Bozek 1

Erin Bozek

Dr. Ames

ENG 1091G

6 November 2014

From Invisibility to Visibility: Critiquing LGBTQ Portrayals in the Media

When it comes to portrayals of diverse characters, writers tend to fall into the trap of

using stereotypes. Whether they are racial, ethnic, political, class, or gender-based, the

representations of these characters tend to be stock portrayals that leave viewers with one

particular image of a group of people that is usually very flawed. One of the groups that is

stereotyped very badly is the LGBTQ community. Characters who are identified as lesbian, gay,

bisexual, transgender, or questioning are usually given a standard characterization based solely

on their sexual orientation or gender identity. In addition to their entire personality revolving

around their identity, their portrayals are highly flawed and very unrealistic. With overly

flamboyant gay men, butch lesbians, confused bisexuals, and trans* people being portrayed

only as drag queens, the media does a terrible job of giving the LGBTQ community a fair and

correct image. In order to end the seemingly endless stereotyping of the LGBTQ community, it

is imperative to identify issues with the portrayals, or lack thereof, of the community, discuss the

ways which improvements can be made, and to delve into the true importance of creating a fair

representation of this diverse group. Commented [MA1]: Very good introduction with your
argument forcefully stated.
Before discussing the issues of types of portrayals of the LGBTQ community in the

media, it is very important to first address the issues involving the lack of presence in the media. Commented [MA2]: I know what you mean here but the
phrase itself is a bit general/vague. Changing the to
their or its or something might be an adequate change.
Until recently, there were large gaps in the depictions of the LGBTQ community. In many cases,

writers simply chose to omit queer characters altogether in order to avoid any type of conflict in Commented [MA3]: Potential?
 Bozek 2
their readership or viewership. In turn, LGBTQ literature and other types of media could be
considered difficult to come by. In their piece, Self-Censorship in Selection of LGBT-Themed
Materials, Antell, Strothmann, and Downey give readers an argument as to why it is highly
important to include LGBTQA literature in libraries. They take any counterargument a librarian
may have as to why their resources are not adequate and refute them. For example, the notion of
not being a part of a larger scale LGBTQA community is shut down with the statistics of how
many people in the community are actually likely to be in their area (Antell, Strothmann, and
Downey). These refutations, in addition to the crucial explanation of the high importance of
giving the community access to queer literature, illustrate the significance of simply having
media in which the LGBTQA community is represented. The importance of simply having
materials, whether they be literary works, movies or TV shows, or other types of media, is
crucial to creating a fair and equal representation of the community.
In order to give the LGBTQ community a legitimate image in the media, simply being
represented is only the first part of the battle. The next step is creating a picture that is both fair
and drifting from stereotypes. Sadly, this is still an issue in the media. Members of the LGBTQ
community tend to be either marginalized or very stereotyped and made the main focus. Neither
of these representations are beneficial to the community as they are not realistic in any way.
While progress has been made over time, the LGBTQ community is still facing many of these
issues. According to an article fromon MediaSmarts, a Canadian digital media/literacy group,
many find issues within the early gay liberation moment because it focused so much on creating
portrayals of the community by way of assimilation (Queer Representation). In other words,
the media attempted to give more views into the LGBTQ community, but in doing so, forced
them into the opposite end of the stereotypical spectrum. The article asks with disdain, After all,
Commented [MA4]: Dont hedge here. It was or it
wasnt. Report what the research says (it was difficult to
come by).
Commented [MA5]: First time you mention
authors/scholars (or anyone really) names, you use first and
last then after only last.
Commented [MA6]: I know the A stands for allies but
youve now just changed the abbreviation youre using form
the previous 1.5 page so youll want to clarify at some point
for a reader who may not know what this added letter to
the acronym stands for. This could be done via an
explanatory footnote if you dont want it in the text itself.
Either way, make sure youre not flipping back and forth
between the two without thought. (And it may be you
dont want to just use one throughout but maybe you do?)
Commented [MA7]: This is a print source: where are you
page numbers in the PC?
Commented [MA8]: Word choice?
Commented [MA9]: Are you talking about the people
themselves here or their representation in the media?
Wording issue.
Commented [MA10]: This is a bit awkwardly constructed.
Possibly: tend to be marginalized, or if they are allowed to
the main focus of a text they exist as a stereotypical
caricature. (Or something like that).
 Bozek 3

