LaBlah
I would suggest to do it yourself if you feel slighted or that you can do a better job of representing a certain group or getting your point across but there is one major problem. Magazines in todays world simply do not sell, or make money, to bottom line it. Here’s an experiment worth trying; walk up to a young black gay person and ask what was the cover story for the latest edition of Ebony or Jet online and note their reaction. I bet they couldn’t tell you what it was and might get offended that you asked.
Time.com, the Washingtonpost.com. the LATimes.com, the NYTImes.com, Businessweek.com, the WSJ.com all now limited the number of free articles one can read per month. The NYDailynews.com has eliminated their comment section altogether because they could no longer afford a monitor to monitor the comments section. They all survive now by advertising, not paying subscribers. And there lies the problem with getting ones own magazine started. Until this changes (and it seems highly unlikely it will) every group will be at the mercy of the editors decision as to who and what will be featured.
The articles featuring blacks on the cover are read by a small number of blacks who represent an even smaller number of paying subscribers. I think its more a situation of money than politics. The majority of the blogs are free but are also so discriminatory as to their targeted audience they actually alienated the very people they target. They are also, for the most part, started by people who have no clue as to what journalism is. Welcome to America and reality folks.
Creig Stearne
You seem to have forgotten Michael Sam is on the cover of Attitude this month. The 4 people you show in his post are all actors and pro gay and allies. Please list the black actors that are pro gay and allies and activist on our side. Recently the actor who is gay on Empire discussed how badly he is treated by his fellow black actors for being gay. The reported a drop in viewership due to the gay characters and this season he will be start. Yes there is no homophobe in the black community – ha
Black Pegasus
Queerty needs to follow the advice posted in this article. And while this is a step in the right direction it still ignores white gay privilege and other forms of blatant racism within the “gay community.” I don’t want the conversation to be muddled in talks about “sexual racism.” That is NOT my fight! That’s a fight for Black men who exclusively chase White men.
MarionPaige
@Bob LaBlah: “They [Publishers] all survive now by advertising, not paying subscribers.”
The Magazine / Newspaper Business Model was always about advertising. It’s just that it has gotten harder for publishers to get away with claiming they have some massive audience.
I pass newstands in NYC and on the subway and I’m amazed at how many mags have Black People on their covers.
Bob LaBlah
@Black Pegasus: Could you please go a bit more in detail as to what a group of white gay men have accomplished that a group of black gay men could not have done had they really tried? I ask this question based on the THOUSANDS of black gay men and women who are at the gay pride parades across the country at night and still do nothing but complain about what they don’t have while patronizing white gay owned businesses (as in the bars) in NYC especially.
Bob LaBlah
@MarionPaige….. Ok, and how many of those magazines do you see being read on the subway or bought from the vendor? I saw the same thing and had the same question when I lived in NYC. I also found many of those magazines degrading, and I am not black. I can’t speak for you personally but I feel you know where I am coming from with that one (degrading).
Irish Ryan
Sorry not worried about it.
MarionPaige
I like it just fine that Black people aren’t presented in Gay Media. Imagine the horror of F-ing Towleroad proclaiming himself The Spokeperson for Black People.
DarkZephyr
Am I evil in finding the fact that his name is Mykki Blanco kinda funny in an ironic way? Also, is RuPaul white now?
@Black Pegasus: “gay privilege” is a thing?
Chevelter
And how about little people, where are they? And little people of color?! And left-handed little people lesbians of color in wheel chairs!? Where are they? We must have representation of everyone! Go drive yourself crazy.
Stached1
@Xzamilio: Well said.
joeyty
Let’s just kill off all white people.
Ummmm Yeah
If you don’t like what white people are doing get off your lazy ass and so start your own magazine, movie studio, TV station, etc. There problem solved. Oh no wait it isn’t because most of your would rather blame your failures on white people then do something with your life.
gmoc
Its hilarious that you’re always able to read comments about racism etc. in the gay community and all you have to do is scroll through the comments for an example. Like Ummmmm Yeah’s comment, it always strikes me as funny when people call black people lazy or anything of that nature seeing as how we worked as chattel or white people for 300+ years. Yet that is not my point. Its very true that there is bias in gay media and as a result, I’ve done what the author has suggested and regularly read black/poc lgbt blogs where I don’t have to encounter the racism or abusive language that goes on here. People say “create your own and stop complaining.” Isn’t that just segregation?
gmoc
@Ummmm Yeah:
People worked as chattel for white people for 300 years are lazy? That is odd and the math doesn’t add up. People wonder why there is this constant talk about racism in the gay community and all you have to do is scroll to comments on gay websites to see it firsthand.
