User:BeckAugust/B’s Histories of Gay and Lesbian COMM Studies, Communicating LGBTQ+ friendship, and LGBTQ+ friendships represented in media

Histories of Gay and Lesbian COMM Studies

When we look at the LGBTQ community in today's society, people tend to question how we got to this point. This is where History plays an important part. With History, researchers can easily take a deeper look into how the community grew and survived into how society sees it today. Important studies such as the HIV Campaign conducted by TMUS shows us how discussing topics such as talking about and providing helpful information about protected sex and sex partners can help decrease stigmas such as HIV and more. Other moments in History, such as the burning of Stonewall in New Orleans, helps to show us that major changes in the community only tend to come after tragic events. Moments in History like this can help society make further changes in our world to help accept the LGBTQ community.

LGBTQ+ FRIENDSHIP

We all know friendships are important. It's how we maintain our lives in a complicated society. However, for the LGBTQ+ and Queer community, making and containing friendships might be a little bit more challenging to come by. Sometimes, friendships may not even happen at all which is why it's important to provide ways for members of the community to make finding friends easily. In my first article, various interviews are conducted to show how apps are used in society to help the queer community make and maintain strong friendships with other men and women. In the second article, Jones discusses how the friendships amongst gay men help to maintain the status of not only drag performers but also other drama performers as well.

LGBTQ+ Friendships Represented In Media

Like how we explored the concept of friendship in the LBGTQ community, now I want to explore how it's represented in the media. TV shows, movies, video games, and more have grown a strong reputation these days for providing more representation for Queer characters and storylines. While it was not always like that, it's important to see why and how representation in the media matters especially when it comes to friendships. In the first article, Jing explores two authors and how their stories display strong same-sex female characters and lovers. In the second article, Lepp explores the world of tv shows to show how friendship is a strong support system for individuals who may still be in the closet.

Revised Wiki Articles
Histories of Gay and Lesbian COMM Studies

The earliest LGBTQ+ Communication Studies focused primarily on Gay and Lesbian Communication Studies. (Yep) Research focused on how gay and lesbian people faced many forms of discrimination and lacked rights. (Queer Nation) With changing laws, identities, and terminology, communication remains the focus used to display the main challenge of nonacceptance. (Queer Nation) In this early research in the 1980s and 1990s, researchers investigated statistics, historical plagues, and national movements to study how the queer community fought in the past. (Gay Liberation)

In the 1980's, communication research by groups like the Institute for Sex Research found that many believed homosexuality would ruin society.[1] Statistics from this research helped jumpstart many organizations and communities that would eventually help increase better understanding of LGBTQ+ people.[1] For example, in the 1990s, scholarship on Queer Nation focused on how the organization recorded numbers of individuals who took notice of the community’s struggles (Queer Nation). Many of their struggles included violence and discrimination. and stepped in to change the view of the community.[2] Article companies helped in spreading proper communication using images, topics of interests, and even discussions or stories.[3] However, research continued to show that there are others who understand the struggles. (Gay Liberation) Writers for the articles provided news segments, stories, and even art to express communication. (Gay Liberation)

LGBTQ+ FRIENDSHIPS

Friendships are made through communication, and creating friendships is important for members of the LGBTQ community. (Hooking up with friends) Interpersonal communication researchers look at how social media platforms provide excellent ways for queer communities to establish friendships and connections. (Hooking up with friends) Types of connections range from dating opportunities, casual hookups, mental/physical support, and safety.[5]Research shows that LGBTQ+ people use social media apps for establishing safe connections with others, including sites such as Gaydar and Gay.com.[5] The study also recommended LGBTQ+ people remain cautious when using social media apps, especially when some can be victims of catfishing or harassment.[5]

Language is also another way that LGBTQ+ people build friendships through communication. With language, those who are part of the community can form their own way of communicating with one another that others may not understand.[5] Researchers have found that there are many terms that have their own definitions; terms such as SNAP or Playful Putdowns can be used as a safety measure to defend LGBTQ+ people from mental and physical assault.[5] Those who understand these terms feel safe as the terms are spoken by someone who understands.[5]

Communicating friendship can be distinct in different LGBTQ+ groups. Research on gay male friendship circles found that communicating vibrant personalities and through putting on drag performances, gay men can gain the attention of a potential friend.[6] Studies also show that lesbians tend to have more same sex friends unlike gay men who may have mixed gender queer friends.[7]  The research also found that friendship and inclusion was created by not only LGBTQ+ people but also heterosexuals and cisgender people who respected someone’s pronouns and creating more gender inclusive spaces.[7] For example, youth summer camps can create safe spaces including converting bathrooms, sorting by age, and providing name tags with pronouns to help LGBTQ+ youth connect.[7]

LGBTQ+ Friendships Represented in Media

In the early 1980s, communication scholarship examined many how LGBTQ+ outreach organizations fought for representation rights. (Gay Activists). They found that special groups, like the Gay Activists organizations, worked together to persuade TV networks to provide more queer representation.[1] Both the National Gay Task Force (NGTF) in New York City and a second location in Los Angles, which became known as the Gay Media Task Force (GMTF), worked to target their inclusion efforts towards nearby TV networks.[1]

Representation in media has helped shape how society now sees LGBTQ+ communities. (Confession, Coming out) Representation in media can create experiences of inclusion or exclusion for marginalized or underrepresented audiences according to research. (Representation Matters) Media such as TV shows, movies, video games, books, and art play important roles in the lives of children, adolescents, and even adults. (Confession, Coming out) Media representation can also help eliminate stereotypes and discrimination of LGBTQ+ people.[1] Media represents a significant advancement in LGBT representation by demonstrating how crucial it is to cultivate communication patterns. [2]