Is being gay becoming more acceptable?

[bigvern]

Was in the pub earlier with a couple friends,my bestie (woman) & a lesbian couple & we were talking,up until a year or so ago I was scared of coming out because of family & where I live.
My bestie said her hubbie doesn't mind that we go out as I'm gay & if I wasn't he'd be jelous.
When I came out to my ex military trade,the support I got was basically they were all behind me,which was something I wasn't expecting as when I was in the air force,being gay was a taboo that could wind me up in jail.
The lesbian friends didn't mind & offered to fix me up with a friend of theirs...
So is being gay starting to be seen as more socially acceptable?

 

[gb2000ie]

It is in most of the western world - it doesn't seem to be in much of Africa though, and I'm not sure about the rest of the world.

B.

 

[W!nston]

While public attitudes in Western countries seem to be less openly hostile to Gay people I think there is still an uneasiness for many people even if it goes unspoken in public.

I think we need to be more visible and be willing to deal with any negativity that may come our way for it.

I wish there were more positive Gay messages in pop culture media. We need more images that show us kissing and holding hands without fear. That would help us move past some of the stereotyping and show us as an integral part of society.

There was a positive scene on The Walking Dead in the most recent episode. The new character 'Aaron', who is Gay, was re-united with his partner, Eric, after a night full of zombie attacks. Eric had a broken ankle and Aaron gave him a very loving mouth to mouth kiss and embrace. It was very well done and it seemed as natural as any man kissing a woman scene. There was no display of revulsion by any of the other characters who watched the kiss. It was just natural and they all seemed to empathize with the Gay couple. This is the sort of natural displays of affection the public needs to see.

My nephew who has spent much of his life with my partner and me watched the episode with us. He is no homophobe and he is as straight as an arrow. When the Gay couple kissed he turned to me and said "Well, that's it for that show". I knew what he meant. Every TV show we've ever watched that showed a Gay couple being affectionate without any repercussions has been canceled shortly there after.

That is what we need. More pop culture with Gay couples shown as affectionate in a natural way instead of some comedy or melodrama.

 

[Urban]

IMO there's no question that being gay is now seen as just another facet of a person's life, at least in the West. Of course, extremely conservative places in the West are still hostile to gays and probably will be for some time; it seems that, as the rest of the West moves toward general acceptance, the more conservative places are becoming more reactionary, or maybe their hostility is just becoming more open.

As far as TV shows in the US are concerned, I disagree about gay characters being a kiss of death. Scandal & How to Get Away with Murder are both extremely popular shows currently on broadcast networks, and the gay sex on the latter is pretty hot for American broadcast TV; Hit the Floor introduced a gay storyline last summer, and it was well received.

My observation about all 3 of these shows is that I think of them as "women's shows", more popular among women than men. For years it's been known that straight men love watching women have sex; I'm thinking that it's now becoming apparent that women like watching men have sex too, as evidenced by some female members of our forum.

 

[Otage]

I agree that we need more visibility in a sense of everyday normal life in media. But one thing that put's me off, is the way how all the guys are showed as stereotypes, like very feminine, squeeky voiced etc. I would like more divercity to the image. But I do my part by being open myself, just as I am

I just hate it, that when some new acquintance gets to know about me being gay, they always start to assume things... I mean I don't give a damn about sofa cushions, so why they ask?! (well except this really cool one I found and had to have, but that has been the only ever sofa cushion I have ever thought to be interesting enough looking to be let occupy seats from actual people)

But we have to also remember to be happy about what have been accomplished, I mean I haven't really never encountered really bad homobhobia towards me. I actually heard more about it when people thought I was straight. But Finnish people always show true emotions only at home, so being openly gay, they won't dare to risk causing a scene:thumbs up:

 

[jw4833]