Jet
Sorry Queerty, those issues of Out and The Advocate are not February (Black History Month) issues. Out’s Jussie SMollett issue is March 2016, and The Advocate’s DeRay story is March/April 2016.
Masc Pride
You’re recommending a “black show”, yet you’re also admitting it’s not that good? Not a good pitch, Rob. Wouldn’t it be better to present most of these suggestions to the people who control gay media geared towards POC? Gay media geared towards GWM is going to mostly showcase the lily white stuff that appeals to GWM.
Mainstream gay media is definitely mostly white and male, but so is the gay community. Mainstream gay media can and does “safely” veer from the standard sometimes. However, the “diversity” expectations can sometimes be a little unreasonable. Will it ever really be enough?
@gmoc: To answer your question, no, it isn’t segregation. It’s marketing. Just like BET has a target demographic, magazines like Attitude do too. All media has target demographics, and those targets are catered to in order to generate interest and money.
jayj150
“3. Do more to highlight black gay success stories”. You do realize there are other ethnic minorities besides black people, right?. Statements like that are far more exclusionary than your average ‘gay media’, you make it sound as if Latinos, Asians, Arabs don’t exist. It’s the same that happened with the Oscars: There were Latinos nominated, in fact, the best director winner the last 3 years has been Mexican, yet black people push this #oscarsowhite idiocy. How come there’s no problem when there are black people nominated but no Latinos or Asians? Why don’t blacks complain then? Blacks are not any more inclusive than whites, if anything, the opposite might be true.
Glücklich
@Chevelter:
They all live in Berkeley.
Louie Mars
Duh.
Rob Smith
@gmoc: The way magazine publishing works, both of those magazines were set to arrive in February, which is when they appeared in my mailbox. Thus, the critique is valid.
Rob Smith
@jayj150: As the conversation is started by black people and continues to be driven primarily by black people, I decided to tackle it from a black perspective. I am not Asian. I am not Latino. I am not Middle-Eastern. I am not a “person of color.” I am black. Therefore, I can only write from the perspective of a black person.
Rob Smith
@Creig Stearne: Link to that story about Jussie Smollett talking about homophobia he experienced on the set of Empire from other actors on that show. That just never happened. Sorry, but it’s not true.
muscular
This is the same complaint made about gay porn producers. Black dudes sell a lot fewer DVDs and porn subscriptions than white dudes. There’s big demand for movies of white dudes having sex, not so much for black ones. Might the same be true for gay publications? Might readers have little interest in stories about blacks?
Rob Smith
@Xzamilio: Those stories were my ideas. Maybe they were “heavy handed,” but as a black writer I felt the need to showcase other black LGBT people. And I do so because I believe its necessary, not to appease black gay people online, because that’s a tough crowd to please.
Xzamilio
@Rob Smith: You are not lying at all!!! It’s a damn near impossible crowd to please because there are so many facets to the black and LGBT black community, and all of us are vocal as hell. Something seen as “real” to one crowd will be seen as “ratchet and ghetto” to another. Something seen as “high culture” or “modern” will be seen as “sadiddy” and “whitewashed” to another. And I didn’t just mean from you and I do think that “heavy handed” was a bit extreme on my end… I guess I’m used to the Queerty that barely showed any black men except on Sunday.
Masc Pride
@jayj150: Yeah, I’m noticing that lots of black people use the word “diversity” as code for “make everything blacker” (and while they keep their stuff black too). I see nothing wrong with BET, BET Awards, etc., but it’s undoubtedly hypocritical to have exclusive stuff while complaining about exclusivity.
gmoc
@Rob Smith:
I wasn’t disagreeing with the points you made. I was largely responding to some of the racially abusive language on here. I agree with everything you wrote.
ingyaom
I assume it’s a numbers thing – about 14% of America is black, and, statistically, only about 5% of them are going to be gay, so that’s a pretty low number.
