De homosexuella rollerna

Om underordning och osynliggörande i TV-serier

Abstract

The article deals with female and male homosexual characters in 41 TV-series shown in Sweden from the 1970's until today. Most of them are American, British or Australian.

There were no gays or lesbians in TV-series before 1976. After that, a period followed with few, male and ridiculed characters. The 1990's however have changed much: today homosexuality is treated in a more realistic way, and there are more lesbians in TV-series.

The homosexual character is seen from a heterosexual perspective. He or she is often lonely, seldom shown other than surrounded by heterosexuals. The gay person is always a minority. As a result the gay character has to symbolize homosexuals, and homosexuality, in general. He/she has gay-related problems with his/her parents, at work, among friends; he/she gets gaybashed, becomes infected with HIV etc.

Most of the TV-series have been shown on commercial TV, even though public television as a special responsibility to present programmes with or for minorities. My conclusion is that Sveriges Radio/TV consciously has chosen to ignore homosexuality. This policy only mirrors that of the Swedish government, and other influential groups within society, such as the church.