Comments on: Q&A#1: How are lesbians and gays typically represented in the media? http://www.malindalo.com/2008/11/faq-1-how-are-lesbians-and-gays-typically-represented-in-the-media/ Author of ASH Fri, 30 Jul 2010 00:25:14 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.0 By: Deanna http://www.malindalo.com/2008/11/faq-1-how-are-lesbians-and-gays-typically-represented-in-the-media/comment-page-1/#comment-976 Deanna Sat, 20 Dec 2008 14:00:12 +0000 http://malindalo.com/blog/2008/11/12/faq-1-how-are-lesbians-and-gays-typically-represented-in-the-media/#comment-976 I'm so glad I read this post (and congrats on your book--I'm from Verla's Blue Boards.) It made me realize the book I'm currently writing (called Heteroflexible) isn't racially diverse enough. One Hispanic and a whole lotta white girls. Time to revise! I’m so glad I read this post (and congrats on your book–I’m from Verla’s Blue Boards.) It made me realize the book I’m currently writing (called Heteroflexible) isn’t racially diverse enough. One Hispanic and a whole lotta white girls. Time to revise!

]]> By: lulu http://www.malindalo.com/2008/11/faq-1-how-are-lesbians-and-gays-typically-represented-in-the-media/comment-page-1/#comment-975 lulu Sun, 16 Nov 2008 21:19:25 +0000 http://malindalo.com/blog/2008/11/12/faq-1-how-are-lesbians-and-gays-typically-represented-in-the-media/#comment-975 sounds familiar... may be cos im one of those folks haha sounds familiar… may be cos im one of those folks haha

]]> By: Nelfy http://www.malindalo.com/2008/11/faq-1-how-are-lesbians-and-gays-typically-represented-in-the-media/comment-page-1/#comment-974 Nelfy Fri, 14 Nov 2008 19:48:03 +0000 http://malindalo.com/blog/2008/11/12/faq-1-how-are-lesbians-and-gays-typically-represented-in-the-media/#comment-974 Yeah, I get your point about TLW being the exception to the rule. I think there are a lot of people who think 'Lesbians don't need to be in straight shows, because they have their own show which doesn't feature straight people either.' Or at least I've been told that before, like 'You have your own show, let me have mine' - which is just wrong, because it doesn't hurt shows to mix gays and straight people. Cool, you're welcome and thanks to you too! Yeah, I get your point about TLW being the exception to the rule. I think there are a lot of people who think ‘Lesbians don’t need to be in straight shows, because they have their own show which doesn’t feature straight people either.’ Or at least I’ve been told that before, like ‘You have your own show, let me have mine’ – which is just wrong, because it doesn’t hurt shows to mix gays and straight people.

Cool, you’re welcome and thanks to you too!

]]> By: Malinda http://www.malindalo.com/2008/11/faq-1-how-are-lesbians-and-gays-typically-represented-in-the-media/comment-page-1/#comment-973 Malinda Thu, 13 Nov 2008 21:29:16 +0000 http://malindalo.com/blog/2008/11/12/faq-1-how-are-lesbians-and-gays-typically-represented-in-the-media/#comment-973 Miriam, I think the problem is that having so much "home-made" content might lead people to feel ghettoized. I hope that doesn't happen. The good thing is that I think everybody's doing "home-made" content these days, and mainstream media is actually noticing what's in it. Nelfy, you are right about TLW. The extreme sexualization of lesbians on TLW is both good and bad in my opinion. Good because we need to have it somewhere, bad because I suspect it leads some TV execs to think, "Lesbians have sex on Showtime, not on network TV." It makes TLW the big exception that proves the rule. As for the how to come out question, that is a tricky one -- I'll put it in the FAQ queue for the future, thanks! Brenda, hi! Glad you enjoyed the post. "The Wire" did indeed have African-American lesbian characters, but since this was my super-simplified account of lesbians on TV now, "The Wire" didn't fit into it. Miriam, I think the problem is that having so much “home-made” content might lead people to feel ghettoized. I hope that doesn’t happen. The good thing is that I think everybody’s doing “home-made” content these days, and mainstream media is actually noticing what’s in it.

Nelfy, you are right about TLW. The extreme sexualization of lesbians on TLW is both good and bad in my opinion. Good because we need to have it somewhere, bad because I suspect it leads some TV execs to think, “Lesbians have sex on Showtime, not on network TV.” It makes TLW the big exception that proves the rule. As for the how to come out question, that is a tricky one — I’ll put it in the FAQ queue for the future, thanks!