Daniel-Reader
That drag queen Blanco is just attention seeking – offering no publicity for black, latino, or asian gay publications but attacking white gay publications. Blaming white people who are a minority on the planet for being successful with white people seems rather counterproductive. Also, are gay bio men not allowed publications? Since when does it have to be LGBT? A magazine isn’t a political organization.
GC1985
@ingyaom: And white people will be a minority in a decade or so… so what were you saying?
Some of the language people use on here just solidifies the point that racism is rampant in the gay community. Maybe some of you should have a little more respect.
@Masc Pride: You wouldn’t know anything about what minorities go through in this country… Since you are a closeted privileged white dude.
GC1985
@jayj150: You really don’t have a clue what’s going on do you? The overwhelming majority of people nominated at the Oscars were white. Not Latino or Asian. Keep it up with the ignorance.
jayj150
@Rob Smith: The very first thing you state in your piece is that apparently there’s a problem with “lack of inclusion of men of color”, then go ahead and make it all about black men. Then, when confronted, you emphatically state you’re not a ‘man of color’. What is it then?. I can put up with self-righteous hypocrisy, but not with sloppy, inconsistent writing.
AxelDC
Let’s take a census of the gay community, and then put exactly those percentages of race, religion, age, political affiliation, education status, musical preference, and favorite foods, and only put exactly the number of gay people in the media who match the exact percentages of those demographics. We can carry identity politics to such extremes that once every blue moon, you will find yourself exactly represented on a magazine cover. Won’t that be a glorious day?
jayj150
@GC1985: Yes, and the majority of people in this country are white. And the majority of people working in Hollywood are white. What would be an acceptable scenario for you?. One where, say, 50% of the nominated were black?. What do you personally deem acceptable?. The nominations, for the most part, reflect the people working in the film industry. But if you want to get technical, blacks have been awarded a far too high number of awards in the last 15 years if you consider the fact they’re only 13% of the population. But that’s OK, awards should be about recognizing achievements, not about satisfying quotas and making everybody happy. And by the way, I’m a dark skinned Latino. When blacks say #oscarsowhite even though Mexicans are getting plenty of awards, what they’re really saying is they’re only concerned about blacks not getting awards, they couldn’t care any less about other minorities.
pscheck2
@gmoc: So?
Baba Booey Fafa Fooey
@GC1985: That concerns me because I’m white AND gay. I’m not sure what part of me racial minorities hate more, to be honest. Will it ve even safe for a white gay male to even be living in America in 20 years?
jayj150
This guy writes an article complaining about gay white people not being inclusive enough of ‘people of color’. Then proceeds to make every point in the article specifically about black men, with not so much as a single photo of a Latino or Asian person. Then, when confronted, openly admits he is only concerned with black men because that’s what he is. But apparently white gay men don’t have the right to do the same. The hypocrisy is epic.
pscheck2
Get over it! It’s just white envy and a self-inflicted guilt complex (you’re not Jewish by chance?)on your part and out to slay that mean old dragon, the white guy!
john.k
@ingyaom: I thought it was more like 22%. But whatever it is the percentage in Britain is lower again and Attitude is a British magazine.
tonythompson
@MarionPaige: Ummm, bc the bias in gay media which focuses overwhelmingly on white people treats only white gay people as important enough to feature stories about.
tonythompson
@pscheck2: No, that’s not it at all. It’s recognizing that white gay people are not the only ones who are part of the gay community. If magazines and online sites are meant to appeal to gay people, that should include *all* gay people, not just a portion of the community. This is another manifestation of white privilege-the fact that white people can expect to have their interests well represented in media, where People of Color cannot.
tonythompson
Rob:
I will say that one of the complaints I’ve seen from other commenters in this thread is valid: you began this piece talking about the lack of representation of GAY MEN OF COLOR, but quickly shifted to speaking only about GAY BLACK MEN OF COLOR. Gay media is heavily white-centric, largely due to white people being treated as the default norm in the gay community and other ethnicities treated as secondary or tertiary, but the way to combat that is not to call solely for better representation of one ethnic minority group, but for all of them.
Bob LaBlah
Just out of curiosity when the comments are flagged why is it they are never posted or followed up on. I don’t see the reasoning behind anything I just said for it to have been flagged, unless it is obvious the comments aren’t going on the direction the author of the article had desired. My comment involved a situation that actually happened in West Hollywood and DOES fit into this discussion.
