Tell Us The TV And Movie Tropes You're Tired Of Seeing In Stories About LGBTQ+ People

[Behind the Aegis]

As Pride Month approaches, it's the perfect time to reflect on how far we've come in terms of LGBTQ+ representation on screen and how much further we still have to go.

So I've come to you, the BuzzFeed Community, to humbly ask which TV and movie tropes relating to queer characters and stories you think should be retired to the Great Trope Graveyard in the Sky.

Maybe you're sick and tired of bisexuality being treated as "just a layover on the way to Gay Town," as Carrie put it in an episode of Sex and the City, or asexuality getting outright ignored by pop culture.

Or perhaps you dread putting on a movie and discovering a one-dimensional Gay Best Friend™ whose only narrative purpose is to provide sassy commentary and emotional support for the straight main characters.

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Or you can share here...

For me, I am tried of gay relationships almost always being an "afterschool special" deal. Another one I hate is the gay character always going after the "unattainable" guy/gal. I am really sick of "inclusion" meaning a gay character is in a relationship that we NEVER see or get a token, "here you go". Think "Star Trek." I am really sick of our community being used to check off other diversity quotas.

What are some you have issues with?

[wryter2000]

1. I want to see the answers

I write romance and would like to get away from male/female, but I don't want to insult anyone.

P.S. I hope I've worded this in a sensitive manner. If II haven't, I'll happily delete it with an apology.

[Behind the Aegis]

2. I am not sure I understand.

If you are writing solely about LBGT people, then that could be another set of issues. This is more about how we are portrayed in predominantly non-gay movies and TV. But, I think this could be a good place to ask us what we see as problematic in LGBT themed stories.

ETA: Your response was fine and respectful!

[wryter2000]

3. that's exactly what I'd like, if people don't mind

[Behind the Aegis]

4. While I can't speak for everyone, if you'd like create another post.

I am familiar with some of your posts and I think you will likely not offend people here by asking. Explain what you are planning, why you are asking, and what suggestions we might have to make your story more honest and real to our lives. While one can't make everyone happy, if you don't ask, you'll never know.

[wryter2000]

5. Thanks

I think I will. I’m doing some writing now and don’t have time to properly care for a thread

Our music director at church read one of my m/f books. He liked the idea that I might write two men falling in love, so I’ve been thinking more and more about the idea.

[TlalocW]

6. As a cis White male, this might sound weird

But it's the same issue I have with certain Black characters - "the magical Black/gay person" who has otherwise unattainable worldly wisdom, and they have nothing better to do than help out us dumb white people as if we're the biggest priority in their lives.

I just want one movie where the gay character is a real asshole and wrong about everything to shake things up. I think if done right, it would be a fun satirical commentary on dominant movie tropes.

TlalocW

[The Mouth]

8. Well, there's Baron Harkonnen

An asshole on a galactic scale. Pretty campy in the Lynch 1980's Dune, but might be really good in the newer version. Gay, brilliant, really mean, very devious, and at least in the book his preference for men(well boys) is an interesting plot point as a faction needs to get his genetic material for their breeding program and the inheritance of a planetary empire depends on who succeeds him...

Def an asshole, not 'wrong about everything' but evil in a creative and powerful way. Nothing was made of his sexuality in the first part of the movie but it will be in the second.

[TlalocW]

9. Oh, man... forgot about him

Mainly because I hate Dune with a white hot passion. It was such a slog to read.

TlalocW

[Norton Nork]

7. What about Ice Station Zebra (1968)?

A Cold War thriller with a valiant but flawed gay submarine captain.

OK so it doesn't pass the Bechdel test.