Media: GLBT in the Media

The emerging flood of GLBT news has really caught my attention but why is it happening now?  It’s not like the GLBTQ community hasn’t been around or that they haven’t been dealing with the same issues that current members are facing.  Could it be that the media is shifting its focus because this once extremely hidden and confidential subject is now being acknowledged with different feelings? 

Jerel P. Calzo and L. Monique Ward reported in the Entrepreneur that, “40% of American adults” with no personal connections to the GLBT community rely on media as “a primary source of information.”  And with shows shifting to include more members of the GLTB community, it might become possible to show the unknowing world a piece of hidden culture never before seen.  (http://www.entrepreneur.com/tradejournals/article/203027125_1.html)

The President of GLAAD (Gay and Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation) Jarrett Barrios believes that the “success of shows like…Glee clearly indicate that mainstream audiences embrace gay characters and want to see well-crafted stories about their lives.” However, he also stated that “many members of our community still do not see stories reflecting their lives” (http://greginhollywood.com/lgbt-characters-up-to-3-9-percent-on-broadcast-networks-according-to-just-released-glaad-report-38232).

In the latest media the only truth to the story seems to be very depressing.  Benjamin Radford of LiveScience’s Bad Science tries to make more sense of all the teen suicides that seemed to show up after the death of Tyler Clementi.  He says that the statistics have been skewed for main reasons that include not knowing for sure if the teen was a homosexual or not.  (See the following story: http://www.livescience.com/culture/gay-teen-suicide-epidemic-101008.html)  However, many groups and programs have been established with outreach to these issues.  Take for instance the It Gets Better program.  By going to http://www.itgetsbetter.org one can watch video after video of encouraging words that not only come from gays but their allies, from common citizens to the President of the United States.

Even the military is being hit by media waves as the “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” policy is under review to be banned.  I know this is a step toward equality and we are asking our troops to be open and hold true to all things they honor BUT not everyone in the services agree with homosexuality as a way of life.  Could we be putting our gay troops in more danger than they are already in?  Shouldn’t we fight one war at a time with our armed forces? (For more information on the ban please see: http://www.spokesman.com/stories/2010/dec/01/pentagon-wants-ban-lifted/)

I believe the media can help change people’s perceptions of how to look at the GLBTQ community.  Only time will tell.

-Jamie Gray & Andrew Frey