No American media portrayals

[James Dean]

Does anyone find it kinda upsetting that there aren't many media portrayals of anybody LGBT on Nickelodeon, Disney any of that crap. I mean Good Luck Charlie which got cancelled, their neighbors were two Lesbians, but I mean like younger people. I don't know.

I mean you could say Glee, but that was on Fox and that's not a kids network and that show was also cancelled.

I feel like they think gay, or LGBT is bad so they don't want to promote it.

[Gwen]

I don't think it matters about choosing LGBT actors for a children's network, they don't hire people on Nickelodeon by sexuality they hire them for their acting skills and how well they can portray a character in one of their shows. I don't find it upsetting that their a few Scandinavian actors on Disney. Their job is to be someone else and their sexuality should be part of their personal life, if you are talking about them acting as outwardly LGBT characters I would feel about as uncomfortable as if their were overly 'straight' characters in a children's show.

[drhalsey1]

While there certainly is a lack of lgbt representation in TV channels like that the actors aren't meant to show the entire range of possible people, just the scripted characters, if an actor is lgbt they can keep it secret or share it, whatever, but they still need to follow character on screen, which means showing their talent (why they're hired) instead of showing who they want

[Elysium]

I agree wholeheartedly. They don't want to piss off anyone. But there is improvement. Shows on Cartoon Network like Clarence, Adventure Time, and Steven Universe have all had LGBT couples/characters (although in some cases, the representation could definitely be more explicit). Legend of Korra, which was cancelled but aired on Nickelodeon, also had a lesbian couple, though it was never explicitly confirmed in the show. There's still a long way to go, yes, but there's certainly progress being made. It would seem that a pervading belief that homosexuality isn't appropriate for children (and don't get me started on my incredulity at that) still persists, particularly in media.

[Straya]

i dont feel like there is a problem those shows are there for entertainment not education its not upto the tv networks to educate children on sexuality thats upto there parents and teachers

[Babs]

It doesn't upset me personally, but I do understand why other people are bothered by it.

[James Dean]

i dont feel like there is a problem those shows are there for entertainment not education its not upto the tv networks to educate children on sexuality thats upto there parents and teachers

So if they have homophobic parents, and laws being passed that are forcing schools to not teach about LGBT history or culture, then what?

I remember in sophmore year of HS, we had this flamboyant doctor come in to our auditorium and teach us about safe sex, and stds and etc.

At the end he asked us if we had any questions, and one of the kids at my school, who was gay, asked if the speaker were gay, and the guy just simply said next question. He obviously was gay but didn't answer the question because growing up we are taught that gay is wrong, that you're a sodomite etc.

That's why disney, and all these kids companies are not showcasing the lgbt topic.

[Quahog]

Yeah I was kinda pissed the only LGBT thing I could relate to was Marco's character on Degrassi, which wasn't an American show, and took place in Canada which is a more accepting place.

Congress barely passed the country wide gay marriage bill, it was a lopsided vote, 4-3. But schools can still refuse to teach about LGBT issues, and churches can still deny to marry, and bakeries do not have to give service to a same sex couple for a wedding.

[Laibachd]

The media are not there to appease us or represent us. They are there to make money!

[SethfromMI]

Nick has Sponge Bob. you can't tell me Sponge Bob and Patrick aren't gay for each other

[Straya]

So if they have homophobic parents, and laws being passed that are forcing schools to not teach about LGBT history or culture, then what?

I remember in sophmore year of HS, we had this flamboyant doctor come in to our auditorium and teach us about safe sex, and stds and etc.

At the end he asked us if we had any questions, and one of the kids at my school, who was gay, asked if the speaker were gay, and the guy just simply said next question. He obviously was gay but didn't answer the question because growing up we are taught that gay is wrong, that you're a sodomite etc.

That's why disney, and all these kids companies are not showcasing the lgbt topic.

if they have homophobic parents then even if disney shows were promoting it that wouldnt make a difference children model themselves on there parents or other major person in their lives not a tv show so regardless of if its on disney or not that is not going to change anything

[DoodleSnap]

It is upsetting, but the issue is that many evangelical religious parents would kick up a fuss if an explicitly LGBT+ relationship were to be depicted. For example, Adventure Time hasn't been able to show in an episode the fact that Bubblegum and Marceline used to date, because Russia is one of their audiences, even though it is Canon.
There are still many religious countries than outlaw homosexuality, for example, Iran kills people for sodomy laws. This makes it dangerous to talk about such topics. Stupid, I know.
But hey, one step at a time. With more education to the general public, these things will move on.

[davdev17]

I think it is because a lot of these networks are mainly about making a profit, and if they put anything controversial on then people would freak out and they would lose profits.

[James Dean]

I think it is because a lot of these networks are mainly about making a profit, and if they put anything controversial on then people would freak out and they would lose profits.

That's why so many LGBT youth commit suicide, because the media portrays as bad, so they feel no point in living.

[davdev17]

A lot of youth don't watch those channels. Those channels might know that so they don't have any LGBT people on them. A lot of the shows that I have watched on "older" channels have had LGBT people and I haven't seen any portrayed as "bad".

[James Dean]

A lot of youth don't watch those channels. Those channels might know that so they don't have any LGBT people on them. A lot of the shows that I have watched on "older" channels have had LGBT people and I haven't seen any portrayed as "bad".

Well I'm just saying, it would be nice to see like a high school show feature LGBT characters.

[davdev17]

On The Fosters on ABC Family there are a bunch of LGBT people and I have a crush on one of the actors lol

[James Dean]

On The Fosters on ABC Family there are a bunch of LGBT people and I have a crush on one of the actors lol

I gotta check that show out.

[Cognizant]

They've been experimenting with it for a while, Grey's Anatomy has had quite a few gay characters/couples since Season 4 back in 2007-08 (take Callie Torres and Arizona Robbins, for example). I would say that there's starting to get some more representation imo.

[DriveAlive]

How has nobody mentioned Modern Family

[James Dean]

How has nobody mentioned Modern Family

Ugh. I mean if you wanna count that fine.

[AutumnWinds]

it doesn't really bother me. i'm bisexual and honestly i get more offended when a show tries too hard to cram a gay or bi character of storyline in. people are what they are. if i watch TV i watch it to see compelling characters. i don't care about their sexuality the same way i would hope no one cares about mine.

[James Dean]

Total Drama Island has a gay character now.

[TraciAG]

At the end of Legend of Korra, Korra ends up with Asami.

It didn't really fit into the show but I thought it was an interesting way to end the series. (like Autumn said though it was kind of crammed into the show for no reason)

[hesaidhesaid]

On The Fosters on ABC Family there are a bunch of LGBT people and I have a crush on one of the actors lol

#Jonnor
JUST RIGHT NOW! ;)

[Zachary G]

Nick has Sponge Bob. you can't tell me Sponge Bob and Patrick aren't gay for each other

Lets not forget Bert and Ernie on Sesame Street -- lol!!

[SethfromMI]

Lets not forget Bert and Ernie on Sesame Street -- lol!!

lol of course