psh@hound.UUCP (P.HANSON) (02/25/86)
I feel that the response I am seeing on the net about a new stereotype for gays is somewhat of an overreaction. The point being made is that television movies are now fostering an oversimplified or inappropriate public opinion that gays are well paid, stylish professionals who seem as average as the next guy except that they love other men. To the extent that this portrayal has been common among the movies of the last few years [ "Falling In Love", "Early Frost" and maybe "Consenting Adults"] I must agree. What I don't agree with is that this is so bad. Firstly, I think that this new portrayal offsets older stereotypes which fostered the opinion that gays are unrespectable dregs of humanity ( mentally ill, perverted, criminal ...). To see gay doctors and lawyers in our movies these days can only impress the public that we can be productive, respectable members of society. To those who will say that this new stereotype does a disservice to those gays who are not uppermiddle class professional, average guy next door types, my reply is that you're right... but, given that TV movies will always foster stereotypes, can you come up with a better image that would positively improve the public relations of the gay population to the rest of the world than the one they show today? Maybe you can. Also, assuming that the largest viewing population of these movies is the middle class, I think that these movies have shown some positive role models for young gays who are asking themselves questions like, "Is there hope for me to succeed in career? Do I have the hope of finding a meaningful relationship? Is coming out to family/friends the right thing to do?" In other words, as a young gay I have found these shows to boost my optimism about my future. Comments?