Brenda, hi! Glad you enjoyed the post. “The Wire” did indeed have African-American lesbian characters, but since this was my super-simplified account of lesbians on TV now, “The Wire” didn’t fit into it.

]]> By: Brenda http://www.malindalo.com/2008/11/faq-1-how-are-lesbians-and-gays-typically-represented-in-the-media/comment-page-1/#comment-972 Brenda Thu, 13 Nov 2008 04:39:15 +0000 http://malindalo.com/blog/2008/11/12/faq-1-how-are-lesbians-and-gays-typically-represented-in-the-media/#comment-972 I love this post. You forgot The Wire. While off the air, the portrayed lesbian characters were not white, not stick skinny thin, or feminine. I love this post.

You forgot The Wire. While off the air, the portrayed lesbian characters were not white, not stick skinny thin, or feminine.

]]> By: Nelfy http://www.malindalo.com/2008/11/faq-1-how-are-lesbians-and-gays-typically-represented-in-the-media/comment-page-1/#comment-971 Nelfy Wed, 12 Nov 2008 23:48:54 +0000 http://malindalo.com/blog/2008/11/12/faq-1-how-are-lesbians-and-gays-typically-represented-in-the-media/#comment-971 Disagree? With you? Inconceivable! I tend to 'forget' that lesbians aren't allowed to have sex on TV because of all the sex that the girls on TLW have. but it's true, apart from TLW, the main function of lesbian sweeps-characters is to turn straight guys on. *rollseyes* why I love TLW, I have a hard time really identifying myself with any of the ladies because they are all so beautiful, they wear expensive designer clothes all the time and they just aren't that *real* to me. I want to see real lesbians on my TV. then again, I want to see real *woman* on TV and that alone doesn't happen often. oh well, I'm rambling, sorry. I have a question that is totally unrelated to entertainment. How can I casually come out to people without saying 'I'm gay'? I don't have a girlfriend, so it's hard for me to just lett people know that I'm gay without making is such a big announcement. Disagree? With you? Inconceivable!

I tend to ‘forget’ that lesbians aren’t allowed to have sex on TV because of all the sex that the girls on TLW have. but it’s true, apart from TLW, the main function of lesbian sweeps-characters is to turn straight guys on. *rollseyes*

why I love TLW, I have a hard time really identifying myself with any of the ladies because they are all so beautiful, they wear expensive designer clothes all the time and they just aren’t that *real* to me. I want to see real lesbians on my TV. then again, I want to see real *woman* on TV and that alone doesn’t happen often. oh well, I’m rambling, sorry.

I have a question that is totally unrelated to entertainment. How can I casually come out to people without saying ‘I’m gay’? I don’t have a girlfriend, so it’s hard for me to just lett people know that I’m gay without making is such a big announcement.

]]> By: miriam http://www.malindalo.com/2008/11/faq-1-how-are-lesbians-and-gays-typically-represented-in-the-media/comment-page-1/#comment-970 miriam Wed, 12 Nov 2008 19:53:09 +0000 http://malindalo.com/blog/2008/11/12/faq-1-how-are-lesbians-and-gays-typically-represented-in-the-media/#comment-970 I've been really fascinated with the homespun lesbian media/entertainment that's been cropping up lately. Last year I found myself watching the We're Getting Nowhere vlogs about America's Next Top Model even though I don't watch that show. Another venue is the youtube "collab channels" like the Beaver Bunch and QueerFAQtor. I think they're still finding their way--sometimes the quality varies--but overall it's neat to see people using youtube to create slightly more formal (but still homespun) queer media. I'm not sure if these things are useful in the same way that lesbian representation in the mainstream media would be, but I find I enjoy them more in some ways. I like watching real people...and I think even a lot of reality TV isn't "real" (and is often focused on other inane things.) I’ve been really fascinated with the homespun lesbian media/entertainment that’s been cropping up lately. Last year I found myself watching the We’re Getting Nowhere vlogs about America’s Next Top Model even though I don’t watch that show.

Another venue is the youtube “collab channels” like the Beaver Bunch and QueerFAQtor. I think they’re still finding their way–sometimes the quality varies–but overall it’s neat to see people using youtube to create slightly more formal (but still homespun) queer media.

I’m not sure if these things are useful in the same way that lesbian representation in the mainstream media would be, but I find I enjoy them more in some ways. I like watching real people…and I think even a lot of reality TV isn’t “real” (and is often focused on other inane things.)

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