MEDIA EFFECTS ON GAY STEREOTYPES By Laura Grunden

MEDIA EFFECTS ON GAY STEREOTYPES By: Laura Grunden, Heather Birge, and Ivette Valenciano

Numbers Have Skyrocketed The effect of media on gay stereotypes is seen across the board in many different types of media. The strongest effect on the stereotypes is most obviously Television because they can make gay characters and portray them how they want, which usually ends up being an accurate display of the stereotypes we have for gay people. The chart below shows the rising number of gay people shown on Television. As you can see, the number has sky rocketed since 1980

EXAMPLES OF GAY STEREOTYPES ON TV SHOWS v A common example of the feminine gay man is the popular show “Modern Family. ” The gay couple, Cam and Mitch, is shown as a stylish, soft-spoken couple that has female best friends and share a common corruptive relationship with their fathers. These are all stereotypes, and though Cam loves to watch football, that is the only large break the show gives as far as stereotypes go.

MORE EXAMPLES v The next effect on gay stereotypes is the inaccurate presentation of gay women in media. Gay women are often made out to be beautiful, girly, characters who have tendencies to go back and forth between men and women. An example of this is seen in the popular hit TV show, Glee.

HOW STEREOTYPES ARE STARTED v Twitter v Facebook v Instagram

ON THE OTHER HAND… v In Glee, Santana and Brittany engage in lesbian activities and even date for a little while, all while confused as to whether they are actually gay or not. v Ellen Degeneres- boldly gay

ANOTHER OUTLET v Music. v Adam Lambert

STATISTICS 4% of people in 2015 claim to be lesbian, gay, or bisexual 4. 4% of characters on TV in 2012 were lesbian, gay, or bisexual up from 3. 3 percent in an earlier year Fox network ranked the highest with LGBT characters at 6. 5% In one year, CBS moved up from 1. 9% LGBT characters to 3. 2% and rising (cbsnews. com)