what good is acceptance within a group if that acceptance is predicated on ones ability to hide

ones difference? (Queer Representation). Even today, the queer community is still being Commented [MA11]: Im not going to fix these
throughout as I did above but recall the MLA rule that if its
not a last name you need markers to show its a title so in
pressured to fit in and do everything they can do not appear so gay. In the medias attempt to
this case the quotation marks are absent. Revise
accordingly for the portfolio.
kill the stereotypes of the LGBTQ community, they instead put them in the stereotypical straight

spotlight. While intentions to create acceptance and fairness are good, the resulting portrayals of Commented [MA12]: Can you expand/clarify here or give
an example before this sentence?
gay individuals still suffer.

While many issues are still prevalent in terms of portraying the LGBTQ community in

the media, issues in other areas exist as well. In their piece, Targeting a Minority wWithout Commented [MA13]: Title Rule: only capitalize
important/major words so all prepositions/articles remain
lowercase.
Alienating the Majority: Advertising tTo Gays aAnd Lesbians iIn Mainstream Media,

Oakenfull, McCarthy, and Greenlee discuss the issues that come with advertising to the Commented [MA14]: Same issue as earlier: first names
needed.
LGBTQA community. Through a study in which participants are given a survey to complete and

advertisements to view and critique, they come to find some common problems in advertising. Commented [MA15]: This is a bit vague.

While becoming a normal part of the population is a sign of social progress for the community,

being advertised to as such does not always fulfill the needs of the community as a whole. The

studys results illustrate the effects on both sexual orientation and gender. Seeing firsthand how

the community feels about how they are portrayed in the media in the area of advertising is
worth looking into even more, as this approach is very promising. The study illustrates the
Commented [MA16]: And how was this? You could use
some more detail here in this discussion of the study as
reading this paragraph without reading your actual source
makes it a bit unclear as to what exactly they did and found.

immense progress the media has made in approaching and attending to the queer community,

while also highlighting the respectful nature of the improvements in the equal rights movement. Commented [MA17]: PC missing.

With steady improvements being made in the journey to create better portrayals and

representations for the LGBTQ community, it is safe to say that the media is becoming much
more queer-friendly and more open to fair images of gay individuals. However, many
Commented [MA18]: You could actually benefit from a
paragraph on this prior to this point because you havent
really spent much time acknowledging this possible counter
argument (That things are better now than they were).

improvements can still be made to make the community feel even more represented and
 Bozek 4

accepted. Creating more resources for LGBTQ youth in particular is highly important in creating Commented [MA19]: This is a nice move into your
specific argument/call to action.
an accepting world to live in. With social media and the internet being an integral part of almost

every young persons life, online resources that are safe, helpful, and truthful are crucial. One

example of a positive resource in todays media is an organization known as Everyone Is Gay.

EIG is a website and video blog started by

Dannielle Owens-Reid and Kristin Russo in

July of 2010. Through text posts, vlogs (video

blogs), and speaking engagements all over the

country, Owens-Reid and Russo give advice

and insight to young people as they go through

their journey of coming out and being a part of

the LGBTQA community. Their name, rather

Figure 1.1: EIGs The Parents Project
than implying that every person is a part of the

community, gives viewers a connection and an understanding that everyone is going through

similar things in life. With their newest endeavor, The Parents Project (an advice blog designed

specifically for parents of the LGBTQA community, as seen in Figure 1.1), recently being

launched, Owens-Reid and Russo are a great resource for all in the LGBTQA community. Their

ways of reaching people are a strong example of how the media is reaching the queer population.

More resources like EIG are necessary in order to expand the medias outreach to both LGBTQ Commented [MA20]: Nice discussion here with strong
supporting examples
youth and their families. Safe and accepting resources are just another part of creating a fair and

equal portrayal of the queer community.