Bob LaBlah
have an open question for all of you: Let’s say for instance you and a group of friends decided to get together and open a business. You all put up the same amount of time researching the specifics of the business and you all look the same, or to bottom line it your all of the same r@ce. What is the problem with targeting your own kind (as in r@ce) while being respectful of those who aren’t but patronize your business?
The reason I ask this is because of a case (or article) that appeared on the now defunct Dailyvoice.com. The article mentioned a sign that was placed at the entrance of a bar in West Hollywood (as in SKY-HIGH ass rent for everything, West Hollywood). The sign said, more or less, it was required that ones pants be pulled up on their ass inside the bar. The Dailyvoice.com (as in Keith Boykin) decided to see it as r@cist. Now, keep in mind, the majority of your patrons (say around 98%) who help keep you in business are white, like you, but get visibly uncomfortable when around what, for all intents and purposes appear to be out right “thugs”. Do you sit back in silence as they come in, don’t buy drinks and cry r@cism when asked to leave or do you stand by your patrons, who are threatening to stop coming if something isn’t done about it?
What would ANY of YOU do in a case like that? And keep in mind, regardless of your decision the due date for rent and utilities (and thats just on the bar, not your personal expenses) does not change.
Bob LaBlah
I figured it out. You have to misspell “certain” words to get past the word censor.
Godabed
First of all, People of Color is more than just the “Black community” yet that’s all you highlighted. exposure is great, and maybe you should take some of your own advise although part of the top 5 is just stupid.
example “If you don’t like it don’t consume it”? I’m sorry do you live on earth???? It’s not possible to consume it unless you’re a hermit with no electricity and you don’t venture out into the world. You don’t have to spend a dime to consume white media, because unless given specific special privileges, minorities don’t have representation, and furthermore if you use such words like “diversity” “‘r@cism” towards the e gay community, especially white gay males, instead of checking their privilege will get hyper-defensive and start attacking you for your experience. Then you have the ignorant people that think it’s all about sex.
Sorry to break your bubble enlightened intelligent gay black dude or r@cist white gay male, but not all gay minority lives or experiences revolve around if someone wants too stick their penis in some white dude. Again, it’s about exposure and inclusion in your own community. Great example of this is netflix… look at Netflix gay and lesbian movies. The Majority of which is some gay white male, and his struggle with finding love and acceptance while over coming the angst in his life. Not to many minority stories that aren’t about the hood, prison, barrio, or that doesn’t involve a white love interest (because you know great white savior complex isn’t rampent in movies). That’s not a reflection of reality at all, and it sickens me everytime i look for more stories that i can actually identify with. But instead majority of gay life is from the perspective of gay white males. or gay white lesbians. With few exceptions. So maybe enligthened gay black male, or r@cist gay white male, you could get your head out of the bedroom, because there is certainly more than white dude poon…. jeez! people like you are disgusting, and not helpful to the conversation at large.
GaymedisoWhite, like the article said, like the fashion industry highlighted, like TV and Holiday have been saying for decades, this isn’t new, These conversations aren’t new. Yet the media is still doing nothing about it. #NotShocked.
Bob LaBlah
@Godabed: What a shame you missed Noah’s Arc. The characters in that show reflected a wide swath of the black gay community, from the rich kid Ricky down to the entry-level laborer Wade, Noah’s boyfriend. Their ups and downs were universal if ever the word existed.
Captain Obvious
So many stupid comments. I can’t tell if these people are trolling or actually have a mental impairment.
CWM85
Queerty can stop with the hypocrisy. 90 percent of content on here is about white men and most pics only show white males. So if you ask for diversity, don’t be a hypocrite about it.
Matt Achine
How cute of Queerty to outsource this topic and omit any mention of their own efforts to combat the problem.
“@pscheck2: “Envy” the most selfish and insecure among us? I believe it was Meryl Streep in The Devil Wears Prada who asked “did you fall down and smack your little head on the pavement?”
One thing the writer is dead wrong on is dooming this all-white agenda to obscurity by not talking about it. Those who need to be called out would never get the message.
