I'm sick of gay agenda being pushed by Hollywood - Page 3

DonnaL · 10-31-2008, 01:16 PM

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Originally Posted by Corranged

Justamom made a great point that I would like to reiterate. There are straight, white people all over TV. As a lesbian, I love seeing relationships on TV that "look" like my relationships, even though the specifics may be very different. This was even more important when I was younger since I didn't know other gay people. Seeing gay people on TV who had accepting families, friends, and healthy relationships was very valuable to me.

Thank you also, corranged -- I know from talking to my son that he feels the same way. I always find it a bit astonishing that straight people, who already have approximately 95% of the cultural "pie," can get so outraged that they don't have 100%. I dug up something I wrote earlier this year on another message board, trying to explain what he feels like:

Quote:

Originally Posted by Donna

I've always been aware of the overwhelming heterocentricity of virtually every aspect of our culture. But not in so immediate a way as I have in the years since my son came out to me. What made me think of it again tonight was a commercial on the Oscars for some new line of clothing at J.C. Penney called "American Living" or something similar. All sorts of homey scenes, one after another, of male-female couples, young and old, holding hands and staring at each other lovingly and romping in slow motion through fields of clover; families with mothers and fathers and children sitting down at the trestle table in front of the the farmhouse, etc, etc. OK, a slight exaggeration, but not much.

Wow, nothing really there for my son, was there? And it's like that all the time, every single day, in every medium, and in life. I know very well how much this kind of thing bothers [my son], and how painful it's been for him to grow up feeling that way.

How terribly selfish and ungenerous it is for people to act as if they're "persecuted" when there's any positive portrayal of anyone who isn't straight, as if it's the product of an evil "agenda." And as if the "straight agenda" doesn't permeate every aspect of society. I've talked often with my son about the inherent sense of alienation one develops growing up gay in this world. Which has its benefits, I suppose, in creating the so-called "gay sensibility" and all the creativity and brilliance it entails, in art and literature and so many other areas. Just as the sense of alienation that (at least in the past) came from being Jewish in a Christian society played a similar role.

But that kind of alienation has its costs, huge ones, costs that have broken my heart when I've seen my wonderful son feel so alone in so many ways throughout his high school years -- the confidante of all the girls he's friends with, who can talk about their first loves and crushes, and first tentative efforts at being adults in that way, and know that they have societal approval and encouragement ("isn't that sweet!" "isn't that cute"). And see themselves reflected in innumerable movies and television shows about adolescence, and coming of age, and young love. While my son has had to grow up knowing that a good part of society not only fails to encourage, but condemns, his identical feelings. Feelings he's never acted on, or had the opportunity to do so (other than in developing a series of hopeless secret crushes on straight boys), but that I so very much hope he's able to now that he's in college.

Why doesn't he deserve the same chance at happiness, in being himself, as anyone else's child?

And anything that can be done to lessen that alienation, at least a little bit, for young gay people, is the farthest thing from a sin. It's a mitzvah!

Donna

littlegreenmom · 10-31-2008, 01:17 PM

I have never really cared what people choose to do in their own lives. Get married, don't. Live an "alternative" lifestyle, live a "traditional" lifestyle. Pierce your eyebrows, get a tattoo. Whatever!

There is much unhappiness in our world. Why should anyone beat up on the choices that fullfill others? Just because it isn't our choice to live that way doesn't make it any less genuine.

jym626 · 10-31-2008, 01:20 PM

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I watched in horror last week as Grey's Anatomy (a popular show for teens as well) displayed an amazing lack of propriety.... I have asked God's forgiveness for watching and will not in the future.

I agree with those who wonder why you watched at all if you were so "horrified"? Turn it off and go do something that brings you good feelings, not feelings of hate or outrage. What horrifies me is people coming here to promote their "agenda". Hate and closed mindedness is what is unacceptable to me.

missypie · 10-31-2008, 01:21 PM

I agree, NotReady4Purple. Casual sexual references on "teen" or "kids" shows, dangerous sex, violence, etc. on non-pay channels on TV all bug me. But I don't watch them, so issue solved. I hate that movies with very crude sexual references get a PG13, but you show a bit of the human body in a loving situation and you get an R rating.

