Venice Gomez

Andrea Lopez
III- BA COMM

Background of the Study:

Today’s generation is generally bolder and much more liberated compared to the past

generations. More so in the western countries than here in the Philippines. As it seems, Asian

countries tend to be more conservative in terms of culture. Therefore there are expectations

from society to always abide by. In a sense there are still a strict set of customs that are

believed to be followed. Because of this, the clash between the traditional, the modern and

more liberated generations are indeed growing.

Now in the society such as that of the Philippines where the people are mostly Catholic

there's a certain degree of what people pass as normal and abnormal. Because of this the

LGBT community is merely tolerated and not fully accepted in society.

Nevertheless, technology had connected the Philippines to the outside world thus

exposing the younger generation to the liberated culture of the West. Having this factor in

consideration, the Philippines television shows tries to follow that of what the foreign countries

are doing, breaking the ice that serves to be society’s expectations and yet keeping the

elements that are sure to appeal to the masses.

These shows are in the form of My Husband’s Lover, Beki Boxer, and The Legal Wife,

Dading and Be Careful With My Heart. All of them are contemporary but they are not the only

ones who had shown diversity to homosexual portrayals in recent times. With these shows

being shown during the primetime spots of different television stations, the amount of viewers

that are exposed to these kinds of shows are high as well. The perception of each viewer
changes along with the unraveling of each story and that would also affect how they are to

interact with the LGBTQ community.

Statement of the problem:

    How does the portrayal of LGBT characters on TV shows affect their views on the LGBT

community?

Objectives of study:

General Objective:

 This study is made to know how television shows that covers homosexual portrayals

affect the perception of third year HEU students on their views of same sex relationships and

how it will affect their perception towards the LGBT community as well.

Specific Objectives:

1. To identify all Television shows that has LGBTQ characters from 2011-2014.

2. To describe the story line/ content of shows that has LGBTQ characters.

3. To determine the perceptions of third year heu students towards the LGBTQ community.

Significance of study:

     The importance of this study to the community is by showing how the younger generations

are coping with the rapid change in society, in regards to the LGBT community. The researchers

want to know the thoughts of today’s generation about the television shows that have gay,

lesbian or bisexual characters as part of the main and supporting cast. Are today’s generation

totally accepting or just tolerating the LGBT community? The researchers also want to study

how these shows will affect the viewer’s perception to the LGBT community.

This being said, the results of this research would be a basis on how television shows

could be made in order to give the LGBT community a chance to actually show how highly

diverse they are within the community.

Scope and limitations:

     The study will have 100 third year HEU students as their respondents. These students are

from different colleges and universities. The researchers will use shows like My Husband’s

lover, The Legal Wife, Dading, Beki boxer and Be Careful with My Heart as the reference of the

study. These shows are the current LGBT related shows that the respondents can use for their

assessment.

    This study will be focusing more on the influence of Television shows that portray LGBT

characters and its effects on third year HEU students.

Review of Related Literature

Identity

 In Thurer’s book The End of Gender re-printed in 2005, talks about how the line between
sexuality had been crossed over and over again due to how humans are curious to
explore. This book had tackled the history, archaic and modern perceptions of humans
towards sexuality.

 In Batocabe’s study in 2011 regarding the beginnings of a collectivist identity of LGBT

community in Singapore. Making the identity of the group has been subjected to certain
factors that would shape them as well as affect their organization’s identity.

 A study conducted by Santos in 2014 dwells in how GMA’s My Husband’s Lover gave
identity to their characters on how gay men are in the Philippines. Santos made use of
two references as guides, Judith Butler’s performativity and Ronald Barthes’
semiological system.

 Mojica in 2008 had started a research where it tackles how communication affects the
identity of an aging gay Filipino man. There are certain factors on making their identity
such that of their relationship and the way they speak with their family, their friends, how
they see themselves and the way society looks at them.

