Comments by Java Mann

The Young Ones: From Willow on Buffy the Vampire Slayer to Justin on Queer as Folk gay teens are more often than not found on dramatic series where their teenaged angst combined with their sexual orientation (and possible confusion) create high drama (and high ratings). Even daytime dramas have made use of this plot vehicle with Bianca on All My Children. The "official" coming out episode (usually the one where they tell their parents or best friend) is usually slated for sweeps weeks, as are the "first time" episodes. The Young Ones are usually parented by The You're-No-Son-of-Mine Father and The Accepting Mom.

The Power Dyke: Designed to be the foil for a featured character, the power dyke is usually a lawyer, a cop or a person in a position of authority. She is stark, aggressive and easily disliked. Useful in both comedy and drama, she is often wardrobed in a uniform or severe suit, wears minimal make-up, and has short hair. She is often paired up with Lesbian with a Baby.

Lesbian with a Baby: Also a peripheral character in both comedy and drama she is usually the ex of a main character. For additional drama/comic potential, the main character is often the baby’s father. When paired with The Power Dyke she is softer and warmer. She is attractive and wears fashionable clothes and make up. There is also a sub-genus to this caricature: Lesbian wants a Baby. Acquiring the sperm required is often a subplot that can be drawn over a few episodes. One rule governs Lesbian wants a baby: She can only give birth during sweeps week.

The Flamer: The grandfather of gay stereotypes, he is an excitable effeminate man who is constantly well dressed, attends opera and the theatre. He frequently has an "amusing" speech pattern or lisp. Variants of this are the Well-Educated Flamer: Carter on Spin City, and the Pop Culture Flamer: Jack on Will and Grace. The Flamer is frequently used to portray wedding planners/ hairdressers and anyone in the hospitality or travel industry. If Harvey Fierstein didn’t write a vehicle he is appearing in, chances are good he’s portraying the Flamer. Classic Flamer: Uncle Arthur on Bewitched. Foreign Flamer: Mr. Humphreys from Are you Being Served. Sub-genus Flamer: The Fag Next Door

The Fag Next Door: More often than not a sitcom staple this character has been found in dramas as well. Gay John (from upstairs) on NYPD Blue is a good example of this stereotype, as was Greg Kinnear’s character from As Good as It Gets. You know he’s gay the moment he opens his mouth. In the movie Jeffery, Steven Webber’s character auditions for the role of a cop but gets cast as the gay-next-door-neighbor.

The Lipstick Lesbian: A useful (dramatic) tool to bolster falling ratings, the Lipstick Lesbian is an attractive female guest star that arrives to seduce a reoccurring (straight) female star, if only for one long passionate ratings generating kiss. Their relationship is notoriously short lived, often ending with the Lipstick Lesbian’s death.

The Chaste Fag: This character is attractive, intelligent, warm funny and likeable, but cannot get a date to save his life. The reason for this is network executives feel that the popularity of this character is essential to the show’s success, and cannot risk alienating the audience by showing him to be a sexual being. Classic example: Tony Randall’s character Sydney from Love Sydney. Contemporary example: Will form Will and Grace.

The Noble Aids Patient: This character is so blatantly two dimensional, he disappears when seen in profile. He often speaks as if his dialogue was written exclusively by the same people who wrote after-school specials or public service announcements. 

The Devious Villain: Fey and cunning, evil and shallow, this character is designed to be hated. Perhaps in a nod to political correctness, this caricature has been absent from the scene for some time, Scar from the Lion King being the most recent example. One could argue that Richard from Survivor fits this category.

The Fag Hag: Not gay herself, she is the ultimate accessory for every gay character. With few exceptions the Fag Hag is female, and is either related to or the best friend of the gay male character. She is hopelessly devoted to the fag she’s linked to for good reason: Her life has no meaning without him. Grace from Will & Grace narrowly escapes this category.

The You're-No-Son-of-Mine Father: Prominently featured in any coming out storyline, the un-accepting/disowning father is a staple useful in both comedy and drama. He is the character who cannot accept his child’s homosexuality and reacts with anger and/or violence when forced to confront it. Depending on the plot line or story arc, the You're-No-Son-of-Mine Father usually comes around to accepting the inevitable. Ellen’s father fits this category. This character is often married to The Accepting Mom.

The Accepting Mom: She may start out as concerned and confused she quickly comes to her child’s side, and like a mother lion, becomes his or her greatest advocate, often fighting with The Your-No-Son-of-Mine Father. She’s her child’s confidant, and will often keep his/her secret from her husband. She is often portrayed as "wacky" and overly involved, organizing P-Flag meetings and making marijuana brownies for AIDS patients. Sharon Gless’s character from Queer as Folk is the latest manifestation of this arch type. Depending on the story line, the Accepting Mom may morph into a Fag Hag. Occasionally, the Accepting Mom is actually the Accepting Grandmother.

So there gentle reader, you have my take on the media’s stock gay character catalog. Rather sad, isn’t it? If you feel there are any glaring omission, feel free to drop me a line. I may update this list as needed.
 

JM