Hollywood films using the ‘n’ word or any other strong racial epithet are relatively rare (although not unheard of – just look at Quentin Tarantino’s output), but you don’t have to go too far to find one where ‘fag’, ‘homo’ or some other anti-gay term is thrown out. Now Amy Pascal, co-chairman of Sony Pictures, has been talking out about it, and has admitted Hollywood must do better.
THR reports that at an event at the Beverly Wilshire Hotel, aiming to raise funds for the LA Gay and Lesbian Center, and was clear that, “We still have a long, long way to go.”
Pascal added, “Now, there is not much any of us can do about what people hear from families and friends, but there is a whole hell of a lot we can do about what people see… How about next time, when any of us are reading a script and it says words like ‘fag’, or ‘faggot’, ‘homo’, ‘dyke’, take a pencil and just cross it out. Just don’t do it. We can do better and we will do better. We have to.”
However she realises that it’s not just offensive words, it’s how homosexuality is depicted. ”How many times have you heard a character imply to another that the worst thing about going to prison isn’t being locked up for the rest of your life, it’s the homosexuality? And old stereotypes still exist. The most benign stereotypes would have a gay kid believe that they will end up being the asexual, witty best friend of the pretty girl, or a drag queen, or a swishy hairdresser. The list goes on.”
Hopefully this is more than just air, and Pascal really will push for more positive depictions of gay characters in Hollywood. While there’s been improvement on TV, mainstream movies still lag behind badly, either completely editing gay people out of existence, or depicting them in dubious ways at best.
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