 Fajardo made an essay in 2014 wherein LGBT were compared to that of water in
characteristics. The Great Lakes region and the Midwest can also be perceived as queer
for example. Nice Rodriguez’s narratives about transnational and translocal queer and
immigrant Filipino imaginaries living in Toronto and in Manila can be seen in this essay.
Also, how queer Filipino gender and sexualities can be identified transnationally.

Discrimination and Rights/Anti-discrimination acts

 As it is still taboo many cultures are not in favor of homosexuality and would condemn
those who are straying from the norm. A study conducted by Warriner, Nagoshi C.T. and
Nagoshi J.T regarding the hostile behavior of the society towards the LGBT community,
considered homophobia, was generally because of their feeling of needing to prove that
they are part of the “proper” society, in which case would be the “norm” of heterosexual
relationships.

 A study conducted by Rayside during 2014 wherein he tackles about how Canadian
schools has yet to fully accept the concept of homosexuality, condemning those
teachers and students who are for LGBT despite the rights that had been discussed
upon years before but had yet to be implemented.

 A study made by PhD. Chong-Suk, Proctor and Kyung-Hee in 2014 as well, tackles
about how Asian gay men had found ways to cope with the onslaught of homophobia
and how these affects their relationships with their family and peers and finding a way to
remove the stigma associated with being a homosexual man.
  Discrimination is rampant and according to Thoreson’s study in 2011 homosexuals that
are at the poverty level of the society receives less income due to their sexuality. Going
back to the Philippines there are stigmas directed towards those who are homosexuals.

 In Benedicto’s article last 2008, A Haunting in Gay Manila, tells that the LGBT
community had started to break the stigma by starting from removing the negative
connotation of the word “Bakla”.

 Foe in 2014 studies the culture of the LGBT community during the 1960’s where being a
homosexual is considered a taboo and would lead to homophobia and hostile actions.
Eventually a movement was made internationally to give the LGBT community at least
tolerance rather than being casted away entirely.

Use of Social Media or the Internet

 In Soriano’s study last 2012 she had mentioned of how not only LGBT communities but
indigenous tribes such that of Moro’s had been making use of social media or the
internet in order to inform others of their political movement as well as their advocacies.

 In another study conducted by Soriano this 2014 the topic of using the internet had been
once again talked upon but focuses solely on the LGBT community and how they are
empowered through these social media platforms in making a collectivist identity by
which they are able to gather identification and support from peers. With the
advancement of technology, the minority groups such that of LGBT communities had
finally found a platform of where they could share their voice.

Portrayal

 In the study of Raley and Lucas in 2006 the two had talked about the stages of
portrayals in television from Clark and Berry’s study, starting from non-representation,
ridicule, regulation and respect. As homosexuality is taboo from some countries it is
understandable that shows would not contain characters that would represent a LGBT
person. But as time passes by and according to Raley and Lucas’ study the LGBT
community had surpassed that of the non-representation stage and had moved on to
ridicule, albeit negative still, it is already a way towards making their community
acknowledge by the society.

 Though a study of Sanders and Ramasubramanian (2012) that focuses on how African
Americans are stereotyped had not been to for a positive or negative reaction but more
of a theory of communication. Considering the study of Raley, most of the LGBT
portrayals are definitely not positive as these characters are ridiculed.

 Tagudina in 2012 had mentioned that negative portrayal of television to these

characters, it is to be expected that homophobia would be spreading as well because of
this. By forcing a certain stereotype towards a character, people would perceive that this
is the how a certain person would be, resulting to negative labeling and a general dislike
to the minority that was already being boxed into these.
  Queyquep in 2012 made a study of the portrayal of a lesbians through several episodes
Maalaala mo Kaya. Referring to Judith Butler’s queer theory and concepts of
representations of Stuart Hall, Queyquep was able to get results that showed that these
portrayals are considered stereotypical. The episodes that had these lesbian portrayals
are Boy Shoes, Kwintas, Song Book and Juice.

