With more shows promoting the acceptance of gays, people are able to view a more correct depiction of LGBT communities. This new acceptance from the media can partially be explained by the contact hypothesis, aka intergroup contact theory. With the popularity of gay television shows, music artists and gay fashion, Western culture has had to open its eyes to the gay community. As more celebrities come out, more LGBT-friendly shows develop, such as the 2004 show The L Word. The increased publicity reflects the coming-out movement of LGBT communities. ĭespite the stereotypical depictions of gay people, the media has at times promoted acceptance with television shows such as Will and Grace and Queer Eye. Milestones to the lesbian and gay communities such as the book Vice Versa and DeGeneres coming out have encouraged other LGBT people to come out and feel better about being themselves. Media depictions have both benefited and disadvantaged LGBT communities. In 1997, when American comedian Ellen DeGeneres came out of the closet on her popular sitcom, many sponsors, such as the Wendy's fast-food chain, pulled their advertising. When such references do occur they almost invariably generate controversy. There is currently a widespread view that references to gay people should be omitted from child-related entertainment. As well, gay and lesbian characters are rarely the main character in movies they frequently play the role of stereotyped supporting characters or are portrayed as a victim or villain. Gay and lesbian families are commonly misrepresented in media because society frequently equates sexual orientation with the ability to reproduce. Similar to race-, religion-, and class-based caricatures, these stereotypical stock character representations vilify or make light of marginalized and misunderstood groups. Media representations of bisexual and transgender people tend to either completely erase them, or depict them as morally corrupt or mentally unstable. For example, in many forms of popular entertainment, gay men are portrayed stereotypically as promiscuous, flashy, flamboyant, and bold, while the reverse is often true of how lesbians are portrayed.
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2.1.3 1980s and the emergence of the AIDS epidemic.Gwendolyn Audrey Foster stated, "We may still live in a world of white dominance and heterocentrism, but I think we can agree that we are in the midst of postmodern destabilizing forces when it comes to sexuality and race." In her book Imitation and Gender Insubordination (1991), Judith Butler argues that the idea of heteronormativity is reinforced through socio-cultural conditioning, but even more so through visual culture which promotes homo-invisibility. The positive portrayal or increased presence of the LGBT communities in media has served to increase acceptance and support for LGBT communities, establish LGBT communities as a norm, and provide information on the topic. The LGBT communities have taken an increasingly proactive stand in defining their own culture, with a primary goal of achieving an affirmative visibility in mainstream media. Historically, the portrayals of lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender ( LGBT) people in media have been negative, reflecting the cultural intolerance of LGBT individuals however, from the 1990s to present day, there has been an increase in the depictions of LGBT people, issues, and concerns within mainstream media in North America. ( August 2020) ( Learn how and when to remove this template message) You may improve this Article, discuss the issue on the talk page, or create a new Article, as appropriate.
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The examples and perspective in this Article deal primarily with the United States and do not represent a worldwide view of the subject.