You Gotta Love Stereotypes

DOCTOR Who star John Barrowman was told he was “too straight” for TV sitcom Will and Grace - even though he’s about to marry his gay partner.

And the 38-year-old actor, who came out in his 20s, said the fact that the part of Will eventually went to straight actor Eric McCormack is typical of “homophobic” Hollywood.

“And the sad thing is it’s run by gay men and women,” he added. (source)

Aren’t stereotypes wonderful? Of course, I don’t put much stock in Hollywood being able to get much of anything right. But, you have to give them one thing; they put a lot of money into thinking about and researching what will “work” to the American public. Stereotypes of gay men being effeminate and weak sell, because that is what people want to see -- apparently.

And if you portray a gay man who isn’t weak and effeminate (just a regular every day guy who can “pass for straight” in the eyes of the American public), he’d better be dying of AIDS or be the victim of a gay bashing (judging from this last week’s TV listing - cable and regular TV). Heaven forbid that he be happy and living a very fulfilling life.

The irony is, what Mr. Barrowman says is correct. Hollywood is very gay and unfortunately, some of the most closeted and bigoted people around (just like Congress). We do a lot within our own community to reinforce these stereotypes (e.g. Eric McCormack looks “gayer”, and then of course, there’s Jack, from Will & Grace).

I’m not down on people being different and what they are. We are a very diverse community. That’s a good thing and we should embrace that. My issue I suppose is that there seems to be a need to put our community in one big container and put one label on it. This happens even within our own community, to the detriment of individual expression. If you’re not a certain way, you don’t belong. Until we get over that, we will never be anything other than a stereotype.