 Olavario in 2011 made a group interview and discussion on the portrayals of gays in
ABS-CBN’s show Iisa Pa Lamang, wherein the respondents were gay people
themselves. In their discussion the author was able to find out about how these Filipino
gay men read the story elements and how the show portrayed the gay culture.

 Barnes-Brus in 2005 wrote an article regarding how mainstream media portrays LGBT
characters. In these situations they were portrayed negatively, given roles such as those
of villains, sexual predators, etc. In his article he points out that the culture could be seen
through what is being portrayed in these shows or characters. And although there are
negative portrayals for gay men in media these trends does not literally apply to those of
lesbian characters or stories.

Family Relationship (4)

 A study of Munoz-Plaza, C.Quinn and Rounds in 2002 where they were studying how
high school students feel about being open to their parents and peers on their sexuality.
Many had shied away at the thought merely because being a homosexual is considered
a taboo and are scared to be rejected. In the study there had been some negative
emotions coming from the youth and the authors would like to call for action from the
school’s part, to be able to give these youth comfort.

 In Holmes’ book A different love in 2006 she had tackled on how those who are part of
the LGBT community are treated and perceive in the Philippines as well as other
countries, going as far as being blackmailed and threatened.

 A study by Yang in 2008 tackles the coming out of homosexual Hmongs, a mountain
dwelling tribe in southeastern China and some parts of Laos, Vietnam and Thailand, on
how they talked to their family and given the chance to resolve the issues between them.

 Goldberg and Allen’s study in 2013 on same-sex relationship dissolution and lgb
stepfamily formation: A perspective of young adults with LGB parents is about family
Relations, a research that focuses about intentional LGB parents. The study shows how
young adults deal with the breakup of an LGB family or a formation of an LGB family.

Perception/ effects

 Nicolas and Vicente’s in 2008 had a study on the influence of television exposure on
selected park 7 community’s audience perception towards gays. The result they were
able to find is the portrayal of queer men in television does not give justice to how they
are in real life. Gay men are boxed to being comedic and flamboyant resulting to a
negative result.
  Ruggieri and Rochira’s study in 2013 focuses on how semiotics have something to do
with the human representation. It is about how humans develop their perception of
society, with the elements of historical and cultural experiences, with the differentiation
of semiotics and social representation.

Influence of LGBT

 Cuotora, Esguerra, Neria and Pesadas’ study in 2008 on the influence of the
independent film Rome and Juliet to selected Miriam College Communication Arts
students toward homosexuality shows the perception of Miriam College students on
homosexul relationships through the indie film Rome and Juliet. In regards with the
movie there had not been any drastic changes  to their perception rather than those who
accepts or tolerate same sex relationships had only become more open and those who
disagree are just more conscious of what is happening around them.

 Kantar’s study on the analysis of the influence of fictional gay characters on the LGBT
community in the year 2012 is about how the television shows portray gays and lesbian
on tv affect the image of the lgbt community. There’s a difference between what is
shown on tv and what happens in real life according to the interviews with gays and
lesbians. The study is relevant because it will make the media industry aware on how
will they improve their lgbt themed show and how will they make it more acceptable to
the lgbt community.

 Gomillion’s study on the influence of media role models on gay, lesbian and bisexual
identity in the year 2011 states that the role of media is an important role in influencing
the minds of the lgbt community in a positive manner. He conducted a survey and an
interview, his respondents from texas said that media has influenced them through role
models in showing their identity or coming out.

LGBT Analysis:

 Mühleisen’s article in 2008 used Norwegian experimental television shows as an

example. It tackles about the use of eye-catchers, parodic hetero sexualization, female
masquerade and neo-masculinization techniques for “repetitions with a difference” of
female show hosts and also with their male counterparts. These formats both show
innovative renegotiations of gender and sexuality that represent in between post-
modernism and queer aesthetics.

