Gay Reality Show 'Homophobic'

(Los Angeles, California) Fox Television spent most of Friday furiously backpedaling after a press release trumpeting its newest "reality" show was accused of being homophobic.

"It’s a heterosexual male’s worst nightmare: turning gay overnight," said the p.r. statement, trumpeting its new show "Seriously, Dude, I'm Gay."

"For one week a pair of straight guys will immerse themselves in 'the gay lifestyle.' Each will move into separate West Hollywood lofts, complete with three gay roommates, to experience what it’s like to live life as a gay man."

If they master each of their challenges, the press release says, they’ll stand before "a jury of their queers" which will declare which of the two guys they believe is actually gay, and that guy will win fifty thousand dollars.

"It certainly raises red flags about negative stereotypes," Stephen Macias the Media Director for the Gay and Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation told 365Gay.com.

GLAAD has asked for a copy of the tape of the show.

"The concern around the show is humor at the expense of the LGBT community," Macias said. "It's certainly not welcome when it's possible that it can be translated into physical harm against members of our community."

The network Friday issued an apology for the press release. "Our failed attempt at humor was ill-chosen and inappropriate." But, it has failed to address any of GLAAD's concerns about the content of the show.

The show is produced by the creators of “My Big Fat Obnoxious Fiancé” and is scheduled for Monday, June 7 from 8:00-10:00 PM ET/PT)

http://www.365gay.com/newscon04/05/051404Fox.htm

Im sorry but what do these people expect? I mean c'mon how many gay guys do you know that act like the QEFTSG men? If that isnt perpetuating a stereo-fucking-type what the hell is?

Still i suppose to some extent it shows that the pink dollar is as good for mainstream as it is in the porn business ;)

Regards,

Lee

Grrrr. Okay, I'm a gay man, and I do live in West Hollywood, but I live on the edge of West Hollywood in a little Russian neighborhood complete with little old ladies who sell bread on the corner. I don't have bleached blond hair, I don't get manicures and I have a nice little round budda belly. I own nothing from Prada, my apartment is an absolute mess right now and I have no idea what wine goes with chicken or beef. I'm love the fact that gay men often times are on top of fashion and culture and that Queer Eye has had such a positive impact on people, but for God's sake, we are not all like that. The idea of getting straight guys to act like gay guys and vice versa is utterly rediculous, because not all gay men are clones of Queer Eye and not all straight guys act like those doofuses on The Man Show. And the sad thing is, if they go through with this, the idea that all gay men are just like the people they will show on the TV show will be driving into people's minds. They will only show the most extreme and over the top gay men who are hamming it up for the cameras. And being that it takes place in what people call the "gay ghetto", will make it seem all the more realistic. And the sad thing is that there will be more than enough gay people who will take part in this, just for the money, and just to get on TV, regardless of the harm they are bringing to our community. That's what burns my ass more than anything.

Whew! Okay, I'm done. :)

The scary part about what Don just said is that my house is spotless, I have a great fashion wardrobe, and generally speaking I train at the gym three to four times per week!

and on the subject of chicken and wine ........

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Chicken takes to any number of wines, both red and white. But once you add other ingredients with distinct flavors, specific wine types and styles emerge as natural partners. Spicy dishes, such as Curried Chicken and Rice, need the balance of a round, aromatic and fruity wine. Tart flavors, such as Chicken Thighs with Malt Vinegar, call for an equally tart and intense clean-tasting wine. Rich cream sauces point to smooth-textured, full-bodied Chardonnays, but a slightly tart or tannic light red--say, a young Pinot Noir--would provide a pleasing contrast.

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Heh heh, right on ozmalegalleries! Please don't take my rant the wrong way. I'm not saying that these are not desirable traits and they certainly are a lot of gay people who are like that. I guess my feelings are that regardless if gay people are shown in a negative light or a positive light, the media always tries to portray us as a certain type of person. Like we are all really femme and cutsey, or we are all fabulous drag queens or we are all interior decorators. It still has an overall effect because it makes us seem less than human. And when the violence against us starts, the attackers have no restrait because they don't even see us as people.

