LGBTQ Portrayal in Media Report

This report examines the portrayal of the LGBTQ community in the media, analyzing its impact on social acceptance and equality. The research employs a qualitative approach, using interviews with journalists and secondary data from journals and online articles. The analysis reveals that while media has historically misrepresented the LGBTQ community, it also has the potential to promote acceptance and equality. The report concludes that media can play a crucial role in elevating the status of the LGBTQ community by raising awareness and promoting positive representation.

Social and Cultural
Geographies

TABLE OF CONTENTS
Topic-“Portrayal of LGBTQ community in the media”..................................................................3
INTRODUCTION...........................................................................................................................3
LITERATURE REVIEW................................................................................................................3
METHODS......................................................................................................................................4
ANALYSIS/RESULTS...................................................................................................................4
CONCLUSION................................................................................................................................6
References .......................................................................................................................................7
appendices/appendix........................................................................................................................8
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TOPIC-“PORTRAYAL OF LGBTQ COMMUNITY IN THE MEDIA”
INTRODUCTION
The media is considered as the biggest section of the country which represent many
things in such a structured manner whereby all information can be passed to the public.
Accordingly live of individual person is affected by television and media to a great extent. The
meaning of sexuality is created by media by portraying several kind of events and specific
incidents happened. This is helpful to understand the role of sexuality that how a person get
attracted towards the same or opposite sex (Hawkins, 2017). However, the history represent the
negative role of LGBT community in media due to intolerance of community. However, society
do not accept such kind of people due to different culture, values and assumption and they
discriminate with them a lot. It generally happens in North America and English-Speaking
countries. However, currently efforts are put by media to ensure the acceptance of such kind of
community in accordance with norms and set procedures (Misrepresentation in media portrayal
of the LGBT community, 2017).
LITERATURE REVIEW
The LGBTQ is community that is referred to a group of people that are lesbian, gay,
transexual, bisexual and queer. The societal acceptance of such individuals is quite less as
compared to people who are categorised as straight or homosexual. According to McInroy and
Craig (2017) LGBT individuals are generally considered as the criminal due to their involvement
in activities related to sex and they are not accepted in the society. For this purpose, they are
generally excluded. Such kind of aspects do not allow them to request for equality in community
and workplace both. Gillig and Murphy (2016) critically evaluated that LGBTQ do not have
proper right to ask for their equality because of their different role from society. Owing to this,
they have to suffer from higher level of discrimination. Though, the major issues related to
sexual activities are seemed to be the reason of such kind of community only. For example
problem related to AIDS highlighted the LGBTQ community as most of such kind of people
need to enter into such kind of profession. However, they remain at higher health risk due
involvement of sexual intercourse with number of people. Though, they are criticized a lot for
their such kind of activities and it is the major reason society do not accept them.
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McInroy and Craig (2015) reported that negative portrayals such as homophobic and
stereotypes reactions. This ruins their image and they do not find the safe place in the society.
For this purpose, media can play important role through supporting such kind of community and
requesting for their equal right in the society.
METHODS
The current research is more theoretical in nature and accordingly type of investigation is
qualitative only. It consists of several sources of information which aid to produce valid
information and meet the purpose of the study in an effectual manner. In this regard, both
primary and secondary data are collected so as to gather important information. The source
selected for collection of primary data is interview whereby 10 journalist are targeted for
collection of information. However, secondary data are collected from sources such as journals,
books and online articles so as to incorporate important information. Apart from this, purposive
sampling method have been selected whereby researcher can effectively target the respondents
who possess enough knowledge regarding the selected research issue.
The section of data analysis is completed with the help of thematic technique under
which themes are presented along with detail description. It leads to derive valid outcome and
assist scholar in meeting the research aim and objectives in the right manner. In addition to this,
reliability and validity of the current research have been ensured through application of right
kind of sampling method and data collected aspect. Moreover, the exploratory research design
has been applied to explore new insight on the basis of in-depth research. Apart from this,
deductive research approach is applied so as to focus on general information to reach to the
specific one. It leads to develop new theory and provide new direction to the research. In this
manner, selected research methodology is most beneficial in the completion of the current
research so as to accomplish the aim and objectives in the right direction.
ANALYSIS/RESULTS
The data analysis section of the current research project has been completed with the help
of thematic technique under which themes are presented in a structured form. All themes are
supported by evidence and information collected from respondents. This part has been completed
in the following manner-
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Theme 1: LGBTQ community is negatively represented in media
The information collected from primary data reflects that LGBTQ community was
represented negatively in media during the past year. It was happened due to negligence and