CWM85
Some of the issue is we need more openly gay people of all races. A lot of the people fighting for equality and are out are white. Its just a fact. Another thing, perhaps other races can create own platforms for the voices of non whites to be heard. Create own blogs and mags addressing issues affected for non whites. I mean there are options. What I really want to happen is this. I’m mixed. Black, white and native and my boyfriend is white. When we discuss gay community including blacks he says they have been a good representative of gay community. I think at end of day we need to realize that we are one large community of many different races, social economic statuses and backgrounds. We need unity because glbt discrimination affects us all. Violence in our community affects all of us. Our enemies what to destroy all of us.
AJ Lewis
Duhâ?¦â?¦tale as old as time, the great black out or “white only” casting. If there are only white editors who only hang around white people then of course they would publish only white people. Being ethnic, we notice ALL people.
Bob LaBlah
@CWM85: Your comment reminds me of an HBO special based on the book Faces at the Bottom of the Well, by the late Derrick Bell. What happens is America is approached by space aliens who want to take all of the darker skinned blacks off of their hands in return for all sorts of goodies too good to pass up. Its satirical but I hope you all enjoy it. It also stars the late Robert Guillame.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y6-n9axdiOs
Jason Xanthopoulos
Also all these dudes are straight and on the covers of gay magazines…we can’t even represent ourselves well. sigh
JLAD1105
Anything for the rest of us? Meaning Hispanic, Asian and Native American. I see virtually nothing of those groups represented in the “gay media,” outside of porn videos. Non-White women are almost invisible. All of this propagates the myth that homosexuality is a “White male” thing. I’ve seen racism up close and personal in the gay community; not nearly as bad as in the “straight” community. But it’s there. If you believe otherwise, I have time-shares in a Tijuana ski resort I’d like to sell you. Even gay Republican groups are almost exclusively composed of White males with a few (White) straight allies to give the illusion of diversity. I’m also tired of hearing about AIDS and drag queens, as if that’s all that matters in queer communities. We’re a much more diverse group than you’d gather from watching “Glee” or “Dancing with the Stars.”
Chris Duffy
Then again, a bucket full of kittens ‘blows up twitter’ so…….#5overusedsayingstogiveyouroutragemaybemorethanitwarrants
Chris
I remember when lots of these magazines and other media (i.e., video tapes and even movies) were little more than rags, published on low-quality newsprint or easily disposable movie films. Those pioneers stayed with their markets; and their markets supported them, even if in hiding or by word of mouth. At that time, almost everyone I ran into who was gay was also white.
Now that gay media have become successful being printed in glossy paper, distributed through DVD or the internet, those media have been slow to realize that their market’s become much more diverse than it was when many of them were still being sold and mailed in plain white envelopes. But also, I don’t see a market for gay stuff that is as supportive as it might/should be of media that features multi-hued and multi-ethnic gay folk.
So yeah, this is going to be a slow process of inclusion and of market response to that inclusion. Meanwhile, these recommendations aren’t all bad. I especially try to support media that feature gay people of color.
21stCenturyBear
I stopped subscribing to and buying gay magazines a long time ago as I didn’t feel they were representative of myself or wider LGBT culture. I don’t feel I’ve been missing out on anything and have saved myself a fortune.
Godabed
@Bob LaBlah: I didn’t miss Noah’s Arc, i watched that, but why was Noah’s Arc created… Because Queer as Folk was one of the top rated LGBT shows on television, and it starred gay and straight male and females and there were no real minorities roles in the show except for Brain’s hookups.
Noah Arc was an answer to that, from a Black gay perspective. Although it had all shades of black in it, and many different storylines, it was not fully representative of gay minority life but what we had to settle for and that show did not get the marketing it should have gotten let’s face it. (It was the magic mike, and chocolate city of it’s day) And to date DTLA was the most diverse, most realistic casting, as far as LGBT people that was on television, it even had a straight couple there as well. I don’t remember a trans character, but i could not tell you the last time i seen a storyline with an Asian gay male, and a gay middle eastern male ever on television. it’s a shame it only got 1 season. Darryl Stephens is one of the sexiest gay men ever. When it comes down to these kinds of shows like DTLA, they do not get the support they should, insteald we get Looking…eh.
