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Gay men in soaps....will they ever show realism?


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Old 03-04-2014, 10:11
radyag
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I hate the way they show all gays as non sexual beings who are loiking for a man to love. What about one night stands? Take young jonny, in the biggest gayest city in the world, with tons of young horny gays online he could easily hopk up witn, yet he does npt. At least ste in hoaks shags everything in sight, wich is more real life.
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Old 03-04-2014, 10:13
Sez_babe
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I think Johnny's still coming to terms with his sexuality. He's only recently been comfortable to talk about it. I'm sure when he's more confident, we'll see him dating.

Finn in Emmerdale is interesting - he's very confident but we haven't heard about any boyfriends yet. Not every person wants a partner though. People can be single
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Old 03-04-2014, 10:20
_elly001
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Not all gay men are promiscuous and sex mad. Johnny is still young and has only just come out, plus he hasn't lost his virginity yet. It makes sense that he isn't shagging everyone in sight.

I do agree about soaps tending to show gay men as 'safe' and I hope that when Johnny does get a boyfriend it's actually a decent character who exists in storylines outside of the relationship. I still think Brendan and Ste, for all their faults, were the most exciting and complex gay couple we've ever seen in a soap.
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Old 03-04-2014, 10:22
Cuddly_Cat
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I think the Sean Tully stereotype in Corrie should go. I think gay characters should be treated the same way as straight characters, some are single, some are looking for love and some put it about. I think Finn in Emmerdale should hook up with a new character soon. I like him as a character, the scene where he pretended to seduce Val was hilarious. As for Jonny in Eastenders he has only recently come out. I don't think he would suddenly become promiscuous. He will find someone in his own good time.
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Old 03-04-2014, 10:35
dubgaz
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Finn in Emmerdale is a great representation of a gay man in soap. He is just another character in the show who is not defined by his sexuality. He just happens to be gay. Nothing more
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Old 03-04-2014, 10:38
cyrilandshirley
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I still think Brendan and Ste, for all their faults, were the most exciting and complex gay couple we've ever seen in a soap.
Me too, completely. Very multi-layered and pretty damn upsetting at times. Not just a gay storyline at all, but about an older dominant person (with massive hangups) getting involved with a younger guy who's just coming out. Kept me on the edge of my seat for over 2 years, and you can't say fairer than that.

I think Finn in Emmerdale should hook up with a new character soon. I like him as a character, the scene where he pretended to seduce Val was hilarious.
I really like Finn. I wonder a bit if they've given him a soft introduction by establishing him as a character before they put him with someone, get people used to him and liking him. I like that he obviously lusts after people in a normal way though, whether that's Andy, Declan, or Mr Cyclist in Lycra. Plus he went clubbing with Victoria - wish they'd shown him there instead of flipping Paddy and Marlon. (rolls eyes). Anyway, loads of potential for a no hang-ups, already out, established young gay character there.
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Old 03-04-2014, 10:39
broadshoulder
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He's slowly thinking about it

The problem now is his family and friends. He has to extricate himself somehow from them. Moving himself across the street to 'Alberts' is a first step. It gets him away from his interfering busybodies and mother who won't let go. Making a chum with Sharon and latter a boyfriend will help - Whitney is useless, she turns it around and makes it all ABOUT HER. She needs to see a psychiatrist about the effect men have on her.

Unfortunately in a soap the world is surrounded by families. Thats what it operates from. The kid needs to strike out on his own. Sharon is a firmer voice then Whitney and she knows the ropes. The others think "it is always a laugh" or "laugh at the queer" and treat it all as a joke.

He has to make the first move - but it is a long process and can take years. I am sure there is a god boyfriend out there somewhere.

Why aren't they making these signs with Tina? Shes more of a joke.
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Old 03-04-2014, 10:43
Sez_babe
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Finn in Emmerdale is a great representation of a gay man in soap. He is just another character in the show who is not defined by his sexuality. He just happens to be gay. Nothing more
Definitely - his degree in economics is mentioned more than his sexuality!
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Old 03-04-2014, 10:47
vaslav37
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Johnny will come into his own, he needs to date some guys first before diving into a relationship with a man.
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Old 03-04-2014, 10:52
little-monster
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I think personally i would of liked to have seen it be mentioned that Johnny may of experimented with Boys in the past. Apart from his kiss with Danny, he hasn't even been with a boy to even know his full extent of his sexuality. It's ok saying you fancy guys, but to be intimate with them is another step further into what I believe can confirm one's sexuality.
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Old 03-04-2014, 10:59
broadshoulder
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I think personally i would of liked to have seen it be mentioned that Johnny may of experimented with Boys in the past. Apart from his kiss with Danny, he hasn't even been with a boy to even know his full extent of his sexuality. It's ok saying you fancy guys, but to be intimate with them is another step further into what I believe can confirm one's sexuality.
You know when you like them both.

You know when you are Gay. You know when you are bisexual.

No mention of bisexuals has been made. He isn't interested in either. His dick only like dick.

