With TV shows like Glee, Grey’s Anatomy, and Modern Family featuring gay, lesbian, and transgender characters, people are becoming more tolerant toward the LGBT community. In the beginning, some more-conservative viewers were concerned with this representation of homosexuality and spoke out claiming it made same-sex relationships seem “desirable.” Among the shows that portray homosexual couples, Glee earned te most backlash. Dan Gainor, representing the Media Research center said, “merely pretends to be a show for young people” while actually serving as an “assault on traditional values and morality.” But there has been a shift in tolerance and complaints have decreased significantly sincethe 2000s. Producers like Shonda Rhimes (Grey's Anatomy) and Christopher Lloyd (Modern Family) are shocked at how quickly public opinion has changed.
"In five separate studies, Mr. Schiappa and his colleagues have found that the presence of gay characters on television programs decreases prejudices among viewers of the programs."
"That warning would not appear today, as complaints about gay characters on shows like “Modern Family” and “Glee” barely ever bubble to the surface."
I'm overjoyed that this positive representation is changing the perspective on the LGBT community. State after state grows more tolerant, allowing same-sex marriage, and a main catalyst are these TV shows. I too am surprised at how fast opinion has changed and am hopefull that the influence of this representation continues to yield positive responses.
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