In addition to resources for the community, another large improvement that can be made

to increase positive representation of the queer population is to fully understand and correctly
 Bozek 5

portray all parts of the LGBTQ community. In todays world, gay, lesbian, and bisexual

individuals are usually given a more positive and fair representation in both fiction and Commented [MA21]: This phrase implies a than that
never comes until the next sentence with your however.
Is there a way to slightly re-word here?
nonfiction means of the media. However, the transgender community is still either completely

left out or put in the wrong light. In an extensive article from the Gay and Lesbian Alliance

Against Defamation (GLAAD), readers are given better insight into ways to portray trans*

characters in pieces they write or create. With everything from acknowledging birth names to

avoiding incorrect or insensitive language, the guidelines for creating a respectful portrayal of a

trans* person are very important. The piece also discusses the social issues still faced by the Commented [MA22]: Missing PCs throughout this
discussion here. I think this should be in reference to the
In Focus article, yes?
transgender community. GLAAD gives insight into the struggles faced both in the media and in

life by the smallest group of the LGBTQA community. Creating more positive portrayals of the

trans* community is highly important. In most instances, trans* people are portrayed in ways

that are more incorrect and more hurtful than other with portrayals based on sexual orientation.

Gender identity is less understood, and while the group is much smaller in comparison to the

others, their importance is just as valid. They, too, should be portrayed fairly, respectfully, and

equally in the media. Including every part of the queer community in the journey to better media

representations is crucial. This improvement and creating more resources are just two of many

possibilities that can improve how viewers and readers will see the LGBTQ community.

With all of the support to create a statement about the importance of the portrayals of the

LGBTQ community, a question still arises: What is the significance? Why is this such an

important issue in the world today? While there have been drastic changes in the treatment of the

LGBTQ community over the years, there are still very drastic problems in the world involving

queer individuals and their portrayals in the media. In certain aspects of media, particularly in the
 Bozek 6

realm of politics, there is still a large gap in

acceptance. For example, news reporter Mike

Huckabee gave a presentation on Fox News on

October 12th, 2014 in which he criticizes the

Republican Party for not fulfilling the views of

the group (Robby). In doing this, he refers to

same-sex marriage as inconsistent with nature

and natures law (Robby). Huckabee has a right to his

Figure 1.2: Mike Huckabee Report
opinions, but he goes about expressing them in a very

hurtful way. Given his position in the media as a news reporter and broadcaster, his opinions and Commented [MA23]: And perhaps more importantly as a
former and often-running political contender.
views on these issues end up becoming widespread news. His discriminatory comments are

viewed by millions of viewers, many of whom are a part of the LGBTQ community. Reports and

interviews similar to Huckabees on Fox News are still very prevalent, and the gaps in

acceptance and fairness are still in existence. The importance of creating a more accepting media

sphere is clear. Finding ways to portray the LGBTQ community in a better light than Fox News

has done thus far is crucial.

While the current resistances to acceptance are a large issue in the media, the effects of

them are arguably the most significant issue involving the LGBTQ community. According to the

Human Resource Center, about 73% of LGBTQ youth feel more comfortable being themselves

online than in the real world (Growing Up). The community they find online is often better

and more accepting than the one they have in their own lives. This statistic says a lot about what

the media does for LGBTQ youth. However, the LGBTQ community is still facing one of the

largest problems of our age: youth suicide. According to SPEAK, about 30% of LGBTQ youth
 Bozek 7

attempts suicide by the time they reach age 15, and approximately 1,500 youth in the queer

community commit suicide yearly (Suicide Facts). Also, almost half of trans* youth have had

suicidal thoughts, and a quarter of them have actually attempted (Facts About Suicide). These

numbers are significantly high. LGBTQ youth are still struggling with self-acceptance and

finding love and support in their lives and their communities. They cannot see the light at the end

of the tunnel because of the negative and unfair portrayals in the media. Sadly, many feel that the

only solution is to take their own lives because they truly do not feel that life will get better for

them. When the media gives the wrong images to youth in terms of who they should be and what

they are supposed to appear as, they feel inadequate and take drastic measures. This is a horrible

thing for the world to experience. When young people are committing suicide because they do

not feel good enough to be a part of this world, it is clear that there is something wrong with the

way we are treating the community as a whole. Something has to give. Commented [MA24]: Very sad statistics included here -
strong data to support your call to action.
When a statement is made about the LGBTQ community that claims insignificance of the