 Fouts and Inch had a study in 2005 about Homosexuality in TV Situation Comedies:
Characters and Verbal Comments. There was a content analysis conducted on twenty
two television sit-coms to identify the incidence of homosexual characters, their
demographics and if they comment about sexual orientation. For each program
appearing in early October 2000, one episode was video recorded and its contents are
analyzed. The results show that only 2% of the 125 main characters were homosexual.
These homosexual characters were male and they are in the twenty to thirty five year old
age groups. It also showed that heterosexual characters made less comment about
sexual orientation than homosexual characters do. It means that television writers or
 producers portray sexual orientation as an important theme in the lives of homosexual
characters.

 Fisher, Hill, Grube and Gruber conducted a study in 2007 on Gay, Lesbian, and Bisexual
Content On Television: A Quantitative Analysis Across Two Seasons. Two yearly
content analyses were organized to evaluate the presence of behaviors and verbal
messages in relation to the sexuality of the LGBT community from the programs during
the period of 2001-2001 and 2002-2003 television show seasons. Sexual content related
to homosexuals was found in about 15% of programs but the rates of occurrence were
low.  Movies, variety and comedy shows had big percentages of programs that have
homosexual content mostly to premium cable networks. This shows the continued lack
of attention to sexual minorities is discussed for both homosexual and heterosexual
audience.

 Peters had an article in 2011, he used the American series Queer as Folk as as a lens
into queer tele-visual representation. Peters took up what Feje said that “media are part
of the larger social process for creating identities for lesbians and gays.” It also contains
qualitative analysis of audience research that involves a small sample of keen Canadian
viewers of Queer as Folk.

 Quinonesa’s study in 2012 focuses on how two tabloids portray the LGBT victims in their
paper and compare them. In this study the researcher and started with interviews of
editors and journalists from both tabloids in order to gain knowledge of how gender and
LGBT issues are in the local scene.

 Dogelio’s thesis in 2013 used television shows like Coffee Prince and My Binondo Girl
as her basis on her study. These shows have lesbian existence based on the notion of
lesbian continuum by Adrienne Rich. The goal is to read the episodes of this drama,
identify the theme and analyze the portrayal of lesbians in the television dramas.

Reception/ Effects:

 Lim’s study on the reception of selected homosexual men of the teleserye “My
Husband’s Lover” in the year 2014 is about the reception of the four selected
homosexualsl in Metro Manila and how are they affected by the new image of gays in
the said show. In our country, we have different stereotypes for gays also known as
‘bakla’. With the show My Husband’s Lover, there is a new image again for gays. How
will the selected homosexual individuals receive the new image of gays in this show?

 Aquilizan and Manalese’s study in the year 20124  analyses the gay-themed television
show in primetime entitled My Husband’s Lover and its effects. Cultivation theory and
the queer theory are used to complete the theoretical framework of their study. Fifty one
episodes of My Husband’s Lover were examined through content analysis. The results
showed that the higher exposure to the show, the lower the heterosexist attitudes
become.
 Theoretical Framework

The theoretical framework includes the theory that the researchers chose as guide in their

study. The conceptual framework explains how the variables are applied in the study.

●     Schramm’s Model (1954)

Schramm (1954) introduced the idea of a “field of experience” for both the messenger and the

receiver. The degree of understanding and success of communication between the sender and

the receiver will depend on how much their “common fields of experiences” overlap. The larger

the overlap in the fields of experience, the greater the possibility of a successful exchange of

ideas.

●      Cultivation Theory of George Gerbner (1976)

According to Gerbner (1976), television is responsible for shaping, or cultivating’ viewers

conceptions of reality. To examine the effects of the amount of violence, Gerbner conducted

studies both of the data from his content analysis of television with survey data from people who

were classified based on the amount of time they spent watching television and questioned their

views on violence in the world.

Television has been an important tool in telling stories in our society. According to Gerbner’s

research, audiences who watch television less than four hours a day are considered light

viewers. Meanwhile audiences who watch four and more hours a day are considered heavy

viewers. These heavy viewers analyze the world as dangerous and violent, it is also called as

the mean world syndrome. Results showed that they were more fearful of everyday life because

they apply what they see on television.

