Poll: Should There be Gay Characters in Kid's Shows/Films?

[Irony's Acolyte]

Why not? If kids are exposed to normal homosexual relationships shown in a positive (or at least neutral) light at a young age they're more likely to accept them when they're older.

While there are obviously those out there that believe that homosexual activity is outright wrong, the only other reason why you wouldn't put a homosexual character in a children's cartoon is because it's "more adult". And to me there isn't anything more inherently "adult" in a homosexual relationship then there is in a heterosexual relationship.

So I say sure, let the gays into kids shows. I don't see any negative effects from doing so, in fact there might be some positive ones.

 

[Lilani]

this has been bothering me for a while, we have a community that is in a largely public agreement that there is nothing wrong with homosexuality, and yet, in kid's shows you'll often see male and female characters who are attracted to one another but never those of the same sex? and you can say "kids wont understand that" but i know for a fact that when i have kids, i certainly won't let them grow up under the delusion that only people of opposite genders can fall in love and get married!

so what are your opinions?

You seem to have figured things out just fine without growing up with children's shows that put up big, glaring signposts that say "IT'S OKAY TO LIKE A GUY IF YOU'RE A GUY." What makes you think the children of the future will need help with it? Between the Internet, TV, and the general public's more open dialog on homosexuality, I think there is plenty out there already these days.

In my opinion, it's not the job of children's shows to introduce them to sexuality, or provide any sort of social rhetoric. They're meant to entertain them and not encourage bad behavior. It's up to the parents to decide how they want to talk about sexuality, not the makers of those TV shows.

 

[BanthaFodder]

I'd say no.
Homosexuality, not being wrong is also not a child friendly topic.
As I would not want Sesame street having "Anal sex girl" or "Missionary position" guy. The orientation is irrelevant cause even a flaming queen can be a colorful kids show character.

But throwing around sexual orientation on a kids show, open minded or not before kids are even getting into that, sorry can't find that necessary unless it's now socially acceptable for big big to be teaching my kid about sex. Which I'll do myself thanks.

Clearly you won't be teaching them about it until their friends already have...

Wrong o chuckles, nice of you to try and TELL me what kinda parent I am or will be but FAIL.
Already taught her difference and she's getting the TALK at 10 as well as a nice screening of a live birth with as much screaming as possible.

But thanks, They say kids as young as 12 are getting into sex, so I already planned.

But if she sees a queer before the age of 18, she's grounded?

I believe what they mean is that the problem isn't with gay characters, but with characters on a childrens' show where sexuality is one of their defining traits.

for example, if you had a character on a kids' show who we later learn from the creator is gay, that'd be fine. but if you had a character on a show intended for kids ages 5-10 talking about their sexuality.... yeah, I can see people having a problem with that, gay character or no...

 

[JoeThree]

Sure, just treat them like heterosexuals.

 

[The Gnome King]

Of course children should be exposed to stable homosexual couples and love interests at an early age. You don't have to get into the physical aspects of sex at all - children are usually too young for that - you simply explain that some people love women, some people love men, and that there is room in humanity for many different kinds of love.

Kids usually accept simple, direct answers. "Daddy, why are they both men?" is best answered with a simple, "Because some men love each other, too. So do some women. It's a wide, wide world out there!"

It would also probably go a long way to get rid of some of the rampant hate, misinformation, and homophobia in society to have children exposed to normal gay couples.

Gay couples all around the nation (and the world) are raising their own children via artificial insemination (I've actually provided sperm for a child myself that I have no hand in raising because a woman - not my wife - wanted one)... and through adoption. Family doesn't mean mom, dad, and 2.5 children anymore. Hell, I have a standing order of protection out against my own mother. Family simply means that group of people you love and rely on.

 

[MrHero17]

I recreated the thread here [http://www.escapistmagazine.com/forums/read/18.273690-Poll-READ-FIRST-Poll-Gay-characters-on-Kids-Shows-2] because many ppl think gay=sexual... I also gave some examples in the thread, Hopefully it will go better than this one

The fact that people seem to be conflating gay with sexual was bothering me too.

I don't think there's anything wrong if one of the characters on a show has two dads or moms.

 

[Ritalynn]

In a kids show...kids are still thinking girls are icky...Dad's are teh coolest. what kid wouldn't want 2 dads? Why like girls when you can just like guys! guys are way cooler anyway!


Throwing ideals like that around small children would be worse than raising a kid to be psycho on religion, they might take it all kinds of different ways.

As someone who doesn't care if a person is hetero or homo, just keep any relationships out of a kids show. Focus on why it's a kids show... to teach.

 

[The Gnome King]

I'd say no.
Homosexuality, not being wrong is also not a child friendly topic.
As I would not want Sesame street having "Anal sex girl" or "Missionary position" guy. The orientation is irrelevant cause even a flaming queen can be a colorful kids show character.

But throwing around sexual orientation on a kids show, open minded or not before kids are even getting into that, sorry can't find that necessary unless it's now socially acceptable for big big to be teaching my kid about sex. Which I'll do myself thanks.

Clearly you won't be teaching them about it until their friends already have...

Wrong o chuckles, nice of you to try and TELL me what kinda parent I am or will be but FAIL.
Already taught her difference and she's getting the TALK at 10 as well as a nice screening of a live birth with as much screaming as possible.

But thanks, They say kids as young as 12 are getting into sex, so I already planned.

But if she sees a queer before the age of 18, she's grounded?

I believe what they mean is that the problem isn't with gay characters, but with characters on a childrens' show where sexuality is one of their defining traits.

for example, if you had a character on a kids' show who we later learn from the creator is gay, that'd be fine. but if you had a character on a show intended for kids ages 5-10 talking about their sexuality.... yeah, I can see people having a problem with that, gay character or no...

Why would they have to talk about sexuality at all? Children's shows show male and female couples falling in love all the time without delving into sexuality issues. What would be wrong with showing a homosexual or lesbian couple in love without delving into the issues of sexuality politics?

Children tend to accept love when they see it. They're actually much better than a lot of adults at that simple, innocent acceptance.

 

[floopdawoop]

Only if it's shown in an unbiased way, not shown as better or worse than being straight.

 

[Mullahgrrl]

Yeah, Why stop now!

Spongebobs not gay, he dates the ladies. Patrick and Spongebob are just best friends they say it all the time.

How about squidward?

 

[Zechnophobe]

this has been bothering me for a while, we have a community that is in a largely public agreement that there is nothing wrong with homosexuality, and yet, in kid's shows you'll often see male and female characters who are attracted to one another but never those of the same sex? and you can say "kids wont understand that" but i know for a fact that when i have kids, i certainly won't let them grow up under the delusion that only people of opposite genders can fall in love and get married!

so what are your opinions?

This is a good question, by which I mean I had to actually think about it before answering.

Er, my answer? Dunno yet. Still thinking to be honest.

 

[conflictofinterests]

Jesus Christ, if I had known when I was 5 that all of the things that I thought were wrong with me then were normal parts of being a human being SO MUCH trouble could have been avoided!!! Anyone who is against there being gays, bisexuals, asexuals, transgendered people, or anything else under the sun in children's programming obviously never lived through the fear and the shame of knowing that you'd never be one of those nice people living nice lives, unless you could change something THAT integral to who you are as a person.

It's not about discrimination and there not being enough other role models. It's about children being able to accept themselves for who they are.

Children being able to accept themselves for who they are? You know, I think there's no problem with showing it, but I find that kind of attitude bizarre. You think people couldn't accept themselves for who they were before TV happened? TV is hardly the way to get people to accept themselves for who they are, I'd rather hope parents found something besides TV to manage that for ther kids.

My parents at least never really considered I'd be anything other than a heterosexual woman, and never thought of talking to me about other possibilities or reassuring me that whatever I ended up being that they'd love me. And because they'd never considered it, it felt like they were pushing me to be something I wasn't. Television would help in those situations, where parents never think their kids might not be "normal," and it might help the parents explore and explain these possibilities with their kids, especially with the ones who just don't know how to frame these conversations. Yeah, it's not going to help with the parents who don't want their kids to know about other orientations on a moral basis and know what the shows are talking about, but it would definitely help otherwise.

 

[BanthaFodder]

I'd say no.
Homosexuality, not being wrong is also not a child friendly topic.
As I would not want Sesame street having "Anal sex girl" or "Missionary position" guy. The orientation is irrelevant cause even a flaming queen can be a colorful kids show character.

But throwing around sexual orientation on a kids show, open minded or not before kids are even getting into that, sorry can't find that necessary unless it's now socially acceptable for big big to be teaching my kid about sex. Which I'll do myself thanks.

Clearly you won't be teaching them about it until their friends already have...

Wrong o chuckles, nice of you to try and TELL me what kinda parent I am or will be but FAIL.
Already taught her difference and she's getting the TALK at 10 as well as a nice screening of a live birth with as much screaming as possible.

But thanks, They say kids as young as 12 are getting into sex, so I already planned.

But if she sees a queer before the age of 18, she's grounded?

I believe what they mean is that the problem isn't with gay characters, but with characters on a childrens' show where sexuality is one of their defining traits.

for example, if you had a character on a kids' show who we later learn from the creator is gay, that'd be fine. but if you had a character on a show intended for kids ages 5-10 talking about their sexuality.... yeah, I can see people having a problem with that, gay character or no...

Why would they have to talk about sexuality at all? Children's shows show male and female couples falling in love all the time without delving into sexuality issues. What would be wrong with showing a homosexual or lesbian couple in love without delving into the issues of sexuality politics?

Children tend to accept love when they see it. They're actually much better than a lot of adults at that simple, innocent acceptance.

that's more or less what I said in my other comment. there's a good and bad way a gay character can be handled.

GOOD: a strong, well-rounded character. just happens to be gay. maybe mentions it at some point/revealed by the creator of the show/etc.

BAD: "THUP GUYTH!!! OH EM GEE, DID YOU THEE GLEE LATHT NIGHT!!! DAH-RAH-MAAAAAH!!!"

*you can replace the BAD with the way Mr. Garrison acts on South Park after he realises he's gay ("hey Jimbo, ya wanna make out or somethin'?")

Good would be Dumbledore or Mr. Simmons from Hey Arnold.
Bad would be the kid from Glee (yes, I know he's gay irl, but the character is the classic gay stereotype: obsessed with clothes/etc, hits on anything with a Y chromosome, etc.

 

[omicron1]

As always in this sort of discussion, I would recommend examining the other side.

What this topic is suggesting, what many here seem to view as a right and proper course of action, is to take an open question and snap it shut - declare one side of the issue "right" and enforce that decision. Not through law, but through indoctrination of young children.

Turn the question around, then. Ask yourself this: Would you be OK with Christian doctrine becoming an integral part of public television? With schools teaching your children that God created the universe? That (insert Conservative political viewpoint here) is correct?
Or, to put a more general point on it, would you agree to let your children be inundated by beliefs that you do not hold?

If not, I would suggest you think long and hard about suggesting that similar things be done to other people's kids.

 

[Dexiro]

Gay people have fucking dramatic lives, they could probably increase the amount of subplots tenfold.

How about:
- Having to struggle with homophobic bullying or intolerance in some form.
- Trying to bring up the courage to ask another guy out, or dealing with the harsh reality that most people you like won't be gay.
- Coming to terms with your sexuality, denial etc.
- Bringing up the courage to come out to friends and family, and dealing with the varied reactions.

These can apply to a wide range of characters; kids, bullies, parents etc. And besides these storylines they function as regular characters.

Just to clarify, a gay character is not:
- Someone that dresses and/or acts effeminate.
- Has a lisp.
- Pushes their sexuality in peoples faces.
- Talks about guys and sex all the time.
- Or some cardboard cut-out that just hangs around for comedic value.

A gay character is the same as a straight character, only they like guys instead of girls and have to put up with all the crap surrounding that.

 

[cainx10a]

See no harm in having Gay parents. I will leave it at that, no expert in child development to see how relationships portrayal can affect them, whether it be hetero or homo.