The document analyzes diversity in television shows featuring gay, lesbian, and bisexual characters. It finds that the characters are mostly portrayed as upper-middle class, Caucasian, and in their 30s-40s. They tend to have successful careers in white-collar jobs. While media portrayals provide role models, there is a lack of diversity in the descriptions of the characters in terms of factors like socioeconomic status, occupation, ethnicity, and age. More variety is needed to reflect the real diversity of the LGBT community. The analysis is limited by the small number of shows examined and genres not included.

1. Is there “real” diversity
in GLB TV shows?
S o
H y u n
L i m
B o
R a m
S e o
Z h i
P i n g
S u

2. contents
² Intro
² Analysis
&
Arguments
² Conclusion
² Limitations
² Reference

3. Many
TV
shows
about
GLB
…

4.
Will
&
Grace
Modern
Family
The
L
Word
Queer
as
folk

5. Analysis
&
Arguments

6. Social Class
Will
Successful
Lawyer
Lives
in
Upper
West
side
of
Manha9an
Will
&
Grace

7. Social Class
Mitchell
Lawyer
Lives
in
a
big
mansion
Modern
Family

8. Social Class
Tina
&
Be6e
Successful
business
women
Lives
in
wealthy
West
Hollywood
The
L
Word

9. Social Class
Brian
Adver?sing
execu?ve
Queer
as
Folk

10. Share
in
Common
:
Upper
Middle
Class

11. Social Class
Andy
was
fired
Because
he
was
gay
Philadelphia

12. Social Class
Brokeback
Mountain

13. Social Class
News
paper
ar@cles
from
CNN
(Dec.
24,
2010)

14. Social Class
The
Jeffersons
Good
Times
The
Cosby
Show
The
Fresh
Prince
Bell-­‐Air

15. RACE
Modern
Family

16. RACE
Will
&
Grace

17. RACE
Queer
as
Folk

18. RACE
The
L
Word

19. They
are
Mostly
Caucasians

20. Age
Will
&
Grace

21. Age
Modern
Family

22. Age
The
L
Word

23. Age
Queer
as
Folk

25. Conclusion

26. Conclusion
² Not
Much
Diversity
in
Description
on
GLB
Characters

27. Conclusion
“The
In<luence
of
the
Media
Role
Models
on
Gay,
Lesbian,
and
Bisexual
Identity”
(Gomillion,
S.C,
and
T.A
Giuliano,
2011)
• Media
=
important
role
in
providing
a
role
model
&
positive
image
for
them
à
comfort
(p.
17)
• “What
would
you
like
to
see
more
in
terms
of
Media
portrayal?”
GLB
wants
more
diversity
in
terms
of
its
income
level,
occupation,
ethnicity,
and
etc.
to
be
seen
in
Media
However,
LGBs
asking
for
more
variety
in
role
models
(p.
19-­‐20)

28. Conclusion
Media
has
been
important
in
providing
role
models
for
LGBs
But,
not
enough
description
of
variety
of
role
models
for
LGBs
existed
in
present
Need more Diversity!
However…

29. Discussion
Ques;ons

30. Discussion Questions
Do
you
think
that
presenting
sexual
relationship
among
the
gay
characters
in
these
shows,
will
increase
audiences’
understanding
of
the
gay
community,
or
rather
decrease
their
understanding
and
create
stereotypes
on
the
gay
community
as
being
promiscuous?

31. Discussion Questions

32. Discussion Questions
What
do
you
think
about
her
statement
related
to
“diversity”
issue?

33. Limitations
• Limited
episodes
that
are
analyzed
• Since
many
subjects
&
characters
have
been
developed,
we
are
becoming
to
see
more
characters
variations
• Not
analyzed
shows
about
Transgender
• Might
be
different
depending
upon
genres

34. References
• Demme,
Jonathan,
dir.
Philadelphia.
Tristar
Pictures,
1993.
Film.
• Gomillion,
S.C,
and
T.A
Giuliano.
"The
In^luence
of
Media
Role
Models
on
Gay,
Lesbian,
and
Bisexual
Identity."Journal
of
Homosexuality.
58.3
(2011):
330-­‐354.
Print.
• Lee,
Ang,
dir.
Brokeback
Mountain.
River
Road
Entertainment,
2006.
Film.
• “Love
and
Marriage.”
Will&Grace.
NBC.
NBC
Universal.
New
York
City.
Sep.
21,
1998.
Television.
• “A
New
Lease
on
Life.”
Will&Grace.
NBC.
NBC
Universal.
New
York
City.
Sep.
21,
1998.
Television.
• “Premiere.”
Queer
as
Folk.
Showtime.
CBS
Corporation,
New
York
City.
Dec.
03,
2000.
Television.
• “Queer,
There
and
Everywhere.”
Queer
as
Folk.
Showtime.
CBS
Corporation,
New
York
City.
Dec.
03,
2000.
Television.

35. References
• “Pilot.”
The
L
Word.
Showtime.
CBS
Corporation,
New
York
City.
Jan.
18,
2004.
Television.
• “Let’s
Do
It.”
The
L
Word.
Showtime.
CBS
Corporation,
New
York
City.
Jan.
25,
2004.
Television.
• “Pilot.”
Modern
Family.
ABC.
The
Walt
Disney
Company,
New
York
City.
Sep.
23,
2009.
Television.
• “The
Bicycle
Thief.”
Modern
Family.
ABC.
The
Walt
Disney
Company,
New
York
City.
Sep.
30,
2009.
Television.
• “Debates
Over
‘Modern
Family’
Gay
Kiss
Surface.”
aceshowbiz.
n.p.
,
n.d.
Web.
01
Oct.
2010.
• “Pioneer
^ighter
for
gay
rights”
CNN
opinion.
CNN,
n.d.
Web.
24
Dec.
2010.