Movies: Sad To Be Gay

Last issue, I (yet again) bemoaned the representation of women on-screen. However, new figures from GLAAD’s Studio Responsibility Index reveal women aren’t the only ones being neglected in cinema.

The Index maps “the quantity, quality and diversity of lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender people” in films released by seven major motion picture studios during 2013. Of 102 major studio films, only 17 featured LGBT characters; less than half of LGBT characters were more than punch-line caricatures.
GLAAD has its own version of the female-focused “Bechdel Test” for LGBT characters, the ‘Vito Russo Test’. This ranks films according to whether (1) they contain a LGBT character; (2) that character is not solely defined by their sexual orientation, but has unique characteristics beyond that and (3) that character matters and is significant to the plot, ie. they’re not just there to set up punchlines.
Of the 17 movies that included LGBT characters, less than half passed the test, with only Mortal Instruments: City of Bones impressing with its portrayal of LGBT characters. Most of the other films only featured LGBT characters in minor roles, while films like Michael Bay’s Pain and Gain and the Vin Diesel vehicle Riddick were said to promote offensive or defamatory representations.
The lack of diversity in Hollywood is not new, as UCLA’s study of racial diversity on-screen and USC’s study of female representation confirm. The effect is not only to alienate people who don’t get to see a representation of their own stories and experiences on-screen – it also maintains ignorance and prejudice by dehumanising groups through omission.
“The lack of substantial LGBT characters in mainstream film, in addition to the outdated humour and stereotypes, suggests large Hollywood studios may be doing more harm than good when it comes to worldwide understanding of the LGBT community,” said GLAAD president Sarah Kate Ellis. “These studios have the eyes and ears of millions of audience members, and should reflect the true fabric of our society rather than feed into the hatred and prejudice against LGBT people too often seen around the globe.”