Friday Forum: The Long Road For LGBT Teens On Primetime TV
Posted by meredith on 09-18-2009
After experimenting with the format a couple times, Anastasia (Gen X) and I (Gen Y) decided we’d try to make these letter exchanges a weekly-ish feature. We’d also like to invite readers to join the dialogue and share their thoughts in comments. This time around we’re taking on teen TV shows that feature gay characters. Here’s what happened…
Dear Meredith,
This week on FOX’s “Glee,” the character Kurt comes out to Mercedes after her misguided attempt to date him. He does it with a tear in his eye, and in spite of her encouragement to be himself, he just can’t come out at school. It was an incredibly touching moment in an otherwise typically light and funny episode.
It got me thinking about how far we’ve come in terms of gay teen visibility on television, and more importantly gay teen safety at school and how far we still have to go. If you turn on MTV like I did the other night and catch a show like “True Life: I’m Polyamorous” or read one of the many stories like The Cuddle Puddle of Stuyvesant High, you might assume this generation is reliving the Summer Of Love, and that homophobia and intolerance no longer exist. But a 2008 study done by Harris Interactive found that 90% of LGBT teens had been harassed over that past year vs. 62% of non-LGBT teens. While it’s done in a humorous spirit on “Glee” (the jocks agree to hold his fancy briefcase), we still see Kurt placed in the dumpster on what seems like a regular basis. We also get hints that Kurt’s parents aren’t exactly supportive – they don’t like his tiara collection in his hope chest, and he hints that his big SUV was an effort to stave off his gayness. In a way Kurt is a comedic version of the more tragic story of Ricky Vasquez from “My So Called Life,” who upon coming out to his parents, was beaten and thrown out of the house.
What’s interesting to me is that Ricky, Kurt and even not out yet but probably gay tween Justin Suarez on “Ugly Betty,” are all a specific stereotype – flamboyant, effeminate – a girls’ best friend. As for lesbian teens, they tend to be “hot” and/or hot/punky (Marissa’s hot girlfriend on “The O.C.”, Devin, the base player in Landry’s band on “Friday Night Lights” or Rumor Willis’s upcoming debut as a punky lesbian on “90210”). On the one hand you can argue any visibility is a step towards increasing tolerance, but what about all of the real LGBT teens who don’t fit these stereotypes?
- Anastasia
Dear Anastasia,
The heartfelt moment between Kurt and Mercedes definitely moved me, too. I was also relieved to see that next week’s episode followed up with the storyline, showing Kurt struggling with identity issues as he tries out for the football team (“Hi, I’m Kurt. I’m here to audition for the role of kicker”). Then again, the juxtaposition between the jocks and him there is clearly played for laughs and it does speak to your point about gay teen stereotypes. I guess we’ll just have to see whether the show handles the conflict from then on as deftly as it did with Mercedes.
To your larger point about stereotypes, I think we could stand to see more variety. Recently though, I’ve been really impressed with the depth and dimension of the character Calvin on ABC Family’s “Greek.” Over the past three seasons, he’s become the most nuanced gay character I’ve seen on a teen TV show since Jack, the football player, on “Dawson’s Creek.” But it’s not just because he’s playing against stereotype as an athletic frat boy. The show also just seems to generally respect him in a way that I think you sometimes don’t see with characters labeled as “the gay best friend.” Not only do we hear Calvin talk about the challenges of coming out in high school and hesitating over how to do so again in college, but we also see him grappling with realistic relationship issues. Both those that revolve around being in a same-sex relationship (like having a partner who’s still closeted) and those that don’t (like worrying about taking that next step with your significant other). If you haven’t seen it yet, I’d definitely check it out.
That said, I think one area we really do still need to make progress, both on-screen and off, is with lesbian teens. So many times those characters seem to be based on some male fantasy rather than reality. The trend was encapsulated by “I Kissed A Girl” last year (and brilliantly combatted by singer and gay icon Beth Ditto), but unfortunately with shows like “90210″ and movies like “Jennifer’s Body” that continue to make the whole girl-on-girl thing fodder for marketing towards straight teen boys, I think we still have a ways to go to putting that tired, offensive trope to rest.
- Meredith
Dear Meredith,
Jack! I totally forgot about Jack – he was a less stereotypical gay male character. And I hope my friends at ABC Family don’t flog me for this, but I have to admit, “Greek” is not on my DVR list though it sounds like it should be. I also forgot to mention stereotypical but lovable Marshall, Tara’s teen son on Showtime’s “United States of Tara.” As to your point about lesbian teens, I totally agree. The site AfterEllen summed up the lesbian teen TV formula perfectly:
1. Seemingly straight teen meets rebellious lesbian/bi teen.
2. Outwardly straight girl struggles with questions of sexuality while tentatively entering into a relationship with lesbian/bi teen
3. Recently outed girl faces shocked and disappointed family/friends
4. Newly formed couple overcomes a separation to live happily ever after, or at least the teenage version of that (which means, happily together for at least a few months).
Definitely worth reading the whole article, which also points to what was probably the most in-depth portrayal of lesbian teens/young adults on TV to date – that of Willow and Tara on “Buffy.” Personally, I can’t imagine seeing anything close to that on The CW anytime soon…
- Anastasia
From a reader via email:
I already saw the next “Glee” episode Preggers and it’s ALLLLLL about Kurt & his relationship with his dad. I can’t remember, but I think his mom left them or died (huge difference, I know). It’s pretty great in the “don’t be afraid to try” department. I think “Glee,” and Kurt’s character in particular, will make a big difference in the lives and self-acceptance of the kids who pay attention to it.
Another lesbian teen character is Jolene Purdy’s Mandella character on (also ABC Family) “10 Things I Hate About You.” Right now we can just tell she is in love with Kat Stratford, but that’s as far as it’s gone.
Categorized under: TV