Actually, I think its still needs a lot of improvement in the acceptable area...the way I see it is that you have certain celebrities who have came out but the majority of them has already reached some sort of status/achievements/stability/ in their lives and the mass audience tend to be supportive and acceptable due to this. For example, you look at celebrities like Ellen, Rosie O'Donnell, Neil Patrick Harris just to name a few. I've always thought that initially...the public gave Ellen and Rosie such a difficult time when it came to accepting them. In fact, Ellen was blackballed for so many years which resulted in her not being able to get work in films, TV, etc. and now she's a major celebrity and I also think that a lot of people gravitate to her due to her TV show and how she gives away awesome gifts, prizes, and she helps out a lot of individuals who are financially struggling and give away cars, etc. I hate to say this...and some may disagree with me but I truly believe that a lot of her acceptance comes from her being so giving and generous. Rosie did the same thing when she had her show. Therefore, what I'm trying to say is that in Hollywood...gay celebrities are acceptable in recent years..but that's not the same acceptance that an average, every day gay individual receives in the real world. For instance, I live in a small, suburban community which is known as the little Gay town by the lake. Over the years, this little community is where a lot of gay people and couples would move in because the lifestyle was being embraced as well as community businesses, shops, restaurants, etc. are operated by gay owners.

Unfortunately, in recent years, although there is still a vast amount of diversity, as of late, there are people from the eastern region of the state that have migrated to this little community and a lot of them are very closed minded and homophobic which resulted in all the gay clubs/bars, businesses, etc. heavily securing the properties from vandalism, etc. In conclusion, I can say honestly say that accepting has improved over the years, nonetheless...we still got a long way to go in a lot of areas outside of California, New York, and a few others.

 

[OLMPKY]

Most people are still against gays around here.

 

[cban]

I don't need acceptance, just equality and the right to live the way I want without fear or threats.

 

[Urban]

I agree that we need more visibility in a sense of everyday normal life in media. But one thing that put's me off, is the way how all the guys are showed as stereotypes, like very feminine, squeeky voiced etc.

Interesting that you say that, Otage, because none of the characters in any of the shows I mentioned above is at all effeminate (I haven't seen "Scandal", so I'm not sure about that one). One of the new gay characters on "The Walking Dead" is a bit effeminate, the other is not; and, given that show's mortality rate, how long they'll stick around is anybody's guess. A criticism I've heard about the character on "How to Get Away..." is that he's stereotypical in being very promiscuous, but so are a pile of straight characters on TV today.

And BTW, the celebrities mentioned by jw4833 are all on the straight-acting side too. I tend to think that what's becoming more acceptable are non-effeminate (male) & non-butch (female) gay people. The effeminate & butch types are still at least partially rejected, subject to mean jokes, etc.

 

[Otage]

Interesting that you say that, Otage, because none of the characters in any of the shows I mentioned above is at all effeminate (I haven't seen "Scandal", so I'm not sure about that one). One of the new gay characters on "The Walking Dead" is a bit effeminate, the other is not; and, given that show's mortality rate, how long they'll stick around is anybody's guess. A criticism I've heard about the character on "How to Get Away..." is that he's stereotypical in being very promiscuous, but so are a pile of straight characters on TV today.

And BTW, the celebrities mentioned by jw4833 are all on the straight-acting side too. I tend to think that what's becoming more acceptable are non-effeminate (male) & non-butch (female) gay people. The effeminate & butch types are still at least partially rejected, subject to mean jokes, etc.

Well I'm glad to hear that, since haven't seen any of the shows, except for Walking Dead, which I think got boring after two seasons:whew: I was thinking maybe these teen shows like Glee etc. Don't really watch lot of shows anymore, I have so many other things to do

And of course the most visible part of gays in everyday life are those, who everyone can spot from mile a way, that hey that dude is obviously gay. My broblem isn't the way they are, but the generalisation many people make based on that. I say I'm gay, suddenly in their eyes I turn into somenthing I'm not. But that's their broblem, not mine. To me it's just a sexual orientation, not a dress or life style code.

 

[tylercook4]

I certainly think that it's becoming more accepted in the world. Although, I still get judgment in my own town.

 

[CUBBYJR1]

I think it a toss up.Although Yes it is but I think a lot of people feel it being force on them to accept it. A lot of them maybe okay about it in public but personally they are against it.

 

[bigvern]

Thanks for the thoughts guys
you know what,I've never been happier since I came out,I feel like a massive weight has been lifted from me,only downside is NI is still not accepting us fully for what we are & until that happens we'll never be fully accepted.

 

[Shelter]

I think it a toss up.Although Yes it is but I think a lot of people feel it being force on them to accept it. A lot of them maybe okay about it in public but personally they are against it.

I think you are totally right! :agree::agree::agree: