By Kellly Keleman and Shamara Jones, TV.com
08.26.2011
There have always been stereotypical gay and bisexual depictions on our screen – but sometimes TV shows have broken the mold, giving us characters who are people first and gay or bi second. Here are our favorites, current and past.
CHARACTERS ON AIR NOW
the book series hinted that Renly was gay, but in the show he is seen being shaven by shirtless Loras – who later goes down on him. Though this relationship is still young in its development, it’s the medieval times we’re talking about. At least we know that any gay character in a medieval production couldn’t go around on shopping sprees, being fabulous. That would just be weird.
Max, played by Adam Pally, is a sloppy individual who is considered a “bro.” He’s chunky and unambitious – worlds away from the stereotype of a finicky, neat, overly organized gay man.
Alicia’s younger brother Owen (Dallas Roberts) is a math professor, not an interior decorator or fashion designer. While some gay characters don’t wind up dating much in their shows, Owen is rumored to be getting a boyfriend in the upcoming fall season.
Cam Tucker (Eric Stonestreet) is a hefty, ex-offensive lineman for a university football team and avid sports fan. Yes, he’s on the fey side, but he and his partner have an adopted daughter and a stable home life – they’re not picking up strangers in a park.
John (Michael Cudlitz) is a hard-nosed police officer who hangs with the best of ‘em on the mean streets of gang-infested South Los Angeles. If someone told you a gay cop was on the way to the rescue, you’d probably assume it was your bachelor party.
Oscar Nunez plays Oscar Martinez on NBC’s The Office – he’s a character who had to come out of the closet for anyone to really know he was gay. An accountant who wears a generic suit and tie, Oscar doesn’t outwardly exhibit any gay traits at all. He even made reference to dating a woman at one point, and when asked who he’d do, responded “Pam.”
CHARACTERS THAT ARE NO LONGER ON THE AIR
Kevin (Matthew Rhys) is a lawyer and married. At the start of the show, he was already out to his family and coworkers, allowing him to really blend in with all of the other heterosexuals around him. He was treated like an equal (and his relationship is accepted in his family) and isn’t flamboyant.
Omar is a thug. A gangster. He steals drugs. He carries a gun. He wears a trench coat. Homophobia is a misnomer, not because people are afraid of gays, but because they don’t accept them. Omar is a gay character (played by Michael K. Williams) that others are literally afraid of. How many gay people do you know that you find terrifying?
Brian (played by Brian Posehn) seems to identify as a bear: he is husky and hairy (though he’s also generally not well kept). However, he is also nerdy and a metal-head, characteristics which make his gayness anything but obvious. His partner Steve (Steven Agee) is a video game addict. From the outside, they look like two straight dudes who hang out.
Played by Victor Webster, Caleb Brewer is stereotypically Aaron Spelling promiscuous, but he doesn’t mess around with HGTV and frou-frou drinks; rather, he is a hunk who enjoys sports, Scotch and cigars.
Played by Kerr Smith, Jack was not one to fit into any overtly gay stereotype. He spent a lot of time reflecting upon who he was and coming to terms with being different. He is a jock – and it was nice to see a gay character portrayed like that.
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