To be struggling to think of well known books or films featuring homosexuality

[haphazardbystarlight]

Can only think of Oranges.

I'm sure there must be others - any others??

Billy Elliott

THE FULL MONTY!!!!

Ma vie en rose.
Kiss of the spiderwoman.

The boat that rocked.

Regeneration - Pat Barker - not main focus and a difficult book but nonetheless there.

My DS ,13, likes to cross-dress and has tentatively mentioned it. (I have known for a while and it doesn't bother me). Boy in a Dress was a book he read straight through a few years ago. It was huge for him to know that he wasn't the only one - and he admires David Walliams.

I get where you are coming from though.

I have to agree though that often NO sexual orientation is mentioned so unless you assume automatically that everyone is straight Cheese was right. In Harry Potter there may be many gay/straight or otherwise characters but the sexuality of the majority of pupils isn't mentioned either way.

It is when they start dating each other

Point taken re the teachers though.

Morcambe and Wise. Adult men sharing the bedroom.

As a previous poster mentioned,
Val McDermid writes about some good strong gay and lesbian characters.
I believe she's a lesbian, which would explain the often heartwarming, sensitive way she writes about gay (and straight) relationships.

Most (if not all) of her books are crime thrillers though, so may not be suitable for some young people.

When we see an ainmation with gays not for a long time their only staring to put black people in animations as the leads

Thinking of my favorite TV shows (Dr who, walking dead, game of thrones, etc) I am struggling to think of any which don't have gay characters just incidentally also being gay. As far as animation goes, I have my suspicions about Rainbow Dash and Applejack as well.

Doctor who: Captain Jack started in doctor who and was open about his crush on Ten. Plus one of the cat people couples in that traffic jam episode was two women, and Cassandra was attracted to Rose.

Another vote for the Tales of the City series. Many shades of sexuality are in there, and they're great stories.

Glee.

All of the 'Tales of the City' series by Armistead Maupin
'Brideshead Revisited' by Evelyn Waugh
'Four Weddings and a Funeral'
'A Room With a View' EM Forster

Read some Val MvDermid, the Lindsay Gordan books have a main character who just happens to be a lesbian and Kate Brannigan's best friends are a lesbian couple.

Has anyone mentioned Queer as Folk yet?

The full Monty

1970s TV series Agony

Agree Torchwood, not just gay but inter species as well.

I loved the Tales of the City and read them all as they came out in the 80's. Have re-read many times, the last time being just six or so months ago. They are"period pieces" now but still fun to read.

I read a teen book - thought it was a Mallorie Blackman but can't remember the title so could be wrong - that was about sexuality I think - there is quite a lot of teen writing that deals with it.

Poetry - not for your DS yet maybe - but some Carol Anne Duffy.

Surely lots on TV from TOWIE to Graham Norton to Torchwood to Strictly - (OK not fictional or literature but visible).

I do admire the way that you are thinking though OP. And I do understand the difference between a Gay Character and a character who, incidently, is other thean straight. I read a lot of crime/detective stuff and can't offhand think of any non-heterosexual characters in one of those, (although there must be some!).

As an aside I had a friend whose father read an entry in his diary mentioning a boy at school that he "loved" and beat him with a belt so that he would never "have those disgusting thoughts again". He was about ten at the time. He left home as soon as he could but it took him a while to come out openly. (He never did to his family and I was a useful "girlfriend"). We have come further than we think thank goodness - although still some way to go.

Jenny and Madame Vastra in doctor who, can't believe i forgot them!

It's usually a main feature of the story. I'd be more impressed when it's included in passing. The action hero gets out of bed, says "Just another boring day at the office" to their same sex partner, then goes off for an adventure and their sexuality not mentioned again.

tipping the velvet sarah waters all her books

I know this was mentioned ages ago, OP, but your DH's reaction to male ballet dancers - are most of them really gay? Or is your DH just guilty of lazy stereotyping?

I don't know. I know two male dancers and they are both gay but that's hardly representative!

I worked/socialised in the dance world and I'd say probably about 50% of male dancers were gay. From my own experience and hazy estimate.

After I changed jobs I went from the dance world to the classical music world. I really missed the dancers. They were WAY more fun than the musicians. I'd love to work with dancers again.