There is no 'genuine' portrayal, the only genuine portrayal is that of a person, that's it, gay people aren't any different from straight people except for their difference in sexuality.

True. What I meant by "genuine" was "not camp" or "not stereotypical." Shows like "Will and Grace" for example are very stereotypical of the LGBT community.

You could also say, during the feminist movement, the most "genuine" portrayal of women in film/theater at the time. Since that was a time when women were stereotyped and dehumanized, it was appropriate. As it is now, for the gay rights movement.

To be fair, some stereotypes are true, and there's no doubting there are some absolute flaming queers around, some very butch lesbians and the such, but then, the same could be said about straight people and bisexual people, I know one guy who is a total girl magnet, but he's also the campest person I know (and that takes a lot considering some of those people).

I don't criticise Will & Grace simply because it was a show built on homosexual and sex jokes, bizzarely by poking fun at it, I felt it made homosexuality far more acceptable because I don't think it ever intended to dehumanise gay individuals. I mean, look at Scrubs, it makes black and white jokes with JD and Turk all the time, ditto with the Fresh Prince, and those shows didn't "dehumanise" said skin colours, they were just jokes.

I think the point is that unless something is outright offensive or intended to piss someone off (even half heartedly), you shouldn't take it so seriously, comedy is the only genre that is allowed to cross boundaries, and whilst people should know where the line is, it's certainly further than in other genres.

I loved Will and Grace! But it was the mold for many shows to come after it. Camp is a way to express oneself and be who one wants to be. I love films that address this like the Birdcage or Priscilla, Queen of the Desert, or even Rocky Horror. I never meant that it was a BAD thing, only that it was (for a while) the ONLY side of the LGBT community that people saw. I am by no means criticizing that, I just think it's interesting to see the different ways they are portrayed.

Will was somewhat camp at times, but generally if I met him, I wouldn't know if he was gay or straight without flirting, and some of his boyfriends came across as so straight that a 90 degree angle couldn't convince me otherwise ¬_¬

But I certainly understand your points and understand where you're coming from.

I love that show! I like Rent too.

I think Queer as Folk is the best! I watched The L Word too, but lesbians are boring! And Brian Kinney with Justin Taylor are so hot, real, loving.... I love it

i love all there shows...but my favorite would have to be Queer as Folk...they are all just sooo hot....

I've never seen the top one...so can't judge it...I love both Queer as Folk and The L word...but being a lesbian i can relate more to the L word so i voted for that :)

I think the most pure, genuine portrayal of love between two people of the same gender is Brokeback Mountain, if you haven't seen it, watch it.

i agree with robertchaseicu! That film shows the genuine affection two men can have with eachother :)

I love the l word and Queer as Folk and as a lesbian, I suppoose I can relate more to the L word, but I still find QAF more realistic.

I haven't seen more than two or three eps of QAF so I can't really judge...

but what I mainly love about tLw is its realistic feel...
the people in it aren't perfect, their hair isn't the same in every shot, relationships are messy, the lighting isn't too plastic and the characters don't sound or look too different from actual people.

:)

i like what benji had to say that is a choice if you are gay or not and i choose to be bi

the l word 4 ever!!!!!!!!!

i loooooooooooooove that show!!!!!!!!

I like how in the Office Oscar being gay doesn't define him as a character (even though Michael tries to make it that way)

"but lesbians are boring!"

I'm afraid I have to disagree with ya there.

lol i knw how are lesbians boring?? and RENT 4 LIFFEE :)

Love that show!!!! =D!

A bit OTT at some times but yes lol.

It's the only movie with homosexual relationship I know of...
XD

love it

I think Sugar Rush is a more genuine portrayl of homosexuality in the UK :)

This is my absolute favorite movie. It so well done and it really shows the true meaning of love. If you haven't seen it please please please watch it!!! Warning:you most likely will cry at one or another in the movie

Oddly enough I would have to pick Will and Grace then see how some react to it. I honestly saw more to it than the stereotypical gay themes and sex jokes. I saw, for once, a show that showed a homosexual man in a profession that did not deal with theater or drag. Granted they did show that in Jack, but I think Jack was like a door to show Will. A gay man who is lawyer and his relationship with girl whom he loves dearly "just not in that way." (I actually had a gal pal that I refered to as my "Grace", unfortunately she got into drugs and she distanced herself out of my life) I think it was a building block that led to more diverse portrayals of the LGBT community. I think each show has a side to show of our community and they really should be all viewed together to get a understanding of what LGBT is all about. Now that I think of it; I am surprised, even at myself, that no one mentioned "The Laramie Project" (sorry if I mis-spelled) or "And the Band Played On". Which showed some of our struggles with prejudice and HIV. I love QAF too and it had some good and bad views as well. The thing is, like it or not, like any other community we do have our flaws. After all, despite what some Bible thumpers may think, we are only human.

Will & Grace. Because it showed me when I was younger that it was okay to be yourself.