Week 8 Sexual Minorities in the media

The modern lesbian celebrity couple has evolved from a lifestyle into a pure spectacle for the male gaze. Lindsey Lohen and girlfriend Samantha Ronson seem to have a relationship revolving around their need for a different kind of publicity. The media treats their relationship like a fun little game, and there have been virtually no negative publicity around them. The following are the recent headlines depicting their lesbian relationship:

Lindsay Lohan to Convert to Judaism for Samantha Ronson

Lindsay Lohan and Samantha Ronson Plan Wedding

Lindsay Lohan and Samantha Ronson go shopping for lingerie on the Kings Road

These kind of headlines would not be the case in a similar gay male couples relationship. Media has not taken kindly to gay male relationships which further stigmatizes the relationship in society. Headlines in popular culture magazines contain virtually no mention of gay male relationships.



The famous kiss between Madonna and Bri tney Spears at the VMA's portayed to onlookers that we are now accepting of lesbianism as pure spectacle. It is for pure entertainment value, and in this case was rehearsed in depth. The fact that there were 3 females making out on stage, (Christina Augulara as well) and it was broadcast across the US shows the acceptance that we have for lesbianism for a show. We would never see 3 men making out on stage as part of a dance routine spotlighted in such a way.



Why Can't A Kiss Just Be a Kiss?
He Locked Lips in 'Milk,' Now He Should Zip 'Em

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/12/08/AR2008120803777 _pf.html

This article in the Washington Post exemplifies Hollywood's, and in turn mainstreams ideas of how gay display of affection is handled. Through the ensuing talk show interviews James Franco is asked m any times about the kiss between him and Sean Penn. The tone of the questioning is always of great distaste and concern at the act of men kissing. This general discomfort around the homosexual kissing scenes can be a spectacle for many talk show hosts and crititcs, but the underlying messages are devastating to the g ay community. The progression that has been made with gay rights is immediately discredited when one examines t he real lack of acceptance that society shows.

Transvestites in the media have always been inaccurately portrayed. There are virtually no television series that depict an honest image of a transvestites ability to have a "normal" or decent lifestyle without being the butt of a joke or a spectacle.

"transvestites in the media are just comical gay men who happen to wear ill-fitting ladies' clothes all the time. In the case of Transvestic Fetishists, it will usually be an uptight banker who is suddenly revealed to have ladies' clothing under his business suit. How embarrassing."
(http://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pmwiki.php/Main/Transvestite)

"It's been said (only partially in jest) that the difference between British and American comedy is that the British think the funniest thing in the world is a man in a dress."
(http://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pmwiki.php/Main/Transvestite)

There has been very little social stigma related to women wearing mens clothing wihtin the past 50-60 years. Although historically this was against societal norms, ie.) women not being allowed to wear pants. Transvestites have been targeted with strict societal gender dress norms, and women have been excluded. I believe this often results from mens arousal of seeing women in mens clothing.