Media Misrepresentation

of the LGBTQ Community

by Nazzar Marof
Aleni Cabrera
Nidia Gutierrez
Marieelena Apodaca
Bianca Sanchez

Historic Portrayal of LGBT People in

Media
20th Century Portrayal of LGBT Community
1895: Edison Short silent film "The Gay Brothers" first representation of same sex interactions
1923: Stan Laurel's silent film: "The Soilers", character named Sissy Man
Homosexuality uncommon, used as comic device

1934: the Production Code was created to reduce negative portrayals of homosexuality in
media but made very little change
1930's - 1960's: Increased presence of Catholic-based morality. Portrayal of homosexuality
censored or removed
In the news media, homosexuality rarely mentioned unless portrayed as sickness or a crime..
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qJyV85J1VhM

Stonewall Riots (1960's - 1980's)

1969: Series of riots in New York took place as resistance to discrimination LGBT
community faced
Marked beginning of modern LGBT movement
LGBT political activists began to pressure Hollywood to end negative portrayals of
homosexuality in media
Response to movement caused growing visibility of homosexuals in films, however, they did
not depict reality of LGBT lives
News media began to run more explicit and serious segments which included a 1967 news
segment by the CBC on homosexuality - however, focused on negative stereotypes of gay
men
National Association of Broadcasters Code Authority agreed to adopt NAB code which
guarantees that the LGBT community would be fairly treated in media.

1980's and the AIDS Epidemic

With emergence of AIDS epidemic and its relation to gay men, media outlets varied on coverage,
portrayal and acceptance of LGBT community
Groups organized boycotts against sponsors of TV programs that showed homosexuals in a positive
light
Media coverage dependent on location: San Francisco hired openly gay reporter, ran detailed stories
on LGBT topics. New York Times limited its coverage of LGBT issues
AIDS epidemic forced mainstream to acknowledge large LGBT community.
Media focused on "innocent" AIDS victims and "guilty" AIDS victims, with guilty being those who partook in
homosexual contact.
Although the media coverage was negative, it allowed LGBT community to be depicted in a more serious light
Increase in media contact lead to awareness of how homophobia was woven into government's media
response to AIDS epidemic - paving way for future movements, and ultimately leading to today's much wider
acceptance of homosexuals in media.

What Does the Q Stand For?

The Q can stand for either queer or questioning
Queer has been used as a derogatory term against LGBT people
Queer was demeaning and was often followed by acts of violence
Queer can mean that you're one of the letters (LGBTQ) but you can also be all of those
letters.
Younger people have reclaimed this word and now use it as a badge of honor
The usage of questioning refers to people who are figuring out their gender identity
and how they want to identify their sexual orientation

Stereotyping
Signifiers for people who are attracted to the same sex:
Gay men are often seen as feminine and outspoken
In films and shows gay men are shown to have a chic sense of style
Where as most lesbian women in films and show are shown to be butch
Often shown with short hair and men clothing
Sometimes shown in casual women wear

Common Misconceptions About

LGBTQ Community
Gay people raise gay children
You can't be born gay
"it's just a phase"
Bisexuals are sexually confused
Gay people should not be in the military

LGBT in the Military

During World War I, homosexuals were banned from military service.

"Homosexuality is incompatible with military service"

Don't Ask Don't Tell

President Clinton declared this as a compromise to allow LGBTQ individuals to
serve while maintaining discretion.
Under the Obama administration, it was stated that having homosexual soldiers
did not affect the bonds or function of the unit.

Effects of the repeal of Don't Ask Don't Tell

In 2013 the Defense Department extended active-duty same-sex couples the
same benefits of heterosexual couples.

LGBT in the Military

Intercultural Praxis
Inquiry
Gay rights/issues were part of Obama's campaign.
Framing
A six month period of research of how the repeal of DADT would affect the military structure.
Positioning
After reviewing the research conducted, DADT was repealed.
Dialogue
LGBT military personnel argued for the same dependent benefits that heterosexual partners receive.
Reflection
With the increasing number of states allowing homosexuals to be married, dependent benefits were
issued to same-sex couples.

Transgender in the Military

The repeal of Don't Ask Don't Tell did not
change the fact that Transgender individuals are
prohibited from serving their country.

