This week's cover of Entertainment Weekly features a story on gay teens on TV. The article asks questions like:
"How did gay teens go from marginalized outcasts and goofy sidekicks to some of the highest profile -- and most beloved -- characters on the likes of 90210, Pretty Little Liars, and Skins. And more importantly, how is this affecting real-life teens still facing the daily high-school realities of bullying, discrimination, and ignorance?"and looks at the Glee character, Kurt Hummel who is openly gay and not alone:
"Jason Galisatus, a 17-year-old student ambassador for GLSEN, would be the first to agree with Murphy. 'I think that Kurt will become a historical figure in LGBT history,' says Galisatus. 'My friends talk about the episode where he came out to his dad. We all talk about how amazing that is and how crazy it must be to live in a conservative, Midwestern community and be able to be open about your sexuality. That’s very inspiring to all of us, and we can say, "Well, hey, if Kurt can do it, why can’t we?" Frequently, even if it is just a show, it does give us hope that coming out is not always a horrible thing to do.' And a little hope can often go a long way. The Trevor Project, which runs a toll-free suicide hotline for gay youth or those questioning their sexuality, has been receiving numerous calls from teens who have been moved to pick up the phone after watching relatable TV characters such as Kurt."
Is more gay character on TV a sign of more acceptance? Does this change things for GLBTQ teens in real high schools? When are we going to see a Die Hard movie where Bruce Willis fights terrorists to save his boyfriend?
Check out the magazine in the AHA library or look on Entertainment Weekly for more.