I loved how DTLA had a gay interricial couple storyline, which was not working out, a semi closted successful gay black guy with a his black gay boyfriend who was out storyline as well. That’s rare you get both perspectives in the same show.
johnleslie
I have seen a lot more white guys in print and porn than guys of any other color skin. I guess I must be a member of two minorities then. As a Gay man I love a guys body regardless of his skin color or race. I wish there were more men of color represented in the industry. Matter of fact I have seen some very hot black men’s “junk” in some
photo shoots and video’s. And to be honest I think smooth black skin decorated with a fresh load of baby batter is very hot. Love the contrast. I like variety.
J
dave lopes
You whiners do realize that this is an overwhelming white majority society.
Not every magazine has to appeal to every race and ethnicity.
It’s a free society, start your own magazine with your own format and your desired target group.
Bob LaBlah
@Godabed: “it was not fully representative of gay minority life but what we had to settle for and that show did not get the marketing it should have gotten let’s face it.”
Ok, please explain to me/us/everyone reading this just what does “gay minority life” consist of here in America. It sounds like you are stopping short of say every gay minority lives a cookie cutter existence of their gay, same minority peers. I seriously doubt that is possible, Hollywood and script writers be damned. It simply ISN’T possible to be honest with you.
I will tell you this; in the white gay community, there is no ONE particular standard of living that we ALL follow or adhere to. That is insane. Please don’t tell me you believe ALL white gay people are rich, have good credit……….no, no. That CAN’T be what you or anyone else could be thinking. But please explain a little further the quote I took from your comment. I really would like to know just what does that means, “representative of gay minority life”. And remember, Noah friend Wade on the show was not the brightest bulb in the pack (as were MANY of my friends when I was around their age, and they were white). Thanks.
Dan Duprey
It’s just that white guys are so darn cute…………
Dan Duprey
What I meant to say is that the media should also include black folks who are dark-skinned, instead of perpetuating the bias in favor of light-skinned blacks.
Franklin
I don’t know about other people of color, but to the people saying create you own, that’s exactly what black people have been doing for quite some time. The gay community is no exception. Our content may not be as well funded and widely circulated as white media, but it still exists none the less. Youtube is one of the primary outlets where content has been created by and for black gay people. Here are some links below.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a3MzdAVL46E
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Bs-vkQuslYw
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yHzXc-oeI2w
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wn67XyvePOE&feature=youtu.be
o.codone
White sells. To white gay guys. It’s the math, stupid. What’s the problem again?
martinbakman
Most gay mags are probably written by and geared towards younger, gay white men.
There is a whole lot of interesting, more worthwhile content out there, but it takes some digging.
https://www.ted.com/talks/lz_granderson_the_myth_of_the_gay_agenda?language=en
Ksb1978
@Creig Stearne: you’ve read about 2 or 3 people that faced homophobia from their fellow black people and now the whole community is homophobic? You can’t believe that there are black people who didn’t face homophobes within the black community. There are homophobes in the white and black community and one does not have more than the other. And yet, you find it hard to believe there are people who have not experienced homophobia from black people. A lot of white people face discrimination from other white people, but you believe there are a large number of white people who are accepting. I was raised in an accepting black family living in a predominantly black neighborhood that was accepting of its gay, lesbian and trans people. Look in the mirror and ask yourself why it’s okay for you to make sweeping generalizations about others.
Hun
They won’t be happy until we’re all cuckolds.
Masc Pride
@o.codone: White sells pretty well to black, Hispanic and Asian gays as well. It’s really a win-win…win/win. lol
Franklin
@Masc Pride: That’s the thing. Racial minorities are often more than willing to consume media that features white people. The same can’t be said for the other way around. I wonder why that is.
Masc Pride
@Franklin: That’s the thing. A lot of them would rather see white guys too. 😉
Ksb1978
Not true. People read what’s available. I shouldn’t have to search separately for a story about Hispanic gay men and their stories or East Asian gay men and their stories. The LGBT story is more than white men and there is nothing wrong with people wanting different races included. As a gayor bisexual man YOU want visibility in the media, but it’s only to include one race? A lot of people in here seem to be offended rather than actually acknowledging the racial bias in the media and looking within themselves. They point the finger and say “make your own”. Aren’t we ALL in this together?? I didn’t know the LGBT story belonged only to white people and everyone else has to make their own. Sounds like segregation to me.
Franklin
@Masc Pride:I don’t agree with that, but ok.
Michael Schmidt
DAMN STRAIT they are under represented. It is a Corporate carry over of discrimination. I for one want CHANGE!
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