I mean, I like Queer Eye, I think it's a great show. But you know, I take as many hints from it as the average straight guy. And I've known straight guys who dress better than me, can serve a kick ass dinner with the correct wine, and who have fabulous apartments. It's not about being gay or straight, it's about having particular interests.

Oooh, heavy stuff on a Monday morning. I'm ready to take on the world now, heh heh. :)

I've said it here before and I'll say it again.. the whole "Who is gay and who isn't presented as Entertainment" thing makes me want to break stuff.

There's something about the show that makes me burn..

First, you know that it'll include lots of shots of the guys freaking out that they have to kiss a guy (including lots of spitting and wincing.. driving home the idea that gay sex is gross), lots of horrified reactions of their family members driving home the idea that being gay is something to hide and be ashamed of.. something that will destroy your family) lots of images of the guys trying to "ACT" gay... acting feminine and shallow... driving home the idea that gay men are... well, feminine and shallow.

The last thing that really bugs me is that the whole point of this show is not unlike fear factor.. exactly how far are you willing to degrade yourself for money? Will you jump head-first into a pool of snakes, will you get covered in tarantulas, will you eat dog shit, or will you even stoop so low as to go out on a date with a guy?

I still... on a practically hourly basis... get mistaken for straight, and the rather homophobic things people will say when they're quite sure there's no gay people around would surprise many of the "visibly gay" guys. Shows like this will only perpetuate out-dated stereotypes and make it that much harder for gay people to come out... many of us here know that living in small areas especially, it's tough to find good gay role models, and this is only going to hurt.

I'll be back.. I need to go break something...

Okay, I had posted this as a reply to a similar thread somewhere else, but it fits here. These guys are going to have to come out to thier parents as part of the show. The fact that they are using the "coming out" process as entertainment just sickens me. It's one of the hardest thing for a gay person to have to go though and they will do this and say "just kidding, everything is okay, I'm not really gay, you can be happy again". They will probably show the relief and celebration of the parents afterwards, but then they will give some kind of politically correct statement about "if it really were true I would be supportive" crap. Grrr. :boom:

Don and Jasun...there are many reasons why I love you both...some that you have in common are your passions, compassions and insights into humanity. I'd like to add though that what bothers me most, not only about this upcoming show, but about portrayals of gay characters throughout the history of entertainment is not as much the effect these portrayals have on straight viewpoints as on our own.

Growing up as a gay man or woman is confusing enough; when you don't understand why you are so different, and are desperately searching for some identity to cling to, needing to feel not so completely alien and alone. It is these warped mainstream portrayals of homosexuality and everything that it entails that force our own community into disproportionately high statistics for substance abuse, suicide, self-degradation and overal self hate. The worst hate crimes of all are those we commit to ourselves. I know because, like many others, I've been there. It's far too easy to fall into a role that society has deemed appropriate for you when you don't have the experience or support of a community to show you how to define your own role.

I am grateful that there are many more programs available to glbt youth today, and that those numbers continue to increase. But as we fight to claim our rights as men and women, to teach our children how to love themselves and be proud of the people they choose to be, and to respect each others differences, we need to remember that this fight is best fought by living each day the best we know how. So many of you in this community show me that each day. Truly, it is in everyday life and common situations that I see God; in you and in myself. So I continue to work at becoming a better man, each day having a better understanding of what that means than I did the day before. It is our sense of self, as individuals and as a community, that will make us strong.

My heart is with you all today. Thank you for your place in my life.

Jasun, 123Jason and Don-Mike - i'm with you 100%.

let me ask this: how many people on this board watch this kind of show? i feel that using being gay or acting gay as entertainment is sick. in the straight world, lesbian sex is considered just another way to arouse straight men, and i feel sick with anger even writing about this.

i feel the same way about these tv shows. shows like queer eye may seem very cute to people, but is everyone here an effeminate interior decorator? does every man on this board have an impeccable sense of style and clothing and wines so good that no person would dare disagree?

shows like this make being gay seem less threatening but more clown-like. who i choose to care about, to love, and what community i choose to belong to should not be perceived as nothing more than a sick but funny joke.

