Straight Talk: An Analysis of African American Homosexuality in Film and Television since the 1990s

Abstract

This exploratory research used textual analysis to examine 14 films and three television programs with Black gay males as main characters attempting to identify inherent messages about gay males and Black homosexuality. Specifically, it examined narrative content for recurring themes across media texts. The analysis revealed five major themes related to the lives of Black gay males, and found a broad range of character types that reinforced and debunked stereotypes of gay males. The results call for more in-depth study focusing on additional films and television programs to enhance the discourse on how stereotypes are perpetuated and ways they can be changed.