Transgender in the Military

Australia and the United Kingdom allow transgendered individuals to serve in the
military.
As of July there has been discussion that the Pentagon is looking into lifting the ban on
transgender Individuals.

LGBT Marriage & Family

No scientific basis for the assertion
that the LGBT community are not fit
to marry or to become parents.
Being denied the right to marry or
adopt reinforces the stigma
associated with a minority sexual
identity.
A CBS article says that children of a
gay or lesbian parent may be more
likely to have social and emotional
problems.
Misrepresentations are derived from
the stigma attached to the legal

Same-sex Parents Media

Misrepresentation
Beliefs held by society about the LGBT community are often not
based on personal experience, but are frequently culturally
transmitted or held by my media misrepresentations.
Children raised by same-sex couples are equivalent in their
psychological adjustment, cognitive abilities, and social
functioning to children of heterosexual partners.

Same-sex Parents Today

There is a rough estimate
that between 1 and 9
million children in the
United States have a parent
who is lesbian or gay.
594,000 same-sex partner
households and children
live in about 27 percent of
those households.
It is difficult to obtain an
accurate count of same-sex
parent families due to fears
of discrimination, loss of

Same-sex Couples are just as fit to

be Parents as Heterosexual Couples
Like heterosexual couples, same-sex couples form deep
emotional attachments and commitments.
American Psychological Association studies found that children
do not differ in terms of emotional functioning, sexual
orientation, stigmatization, gender role behavior, behavioral
adjustment, gender identity, or learning.
Variables like division of household labor and childcare, are more
associated with childrens outcomes than sexual orientation.

"Transgender" People
in Hollywood
Over the years, trans people have
been constantly misrepresented in
the media in negative ways.
Almost every show that featured
transgender characters in them
had them play either a prostitute,
victim of abuse, punch line of a
joke, or mentally disturbed.
Shows like Family Guy and The L
word are portraying trans people
as sexual predators or aggressive
and violent.
Not only is this inaccurate, but this
specific misrepresentation has put
the trans community in danger in
real life situations.

Positive Representation of the

Trans Community in the Media
In the past five years, transgender people have been portrayed in more positive ways
in the media.
Transgender people have landed roles in television and films that have portrayed them
as influential characters and have been offered professional modeling careers.
Trans actors are playing trans people as opposed to a heterosexual person playing a
trans person in a role.
At the 2015 Golden Globe awards a transgender woman named Laverne Cox was
nominated for a golden globe.
Shows like Orange is the New Black and Transparent have shed transgender people in
a positive light.

Real Life Example

In July 2015, Caitlyn Jenner came out as a transgender woman in a Vanity Fair Article.
This caused a lot of media attention for her because she was already a well known
media personality.
Caitlyn Jenner received both positive and negative feedback from coming out to the
public.
Prior to coming out, she landed her own show "I Am Cait". A reality show that showed
Caitlyn advocating for transgender rights and helping people in the community.
Caitlyn was courageous for sharing her story and helped a number of people in the
transgender community.

Works Cited
Charlotte J. Patterson, and Jennifer L. Wainright. "Adolescents with Same-Sex Parents." Findings
from the National Longitudinal Study of Adolescent Health (2007): University of Virginia, Web.
<http://people.virginia.edu/~cjp/articles/pwInPress.pdf>.
Lesbian and Gay Parenting. American Psychological Association, (2005) Web. 05 Dec.
2015.<http://www.apa.org/pi/lgbt/resources/parenting.aspx>.
Pasek, Daniel1. "Love And War: An Argument For Extending Dependent Benefits To Same-Sex
Partners Of Military Service Members." Harvard Law & Policy Review 6.2 (2012): 459-472. OmniFile
Full Text Mega (H.W. Wilson). Web. 30 Nov. 2015.
McDonald, Nancy. "Misrepresentation in Media Portrayal of the LGBT Community." Wordpress.com. 4
Dec. 2012. Web. 6 Nov. 2015.
Soto, Patricia. "Queer Representation in Film and Television." Queer Representation in Film and
Television. 16 June 2007. Web. 29 Nov. 2015.
Network, Lori Grisham. "What Does the Q in LGBTQ Stand For?" USA Today. Gannett, 01 June 2015.
Web. 06 Dec. 2015.
http://www.nobullying.com/gay-people/