I think the lesson of Danny Pennant has been learnt. . Pennant confused others and annoyed a few people. Lorraines foray into bisexuality didnt work -like alot of her run

I suspect they are lining up a few more surprises for Johnny.
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Old 03-04-2014, 11:08
Janet Plank
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And gay women. The representatation of lesbians in Coronation Street, with Sophie Webster's seedy conquests, the latest being the most grotesque, is shameful. I am not gay, but if I was I would be very insulted at being portrayed in this light.
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Old 03-04-2014, 11:09
little-monster
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And gay women. The representatation of lesbians in Coronation Street, with Sophie Webster's seedy conquests, the latest being the most grotesque, is shameful. I am not gay, but if I was I would be very insulted at being portrayed in this light.
Tina is a brilliant representation of a lesbian too be honest. Sophie isn't but she is a rare bad representation.
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Old 03-04-2014, 11:30
_elly001
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I think personally i would of liked to have seen it be mentioned that Johnny may of experimented with Boys in the past. Apart from his kiss with Danny, he hasn't even been with a boy to even know his full extent of his sexuality. It's ok saying you fancy guys, but to be intimate with them is another step further into what I believe can confirm one's sexuality.
I do find myself wondering about Johnny's past. We know he's a virgin but I wonder if he ever had any sort of 'innocent' relationship before moving to Walford? They haven't really discussed much about what the Carters were like before they moved; Nancy at least had Wayne, and still seems to have friends (Linda mentioned she was staying with a friend in an episode last week), but Johnny never talks about things like that. They could potentially bring in a love interest for him that he actually has a bit of a history with, like a former school friend.
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Old 03-04-2014, 11:52
TheGraduate2012
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I personally don't see why they should be portrayed as such. Johnny is like 19, so he's probably not going to be very sexually confident yet. i agree that there should be no differentiation between how gay and straight characters are portrayed, unless a storyline demands it. I equally hate when gay characters are potrayed as tortured souls.

Christian was pretty promiscious in EE.
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Old 03-04-2014, 11:55
little-monster
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I personally don't see why they should be portrayed as such. Johnny is like 19, so he's probably not going to be very sexually confident yet. i agree that there should be no differentiation between how gay and straight characters are portrayed, unless a storyline demands it. I equally hate when gay characters are potrayed as tortured souls.

Christian was pretty promiscious in EE.
But he was an awful stereotype. The actor was playing himself anyway
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Old 03-04-2014, 12:22
hsellors
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Marcus and Todd weren't represented as playing it safe! One look and the coats were off. That scene in the house viewing was so cringey.

I think Hollyoaks does the best job of representing gay characters, especially Ste. He's had relationships, fallen in love and had one night stands and his sexuality isn't highlighted constantly like Sean in Corrie.
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Old 03-04-2014, 12:23
gboy
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Finn in Emmerdale is a great representation of a gay man in soap. He is just another character in the show who is not defined by his sexuality. He just happens to be gay. Nothing more
I really like Finn - just an ordinary bloke who happens to be gay.

I also liked Paul Lambert when he was in Emmerdale, especially as the actor who played him objected to Paul being depicted as promiscuous - claiming this was an inaccurate stereotype of gay men.
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Old 03-04-2014, 12:24
Kim_x
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I hate the way they show all gays as non sexual beings who are loiking for a man to love. What about one night stands? Take young jonny, in the biggest gayest city in the world, with tons of young horny gays online he could easily hopk up witn, yet he does npt. At least ste in hoaks shags everything in sight, wich is more real life.
We learned back in January that Johnny is a virgin. He said he'd kissed both boys and girls but nothing more. He doesn't strike me as the type who would just want to get it over and done with, or to agree to the first experiment offered to him (Ben Mitchell.)
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Old 03-04-2014, 12:24
0...0
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I think the imagination of some on this forum makes up for it!

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Old 03-04-2014, 12:32
cyrilandshirley
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I really like Finn - just an ordinary bloke who happens to be gay.

I also liked Paul Lambert when he was in Emmerdale, especially as the actor who played him objected to Paul being depicted as promiscuous - claiming this was an inaccurate stereotype of gay men.
Paul was great. I didn't know that about the actor, that's so interesting.

Nice to see Finn showing how Emmerdale can still get this right, anyway.

I also used to love Ste in Hollyoaks, but I went off the whole show when they started sailing dangerously close to a stereotype with him, all GBF and helping girls to choose clothes. Cringe.
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Old 03-04-2014, 13:11
dubgaz
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Paul was great. I didn't know that about the actor, that's so interesting.

Nice to see Finn showing how Emmerdale can still get this right, anyway.

I also used to love Ste in Hollyoaks, but I went off the whole show when they started sailing dangerously close to a stereotype with him, all GBF and helping girls to choose clothes. Cringe.
Yeah that was pretty cringey alright. Also he was tangooed to within an inch of his life.
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Old 03-04-2014, 13:14
machobob
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Johnny, in my experience, is one of the most realistic portrayals of a young gay man in soap EVER. Not every gay is confident, promiscuous and just wants to have sex, sex, sex. I like how, so far, he totally isn't being defined by his sexuality. Which is how it should be.
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Old 03-04-2014, 13:18
bumpandgrind
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I think the Sean Tully stereotype in Corrie should go. I think gay characters should be treated the same way as straight characters, some are single, some are looking for love and some put it about. I think Finn in Emmerdale should hook up with a new character soon. I like him as a character, the scene where he pretended to seduce Val was hilarious. As for Jonny in Eastenders he has only recently come out. I don't think he would suddenly become promiscuous. He will find someone in his own good time.
Sean shouldn't be axed because he's camp. Camp gay men exist so he is a fair representation of that part of the gay community. I always find the claims that Sean is a stereotype and unrealistic rather odd. There are plenty of Sean types in society, as well as 'butch' gay men.
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Old 03-04-2014, 13:21
little-monster
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Johnny, in my experience, is one of the most realistic portrayals of a young gay man in soap EVER. Not every gay is confident, promiscuous and just wants to have sex, sex, sex. I like how, so far, he totally isn't being defined by his sexuality. Which is how it should be.
Spot on
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