Hey Don,

Didn't take it the wrong way at all just thought I would make the point that the stereotypes that they portray are just that.. stereotypes. I don't watch the shows myself, I think that they are neither based in reality nor accurate.

Allan

i guess it was only a matter of time before someone did a show like this....and i'm not surprised that it is fox doing it. Gay men and lesbians, like other minorities, have their own culture. From culture comes stereotypes, and sterotypes make such easy targets. I am constantly amazed at how television/movies can be so blatantly offensive when dealing with other lifestyles, and not see anything wrong with it.
the whole reality show thing is way out of control...are there even any sitcoms left on the air??

Desperate for attention Fox Television got more than it bargained for last week, and it's still licking its wounds after send out a press release filled with homophobic remarks.

The release, for Fox's new two-hour "reality" special, "Seriously, Dude, I'm Gay" defined the show as "a heterosexual male’s worst nightmare: turning gay overnight."

After being called to task by television columnists around the country, the gay media, and GLAAD, Fox sent out an apology. (news story)

Then the brown stuff really hit the fan at the network's LA home office. Someone said, hey we'd better have another look at the show.

What the Fox honchos saw, in the clear light of day, or at least in the aftermath of criticism, raised the hair on the backs of the necks of the network suits.

The show was ordered recut. Lines were chopped. A scene disappeared. And sources say it is still "a mess".

GLAAD had demanded a copy of the tape and the network agreed. Then there was a call to GLAAD saying there was "some reediting" going on and the tape wouldn't be available until this week.

"The fact the show had to be re-edited after heavy criticism of its announcement is a confirmation we have every reason to be concerned,” said GLAAD Entertainment Media Director Stephen Macias. “The sensationalistic and derogatory tone of the initial release gives any fair-minded person reason to question Fox’s judgment. While ‘Seriously, Dude, I’m Gay’ deserves to be judged on its own merit, Fox can be certain we will scrutinize this re-edited version carefully for defamation."

Talk about winning the battle but losing the war. Now they've guaranteed a gay audience just because people will want to see how offensive it is. And what kind of gay people would allow themselves to be part of a show like this in the first place? Grrr.

Oh, and can I just say how utterly awesome all you guys are. I'm with 123Jason that I'm very fortunate to have you guys around.

squish squish darling :crybaby: squish squish

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Originally posted by Ounique
squish squish darling :crybaby: squish squish

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Thats it we're gonna start calling you Eddie from now on LOL

Regards,

Lee

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Originally posted by Lee
Thats it we're gonna start calling you Eddie from now on LOL

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IS this another one of those "Gay" refrences I just plain don't get?


Hey.. maybe we could make a show called "Seriously, bitch, I'm Straight" and see how it goes over.

The first two contestants could be me and Chris...er...

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Originally posted by Jasun
IS this another one of those "Gay" refrences I just plain don't get?

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Its from Ab Fab :)

Regards,

Lee

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Originally posted by Lee
Its from Ab Fab :)

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duh... I suppose I'll have to hand in my gay card now...

Nah we'll let you keep it for a little while longer LOL

Regards,

Lee

I totally respect everyones opinion on this. But here are my thoughts, which are as you can probably imagine off this beaten path.

I enjoy reality shows. Queer eye was a novelty, but it wore off for me. I know for a fact I would watch this show if I was home at the time. Granted it wouldn't be something that I'd be racing home to watch.

If they have some cute str8 boys and some cute gay boys mixing it upand promising some hot man on man action but never delivering... can't be any worse then those damn gay coming of age indy films that I love to hate :)

but by giving the straight mainstream and christian right another view of gay people as funny but disgusting, it isn't really doing much to elevate gay people into the ranks of "people".

does every show featuring gay people have to do something for the gay community? well, there aren't many shows, so it couldn't hurt... if a white company put together a show that used the old ****** stereotypes, it would offend the black community. why is this different?