The issue of homosexuality is still a sensitive one despite changes that have occurred in the past 20 years. Homosexuals are viewed as outsiders. Their lifestyle is not fully accepted by society and they have few role models in the spotlight. Images on television, in movies and in advertising are still of men and women in traditional roles. Men are the dominant characters, presented as strong, tough and masculine. Women are the sensitive and emotional characters. Rarely are these roles reversed or altered. Portrayal of gay and lesbian characters is the exception, not the norm. But there are an increasing number of television shows featuring gay characters or gay themes. In 2001, there were 20 gay roles on network television, but in 2002, the number decreased to seven (www.cnn.com). Despite the decrease in roles in the last year, the presence of gay characters on television over the last several years is undoubtedly stronger than ever before. One of NBC's top rated sitcoms, Will & Grace, is centered around gay culture and lifestyle. Other popular shows such as Dawson's Creek and ER have homosexual main characters. A close examination of several of these shows revealed that gay characters are visible on network television, but what remains the issue is the stereotypical ways that most gay characters are portrayed.

Larry Gross argues that gays are being symbolically annihilated through their relative invisibility on television, but network programming reveals otherwise. The number of gay roles may have declined over the past year, but the ones that remain are on top-rated and successful shows. Television shows featuring gay characters were not cancelled because they dealt with gay issues, but rather because they were unsuccessful or unentertaining programs. Current homosexual roles are positive examples of what happens when good writing, good acting and relevant issues combine. The fact that these roles exist is a step in the right direction. However, the roles cannot be considered completely positive until they are free of typical stereotypes. Gross argues that minorities portrayed on television are merely reflections of how media creators view those minorities. They are not accurate representations of the group, but most media is presented as reflections of reality even though they typically ignore anything that does not look good on screen (Gross 62). The portrayal of gay characters is not an exception to this trend. Gay characters are generally portrayed by straight actors and created by heterosexual writers. The roles themselves are not negative images of homosexuals, but they are stereotypical.

On ER, Carrie Weaver, a lesbian doctor, is a hard-working, stubborn and uncompromising character. She is disliked by most of her co-workers and never reveals her emotions. In a recent episode, she takes a co-worker aside and starts crying unexplainably. Carrie never tells anyone why she is upset, but it is obvious that this is not normal behavior for her. As the lesbian character, she is not openly emotional in the ways that many other characters on ER are. Another doctor speculated it was "a bad break-up," in a sarcastic tone. This is the only reference to Carrie's sexuality in the episode. But in another episode a doctor makes the comment, "you can never trust a lesbian to do a man's job". This comment serves to point out a fact that is irrelevant in the context of working in a hospital. Carrie's stereotypical attitude and appearance and the ways in which other characters react to her provide a negative viewpoint of lesbians. However, the show would not change much if Carrie were heterosexual. Having a gay character simply adds another layer to an already complex show, but in no way does it make the show.

Will & Grace is an entirely different sort of show. It embraces homosexuality and homosexual culture. The show would not exist if the characters were not gay. The focus of the show is very much centered on the fact that two of the main characters are openly gay men. The writers and creators of the show focus on gay issues in an unapologetic manner. Will and Jack never try to hide their sexuality or make excuses for it, they are proud and open gay men, and that is what makes this show different from most others on the air. On Dawson's Creek and ER, the two gay main characters did not come out or even realize themselves that they were gay until several seasons into the show. The two characters were involved in heterosexual relationships on their respective shows.

Will & Grace is a comedy, so the goal is to entertain viewers rather than deal with serious issues in a serious manner, but they do bring important issues to the table in a light-hearted fashion. What is interesting about this show is the way it plays on typical stereotypes of gay men. Jack's character is there for comic relief. He plays up every gay stereotype to the extreme, so much so that viewers get the sense these stereotypes are really that; stereotypical, and most gay men do not act like Jack. Will's character balances out Jack. Will goes back and forth between "gay" and "straight" lifestyles. He is a successful lawyer who owns his own practice. When Will is in his office or a work environment, he is just another lawyer and not defined by his sexuality, but when he is in his apartment or out with Jack, Will lives a gay lifestyle. He and Jack go to gay bars and clubs and reveal a piece of homosexual culture. Will never hides that he is gay, but he does not let it define his life. Will is a positive role model for gay men, but unfortunately he is a unique character, and there is not a similar role model for lesbians currently on television.

Another aspect of Will & Grace that speaks to its popularity is the trend of major Hollywood actors as guest stars. Kevin Bacon recently guest-starred as himself. At the end of the episode Kevin Bacon, Jack and Will are dancing to "Footloose" in Bacon's apartment. Tough and masculine stars come onto the show to play effeminate characters in an interesting role reversal. Last year Matt Damon appeared on the show as a straight man who wanted to be a part of the gay choral group so he pretended to be gay until Jack "outed" him. Will & Grace offers roles that actors cannot find anywhere else on television. The show deals with homosexuality in an upfront and humorous way, but at the same time adds a human element that makes these characters likable and relatable.

With the immense popularity of reality television, it is interesting to note how gays are portrayed on television shows that claim to be a true reflection of life today. On the majority of reality shows it seems as though contestants are chosen to fill certain roles. There is almost always a gay or lesbian cast member, a black person, an "all-American" boy, a young naive girl, etc. The casting directors attempt to equally represent all types of people, but they go to the extreme in casting people who fit into the accepted stereotypes. Rather than exposing viewers to people of a different race or background, these shows perpetuate the existing stereotypes. On The Amazing Race, a show were teams of two race around the world to win $500,000, two of the 12 teams have gay members. On last week's episode, the gay men were seen as the weak links on their respective teams. The two men complained excessively about the heat and lack of sleep and food. They fitted the high-maintenance stereotypes to the tee. This is only one example of the ways gays are portrayed through reality television. More often than not it is not the typical gay or lesbian person who is represented, but rather an extreme personality type.

Gay characters on television do exist and do make a statement about what it is like to be a gay man or woman in today's society. Television shows with gay characters or gay themes are attempting to make the average viewer think outside their lifestyle. The majority of gay characters live in a straight world where they happen to be different. On shows like Dawson's Creek and ER, the gay characters do not make a huge issue out of their sexual orientation. It is a part of their life that they do not try to hide, but they do not define themselves through sexuality. It is a positive example of gay characters living a "normal" life. What is unfortunate is that the majority of gay characters on television fit into specific stereotypes, even on reality shows. Will & Grace is an exception. Gay viewers have a role model in Will and they can find humor in Jack's character. Until television offers more roles like this one, the gay community will continue to lack true role models on television.

Bibliography

The Amazing Race. CBS, Channel 3, Chapel Hill, N.C. 9 October 2002.

ER. NBC 17, Channel 2, Chapel Hill, N.C. 26 September 2002, 3 October 2002, 10
October 2002.

Gross, Larry. "Out of the Mainstream Sexual Minorities and the Mass Media."
All the Rage. University of Chicago Press, 2001.

Will and Grace. NBC 17, Channel 2, Chapel Hill, N.C. 26 September 2002, 3 October
2002.

Wood, Matthew. The Portrayal of Gays and Lesbians on TV, and How Viewers React,
1996. Accessed 11 October 2002. <http://www.aber.ac.uk/media/Students/mtw9402.html>