rigid approach of society. This aspect affected their right to a great extent as negative portrayals
shown in the form of homophobic and stereotypes. They quoted that LGBT is highly
misrepresented as they focus is laid on gay and lesbian character only through which other
character remain unrevealed (Craig and et. al., 2015). This creates issue for them and accordingly
they do not get the right to earn and live independently in the society. For example, the rationale
of AIDS was considered as the large existence of LGBT community. In this regard news
coverage showed that LGBT community is at fault and meanwhile they went one step back to the
equality by considering them as inferior for society. However, it leads to bring the education in
the school regarding the LGBT people.
Theme 2: LGBTQ community can be protected by using media only
The collected primary data reflects that LGBTQ community is being pressurized and they
are not provided equal right even at workplace and in community as well. Owing to this, the
issue can be raised into the media so as to raise the awareness among society. It is made possible
just because media has power to spread a news in faster manner. The impact of media industry
can be seen on government of nation and accordingly appropriate rules and regulations can be
formed for the protection of people (Kern, 2014). It has also been found that media can be reveal
that categories of LGBTQ so as to provide the equal right for all people. This is because most of
public is aware of major aspects such as lesbian and gay as well as transgender only through
society is unaware of other form of this community. Owing to this, media could help LGBTQ
group to get justice. It is just media must take everything positively. However, efforts are being
put to provide them justice by raising awareness for them. It would be effective to secure their
right and provide them independent life (Hollywood criticised for negative portrayal of LGBT
characters, 2017).
Theme 3: LGBTQ community is supported and promoted through the positive approach of
media
The collected from primary data reflects that LGBTQ community is supported and
promoted by media through which positive approach. However, media is highly responsible for
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growth and development of nation and accordingly all communities are highlighted. For
example, poor people are provided benefit from the end of government just because of the
highlights of media (Miller and Lewallen, 2015). It leads to cater their requirement effectively
and provide them some benefits so that accordingly they can manage their routine activities. In
the same manner, all kind of communities are taken into account by the media so as to ensure the
growth and development of the community in an effectual manner. The found that just because
of media LGBTQ people get visibility in front of large population and they started talking
openly.
Theme 4: Film industry is the perfect contributor of portraying LGBTQ community in
Media
According to the collected information, it has been found that film industry is playing
important role in portraying the LGBTQ community by assigning some role to them. It is helpful
to ensure the contribution and assistance of people related to the mentioned community. During
the year 2013 approximate 17 movies out of 102 were characterized by gay, lesbian and bisexual
as well as transgender from which 17 were portrayed in an offensive manner. This reflects that
industry is providing the opportunity for such kind of community still the equality is not being
ensured (Perry and Dyck, 2014).
CONCLUSION
The aforementioned report concludes that LGBTQ community is suffering from the
issues related to inequality and independent life as well as respect in the society,. IN this regard,
media can be quite helpful to elevate their status in the society. However, they portrayed
negatively in media due to issues related to AIDS and uncertainties exist among them with
regard to sex status. Owing to this, they are being excluded from the society and not provided
equal right. For this purpose, media can be assistive to promote their rights and provide them
secure position in the society. In addition to this, categories of LBGTQ can be presented well by
using the media and describing their status in a most effective manner so they can be treated with
respect even at workplace, society and school etc.
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REFERENCES
Journals and books
Craig, S. L. and et. al., 2015. Media: A catalyst for resilience in lesbian, gay, bisexual,
transgender, and queer youth. Journal of LGBT Youth. 12(3). pp.254-275.
Gillig, T. and Murphy, S., 2016. Fostering Support for LGBTQ Youth? The Effects of A Gay
Adolescent Media Portrayal on Young Viewers. International Journal of Communication.
10, 23.
Hawkins, J. M., 2017. Breaking Out and Going Beyond the Celluloid Closet: LGBTQ Media
for the Social Studies Classroom. Social Education. 81(3). pp.159-161.
Kern, R., 2014. Imagining community: Visibility, bonding, and L Word audiences. Sexualities.
17(4). pp.434-450.
McInroy, L. B. and Craig, S. L., 2015. Transgender representation in offline and online media:
LGBTQ youth perspectives. Journal of Human Behavior in the Social Environment. 25(6).
pp.606-617.
McInroy, L. B. and Craig, S. L., 2017. Perspectives of LGBTQ emerging adults on the
depiction and impact of LGBTQ media representation. Journal of Youth Studies. 20(1).
pp.32-46.
Miller, B. and Lewallen, J., 2015. The effects of portrayals of gay men on homonegativity and
the attribution of gender-based descriptors. Communication Studies. 66(3). pp.358-377.
Perry, B. and Dyck, D. R., 2014. Courage in the face of hate: A curricular resource for
confronting anti-LGBTQ violence. Responding to hate crime: The case for connecting
policy and research, 185-197.
Online
Hollywood criticised for negative portrayal of LGBT characters. 2017. [Online]. Available
through: <https://www.theguardian.com/film/2014/jul/23/hollywood-criticised-lgbt-gay-
characters-glaad>. [Accessed on 30th May 2017].
Misrepresentation in media portrayal of the LGBT community. 2017. Online]. Available
through: <https://voicesofutah.wordpress.com/2012/12/04/accuracy-in-media-portrayal-
of-the-lgbt-community/>. [Accessed on 30th May 2017].
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APPENDICES/APPENDIX
Question 1: How media is negatively portraying the LGBTQ community
Question 2: Do you think that LGBTQ community can be protected and promoted by using
media?
Question 3: How LGBTQ community is supported and promoted through the positive approach
of media
Question 4: Do you think that film industry is the perfect contributor of portraying LGBTQ
community in Media
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