issues currently being faced, a deeper look at the real portrayals and effects on the individuals Commented [MA25]: Awkward syntax

proves otherwise. The change in the media has been progressive, but society still has a long way

to go in terms of creating a fully equal and fair media for the LGBTQ community. With youth

and teen suicide rates still very high and negative news coverage being a large issue, the

significance of the problems faced by this diverse group is clear. Stereotypes and marginalization

are still an issue in terms of the images being created. Lack of presence, while improving, is

continuing to be perpetrated by those who have the ability to make the change. The media, while

continually making strides towards better representation, is not perfect and never will be. While

it is very unlikely that we as readers and viewers will see a completely changed media within our

lifetime, we can still do our best to find resources and supportive ways to get closer to an ideal
 Bozek 8

world. The possibilities for what is to come in terms of positive change for the portrayals of

LGBTQ people in the media are endless. One final question remains what are we prepared to

do to in order to make the dream a reality?

 Bozek 9

Works Cited

Antell, Karen, Molly Strothmann, and Jennifer Downey. "Self-Censorship iIn Selection oOf

LGBT-Themed Materials." Reference & User Services Quarterly 53.2 (2013): 104-

107. Academic Search Complete. Web. 25 Sept. 2014.

Everyone Is Gay. Everyone Is Gay: The Parents Project. Online video clip. YouTube.

YouTube, 17 Oct. 2013. Web. 30 Oct. 2014.

Everyone Is Gay. Everyone Is Gay: About Us! Online video clip. YouTube. YouTube, 9 Mar.

2011. Web. 4 Oct. 2014.

Facts About Suicide. The Trevor Project. Web. 30 Oct. 2014.

Growing Up LGBT in America. Human Rights Campaign. Web. 30 Oct. 2014.

In Focus: Covering the Transgender Community. GLAAD. Web. 5 Oct. 2014.

Oakenfull, Gillian K., Michael S. McCarthy, and Timothy B. Greenlee. "Targeting aA Minority

wWithout Alienating tThe Majority: Advertising To Gays And Lesbians In Mainstream

Media." Journal oOf Advertising Research 48.2 (2008): 191-198. Business Source Elite.

Web. 25 Sept. 2014.

Queer Representation in the Media. MediaSmarts. Web. 5 Oct. 2014.

Robby. Fox News Hhost Ffreaks Oout about Ggay Mmarriage. Online video clip. YouTube.

YouTube, 12 Oct. 2014. Web. 30 Oct. 2014.

Suicide Facts. Suicide Prevention Education Awareness for Kids. Web. 30 Oct. 2014.
 Bozek 10

Artist Statement

This research paper has been an interesting experience for me. Being able to choose a

topic that was personally meaningful was something I have never really been able to do before. Commented [MA26]: Really!? Well, glad you had the
chance here finally!
Writing on and researching a topic that I am truly passionate about was both enjoyable and

helpful to my process. I do feel very strongly about how the LGBTQ community is represented

and treated, as I am personally a part of it. I feel that while I was very into my topic, I was able to

remain as unbiased as possible in order to create a solid argument.

The research process went well. While the majority of my sources were web-based, I feel

that they were both credible and relevant to the project, as media was the focus. I combined Commented [MA27]: Can you talk more about how you
made decisions in terms of content/structure/organization?
scholarly pieces, online articles, and videos in a way that resulted in reliable information and

interesting examples to work with. I learned quite a bit upon delving into this topic, and I feel

much more knowledgeable on the subject.

The part of the project thus far that has been the most difficult has been the actual writing

of the paper. There were moments where I simply felt that I was talking in circles about the same

things over and over again. However, once someone else read my rough draft and gave their

feedback, I realized that I was simply being hard on myself and that I need to give myself more

credit when it comes to my writing. Combining the research and opinions of others with the

opinions and arguments of myself has been a challenge. However, I feel that this has been a Commented [MA28]: Can you point to a specific part
where you struggled to showcase how you overcame that?
learning experience. The writing portion of the project has made preparing for the conversion

quite a bit easier. I feel that I am ready to move onto the next part of the project with ease. Commented [MA29]: Anything you can add to
specifically discuss your mastery of formal/MLA/research-
based writing genres?