Any LGBT Characters? — Page 2

I completely agree that most shows have a romance in the center, heck, forget shows, the majority of everything in art and pop culture has a romantic relationship in the center.

I guess what I didn't say very well was, does that mean that all of the other characters in the show are straight as well? Like, even if a show is about a central heterosexual romance, if the sexuality of other characters isn't addressed at all, how much do we fault the writers/directors for not specifying or even indicating that certain characters are LGBTQ? Obviously in the handful of shows (usually plays) that don't involve romance at all, it's a more interesting question, but I wonder if we shouldn't assume someone's sexuality in real-life, how far does that extend into the arts? Does the responsibility to showcase and represent marginalized peoples supersede the normal hesitation to assume?

I don't have an answer, this thread just got me thinking.

The gay plotline in In Transit was so "been there, done that" that it made me want to rip my eyes out.

I always assumed Colonel Pickering was gay. "Confirmed bachelor" was a long and beloved code word for gay, up there with "companion" and "family."

Summing up the thread I'm seeing LGBT characters as:

Leading roles in: Falsettos, Significant Other, Indecent, Six Degrees of Separation
Supporting roles in: In Transit, Come from Away, War Paint, The Glass Menagerie
Comic relief: Holiday Inn, Sunset Blvd. Present Laughter (?)
Possible Chorus Members: The Great Comet, Miss Saigon, Groundhog Day

Off Broadway also saw leading gay/bi male characters in Gently Down the Stream and Kid Victory.

So it's not the best season but it's not the worst. Is there any LGBT subtext among the musicians in Bandstand?

Updated On: 4/30/17 at 11:29 AM

BroadwayStar4 said: "So it's not the best season but it's not the worst. Is there any LGBT subtext among the musicians in Bandstand?

I would say, it's the worst. It sucks that in this day and age, especially on Broadway, that LGBT people are still reduced to comic reliefs, background characters, and subtext crap. "

Sadly, this is extremely true, and it's broadway for chrissakes!!

Call_me_jorge said: ""Rubbing nipples with delight" I'd say dear Evan Hansen has some gay character, although it's not known for sure.

I contend that Jared is gay. He certainly seems to be obsessed with bringing to the forefront every possible gay nuance in the Even-Connor relationship.

"

Wait. A season with Significant Other, Falsettos, and Indecent- works explicitly built on LGBT themes- is the worst for representation?

Those shows are great. But just 3 shows is not enough, it's way too low. And it's been that way for a very long time. Every season, it's always the same: I would guess over 80% of shows don't feature the existence of LGBT people. I thought this year would be different. I thought things would get much better as the years go by, but there hasn't been much of an improvement at all; it's almost static. Don't get me wrong, I think Broadway is miles ahead of Hollywood when it comes to LGBT inclusion, but they could do much better than this. They really can.

Some would argue that the lack of representation is progress. I don't know if I'll explain this well, but as being gay becomes increasingly more accepted and part of the mainstream, as out politicians make news, and more actors come out, and we hear gay-related stories nearly nightly on the news, perhaps the theater community sees less a need to help society hold a mirror to itself and show positive views of homosexuality.

PatrickDC said: "Some would argue that the lack of representation is progress. I don't know if I'll explain this well, but as being gay becomes increasingly more accepted and part of the mainstream, as out politicians make news, and more actors come out, and we hear gay-related stories nearly nightly on the news, perhaps the theater community sees less a need to help society hold a mirror to itself and show positive views of homosexuality.

"

I love this way of thinking though I'm not quite sold on if it's true. I have no problem with the LGBT representation this season.

Some would argue that the lack of representation is progress. I don't know if I'll explain this well, but as being gay becomes increasingly more accepted and part of the mainstream, as out politicians make news, and more actors come out, and we hear gay-related stories nearly nightly on the news, perhaps the theater community sees less a need to help society hold a mirror to itself and show positive views of homosexuality.

Then at this rate, soon there won't be any LGBT characters at all. And that's problematic. LGBT stories should be told - not to help straight people understand homosexuality - but to present that LGBT people exist in this world and they have stories to tell too (and not all of their stories have to be about AIDS or homophobia). I mean, straight people are everywhere, do we really need another straight romance forced into every show? We need some gay love around here! Hollywood is too chicken**** to make a Disney movie about two gay princes, so why can't Broadway make their own? Let's try that idea for starters!

I'm aware of the commercial entity, but that's not the point I'm trying to make here.

MrsSallyAdams said: "Off Broadway also saw leading gay/bi male characters in Gently Down the Stream and Kid Victory."

HOMOS (or everyone in America) with Michael Urie and Robin De Jesus was also pretty darn gay.