To not understand why there is so much backlash against kids movies with gay characters these days?

[PennyRa]

It's all over the place these days, people "outraged", but 10 years ago there were kids movies with gay characters and you'd hear barely a peep.

Watched Happy Feet over Christmas and I'd forgotten the whole B plot was two gay shrimp having a domestic because it wasn't a big deal. Saw Strange World too but all I kept hearing about it was from homophobes throwing tantrums it seems like.

Indoctrinated into knowing gay people exist (and that's ok)?

The only person I know who comments is my mum and she also comments about there being more black people on TV now and even she's more threatened by change than raging .

Bigots think that just because kids know about gay people and gay characters they might catch it.

These people are idiots, obviously.

Where is this outrage I have heard nothing of?

It seems to just be nutters in FB comments. There are butters about everything.

Who are these "people "?

It's completely disingenuous to pretend there's no outrage about LGBT representation in popular culture.

Of course you may not encounter it IRL. I don't encounter homophobia at all IRL, because I have deliberately cultivated a social circle where no one would stand for it. That doesn't mean it doesn't exist in the wider world and it certainly shouldn't mean I can dismiss the idea it still exists simply because it's easier to ignore it, easier to pretend I don't need to take an active stance because "everyone agrees" these days.

I know multiple LGBT people who are estranged from their families because of the sexuality. All under 40. I've seen them get abused in the street and chucked out of cabs (in London!). Not a single lesbian or gay person I know holds hands in public. If you think homophobia doesn't exist in 2022 you're deluding yourself because you don't want to think about difficult things.

There is outrage over everything these days. Every single thing. The only way to escape angry frothing people is to not look online. Just live life enjoying the films that you like and trying not to spread negativity and prejudice to your kids.

I, for one, am utterly sick of it. Hopefully this will be the year that I finally wean myself of social media and sites like this one.

Homophobia has always existed and, on balance, is probably becoming less as society gradually becomes more diverse and accepting. But we get a false picture because of the vocal minority that rant and rage all over Facebook.

Is there any increase in people objecting? I haven't noticed.
I have noticed a huge increase in unease around drag clowns in sexualised woman face being added to all sorts of TV for 'diversity'. Last years Masterchef a prime example. Gay characters can often be stereotyped, especially the men and it would just be nice to see gay characters that weren't relying on audience stereotypes to identify the character as gay before showing a relationship. I guess there is still a lot of homophobia in our society however covered up.

Homophobia has always existed and, on balance, is probably becoming less as society gradually becomes more diverse and accepting. But we get a false picture because of the vocal minority that rant and rage all over Facebook.

Hate crimes against gay people have almost doubled in the last year according to police statistics. That's not a minority ranting and raging on Facebook, that's real life homophobia and it is on the increase.

I don't hear things like this in real life but I see it a lot in the comments under film previews and adverts.
People complaining about everything being Woke and shoving it in kid's faces.
A lot of comments saying their kids won't be watching it.

Actually I said not in real life but my ex used to go mad when my kids were younger and they'd ask things like Can two ladies get married? Why are those men on Emmerdale kissing? and I'd just answer Yes they can and because they are boyfriends.
He would say I shouldn't teach them things like that!
One of the many, many reasons he's an ex and my kids don't bat an eyelid over same sex relationships on screen or in real life.

From what I’ve read this is because of the constant political propaganda instead of just celebrating new year.

I didn't say it makes people gay, I simply explained why there's backlash

Probably more productive to challenge your mum's racism instead of random people on the Internet

Well we can presume any children nurtured by you will grow to be ignorant pricks.

I think there is an issue with lazy, tokenistic, woke bollocks shoehorned into media. It's clear that the writer's room is still filled with young, straight, white men who try to write people they don't know or understand..

Brooklyn 99 was an example. When BLM happened they couldn't write something realistic, edgy, funny and intelligent. Instead they made everyone preachy, woke and boring as a water biscuit. It wasn't funny and comedy can be a great way to change attitudes. It also wasn't remotely true that an entire station would have been completely OK barring a couple of slightly ignorant people who could be converted in an episode.

Directors, writers, producers and the whole back end needs to be changed. Otherwise gay characters (and women BTW, and Black people etc.) are written in a way that's two-dimensional. This leads to it being what 'ruins' otherwise good media. It's like they say, 'we've got a great series, how can we just change one of the couples to gay and a few to BAME so we can look like we have woke cred?'. Those people don't read true and therefore that gets blamed. Rather than lazy writing by people who don't know their characters.

You're providing a great example of how nice yours must be

@BabyOnBoard90 so do you think depicting gay characters in children's films equals indoctrination? Because that is at best a problematic viewpoint.

I don't know, I haven't studied it. But there are people who believe that.

Parents prevent their children from viewing all sorts of material at an early age. Whether it contains excessive violence, sex or just content they don't want their children exposed to. I'm guessing because of concerns of the impressions the content may have.

Regardless of what the motivations are, I'm fine with Parents having the autonomy to be able regulate content that their children watch. Even if it's benign homosexuality.

@BabyOnBoard90 it is problematic though - because those families are the ones where the children, if they turn out to be gay, end up being cast out and vilified. Which makes parents like these complete failures.

Not sure why everyone is piling in on you.

You're just trying to explain the possible motivations of people who are subject of the OP.

As soon as someone gives a possible reason they get piled on.

No wonder you havent had many replies that that could have explained any backlash that may have occurred.

Instead its just an echo chamber with the same few views repeated.

1. Dont know what the op is talking about.

1. Anyone who believes the same as the op is a bigot.

1. Homophobia is still real and present in 2022.

Despite the views on Mumsnet homophobia is still very real and just drowning out any voices trying to explain this, isnt going to make it go away in the real world.

Thanks for proving OPs point.

BabyOnBoard90 · 31/12/2022 21:44

People don't want their kids indoctrinated

This exactly

The vote on this is interesting. Doesn’t really match the comments…

Don't know about public outrage but I know my DD gets annoyed about gay characters where their entire personality is being gay

Stereotyping is rife, especially in kids tv where all the gay male characters are massively flamboyant, into dance and wear headbands and glitter to school (her words)

Apparently they don't do interesting characters that just happen to be gay on tv or films aimed at younger audiences

Any comment I’ve seen is that it’s a contrived action. It’s a tick box exercise to satisfy the people that shout the loudest online.