Disney channel has never had any main characters in any of their TV shows have any sexual orientation other than straight. In Wizards of Waverly Place the main characters all have had numerous heterosexual relationships. Some of these are Alex and her werewolf boyfriend Mason, Max and Jenny, Justin and Juliette, and Alex again with Ricky.
While Disney channel centers around the relationships of many of their characters they claim they refuse to address sexual orientation in their shows because they don’t want to address sexuality in their shows. In fact by making so much of their shows about their characters love interests they are not only introducing sexuality, but a very narrow minded idea of sexuality.
In Hannah Montana the main focus of the show besides Miley’s secret is how she deals with all her boy drama. Also, in Austin and Ally a character named Dez who shows no visible signs of interest in the other gender is played off as weird and disliked by the some of the secondary characters. One of the ways that Disney create the idea that the main character (Austin) is cool is that he always has a girlfriend or a hoard of girls following him around.
The lack of difference in sexuality in Disney Channel TV shows reinforces the idea in children that to be accepted and popular they need to have an interest in the opposite gender.
I feel the big problem with this idea of homo-sexuality in TV is that people are paying too much attention to it. Like recently Michael Sam (openly gay football player), when he came out it made huge controversy. I think if people didn’t pay so much attention to openly gay people, then I don’t think having gay couples in TV wouldn’t be a big deal. And it isn’t, but I think Disney is trying to avoid future problems.
ReplyDeleteOne problem with this is that it would be difficult for Disney to portray any gay character without receiving harsh criticism for that portrayal. As there are many different types of straights, there are many types of gays. If a single gay character is placed in a leading role, Disney will likely be accused of generalizing gays in such and such a way.
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