Even a fairly gay-positive film such as Mike Nichols' The Birdcage (1996) relies heavily on the humor of the stereotypically mincing, self-absorbed, effeminate, funny gay man played off against the masculine, gay "straight" man. Though there is enough reality behind the stereotypes to elicit laughs from gay audiences, neither image reflects much depth. Straight audiences learn little about the queer experience from these depictions, and too often the characters serve to perpetuate the stereotypes they demonstrate.

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The good-natured stereotyping of a television show such as Queer Eye for the Straight Guy (2003) is benign enough, but it plays off some unpleasant stereotypes of gay men as neat freaks and fashion mavens.

Conclusion

Stereotypes, in general, foster prejudice and discrimination. Decisions are often made about individuals based on their membership in groups. When the stereotypes of the groups are negative and inaccurate, as they are for glbtq people, the potential for damaging individuals is all the greater.

Perhaps equally damaging, stereotypes may also be self-fulfilling prophecies, especially for young queers just coming out. Having internalized the stereotypes, they may think, for example, that to be a lesbian, one must be hard and anti-male or that to be a gay man one must be flighty and bitchy. Although such stereotypes are inaccurate and one-dimensional, many glbtq people have attempted to conform to them in efforts to find their niche in the queer subcultures.

American television sitcoms have consistently reflected the presence of gay, lesbian, bisexual, and transgendered people, often in distorted and stereotyped ways, but occasionally in ways that acknowledge our humanity and complexity.

Homophobia was originally defined as a "dread of being in close quarters with homosexuals," but it is now sometimes used to describe any form of anti-gay bias.

Beliefs and actions described as misogyny range from intense hatred of women to a more subtle disdain that considers women as inferior beings who must be dominated by men.

The question of whether glbtq people in the United States are protected from sexual harassment under federal law has been a major issue for courts in the past 30 years.

As an academic field, sociology has only recently begun to examine sexuality, and members of the profession are divided over glbtq concerns.

Stigmas--physical or personal attributes and behaviors that discredit the individuals and groups who possess them--affect all glbtq people.

Highly-acclaimed actor Nathan Lane is not only openly gay himself, but has portrayed gay characters in several plays and films.