But my gripes go across the board - gay or straight.

I do think TV and movies do a great service when they depict couples and families of all types - gay, lesbian, mixed race, whatever - without making it "the story line." I often said that the most gay friendly network is HGTV. They feature lots of homes of gay couples without any commentary whatsoever. Here are two guys. They own this house. They fix it up. That is what is good to see....normal folks depicted as normal folks.

missypie · 10-31-2008, 01:23 PM

As for the spelling (Gray/Grey). There was a boy in my class in elem school who spelled his last name with whatever vowel the color doesn't. Since then, I've been perpetually confused as to which is the color and which is the name.

Greta · 10-31-2008, 01:26 PM

Both spellings (gray, grey) are acceptable, according to my Webster's. The 'e' form is the preferred British spelling.

PA Mom · 10-31-2008, 01:26 PM

for the record - my discomfort with the show had nothing to do with the same sex relationship - it was the gratuitous sex and the "TMI" feeling. I am a bit of a prude, but I love to see a love story whether gay, straight whatever. They could have done a better job ( I think) of portraying their confusion and hesitation, but I guess the show is geared towards a diiferent demographic than me. I never watched "Sex and the City" either - I don't want to know !!! LOL

On a sidebar - I have watched the show "Greek" and ,though I think their depiction of sororities and fraternities is comica,l - I do like the portrayal of the gay students. I think they did a good job developing the characters and their issues.

musicamusica · 10-31-2008, 01:29 PM

Im old enough to remember the same sort of self righteous hate being spewed in the sixties when some mixed race couples had the NERVE to consider themselves part of "mainstream America". In fact take the OP's orginal post and replace homosexual with mixed race and its just like "old times". Our country will get through this and I am looking forward to one day voting for our first openly gay president. God willing, it WILL happen.
Californians----NO on prop 8.

corranged · 10-31-2008, 01:29 PM

Great post, Donna. Being straight is always given, always the default. It's tiring, certainly. I am sure your son is having an interesting time being in an accepting college culture.

It's good to hear both spellings grey/gray are acceptable for the color! I've always just sort of picked one.

Bay · 10-31-2008, 01:34 PM

Quote:

for the record - my discomfort with the show had nothing to do with the same sex relationship - it was the gratuitous sex and the "TMI" feeling.

I didn't see the show (but this thread made me read the written description on the official website to find out what I missed), but PA Mom's feelings mirror my own. I don't have a problem with people of any persuasion having sex, and having that fact written into a story line. I find it odd, however, that so much of the viewing public apparently wants to actually see the characters engage in "the act" on the big screen. It makes me very uncomfortable, especially when I'm watching with my kids. I guess I'm not a voyeur.

DonnaL · 10-31-2008, 01:36 PM

Actually, corranged, he told me the other day that he's probably not going to any more meetings of the U of Chicago LGBT group (I forget what it's called -- Q in A, or something like that?) because about 80% of the people who show up are lesbians, and all they want to talk about are "lesbian issues." He feels left out!

billsbillsbills · 10-31-2008, 01:40 PM

You know what really ticked me off about Hollywood pushing this gay agenda thing??? It was when Branch fired Serena!! And she thought it was because she was a lesbian!! Dang - we had NO idea that she was one before that!! Sneaky sneaky Hollywood slipping a lesbian in right under our noses!!!

We're huge L&O fans in our house and ever since that episode, whenever someone does something out of left field we always say "is it because I'm a lesbian?" Sounds pretty funny when DH says it!

cartera45 · 10-31-2008, 01:42 PM

Now I'm lost - who are Branch and Serena?

Mary13 · 10-31-2008, 01:44 PM

cartera - Law and Order

corranged · 10-31-2008, 01:44 PM

Haha aww. I don't really go to the Q&A (Queers and Associates) meetings. The Q&A board used to be mostly men, and this year it's mostly lesbians. It changes every year. I think there's a gay men's discussion group, though, which he should check out. The discussion groups are usually pretty social.