In this theory Gerbner says that constant exposure to television could have an effect towards

the viewer’s perceptions and belief, not literally changing them but subtly reinforcing or

reconsidering some of their ideas.

The viewer or the receiver would then have their own back story and field of experience. By

getting the message from the TV shows this might or might not be interpreted the same way.

Nevertheless the receiver would give a feedback but it could vary from positive, negative, or

neutral responses depending on how their fields of experiences are alike.

 Queer Theory (1990)

This theory is based on Judith Butler’s book Gender Trouble in 1990. It explores and challenges

the way heterosexuality is constructed as normal and how the media restricted the

representations of gay men and women. It also suggests that sexual identity is more fluid,

meaning nothing in our sexuality is fixed. Judith Butler said that gender is not a result of nature

but is socially constructed through media and culture.

According to Judith Butler “The call for gender trouble has obvious media implications, since the

mass media is the primary means for alternative images to be disseminated. The media is

therefore the site upon which this 'semiotic war' (a war of symbols, of how things are

represented) would take place.

CONCEPTUAL FRAMEWORK

Using Schramm’s model, the cultivation theory is incorporated in it. In the first circle, the source

would be the media with the message of how they are portraying LGBT character. On the other

hand the decoder would be the viewers with the final destination of the pre-conceived views.

They both share the background of the character as well as the viewer and their experiences

resulting to the “field of experience”. In between all of this would be the the feedback part where

the viewers would discern if they have the same views towards the message given to them.

Definition of terms:

LGBTQ - is a short acronym that stands for Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender and Queer.

Queer- An umbrella term sometimes used by LGBTQ people to refer to the entire LGBT

community

Homosexual- A person who is sexually attracted to people of their own sex.

Heterosexual- sexually attracted to people of the opposite sex.

Methods and Procedures

We gathered our data through different thesis dissertations that tackles LGBT as their
main topic. We also used books from the library. We will conduct a survey to 100 third
year HEU students so that we will be able to find out other supporting data that we can
use for our thesis.

Participants

Our respondents will be third year HEU students from different colleges and
universities. Age bracket would range from 17-19 years old. Both gender could answer
the survey.

Sample Survey

Name: _____________________________________________   Age :______

School: _____________________________________________ Sex: ______

1. What TV shows do you know that promote LGBTQ character

____ My Husband's Lover (GMA)

____ Beki Boxer (TV5)
____ The Legal Wife (ABS-CBN)
____ Dading (GMA)
Others (please specify):______________________________________

2. Which of the ff. shows do you watch?

____ My Husband's Lover (GMA)
____ Beki Boxer (TV5)
____ The Legal Wife (ABS-CBN)
____ Dading (GMA)
Others (please specify):______________________________________

B.  

3. Please choose at least one character and describe them.

a) Eric Del Mundo (Dennis Trillo)

_____________________________________________________________________

b) Vincent Soriano (Tom Rodriguez)

_____________________________________________________________________
c) Carding D. Enriquez/Dading (Gabby Eigenmann)
_____________________________________________________________________

d) Rocky “The Tsunami” Ponciano (Alwyn Uytingco)

_____________________________________________________________________

e) Jasper Santiago (Ahron Villena)

_____________________________________________________________________

f) Kristina Rose “Kute” Dela Rosa (Aiza Seguerra)

_____________________________________________________________________

Others (please specify):__________________________________________________

4. What is the reason for watching these shows?

a) Because of the actors/ actresses
b) Because of the Production (set, props, lights, etc.)
c) Because of the Storyline (unique plot)
Others (please specify):______________________________________________

5. What made you interested in watching these shows?

___ I like these kinds of shows

___ My friends made me watch it
___ My family’s influence
___ I was curious with the storyline
Others (please specify): ___________________________________________

C. Perceptions

1. By watching these kind of shows, is there an impact to your impression/ pre-

conceived views towards LGBTQ people?

2. Do you think that the portrayal of the lgbtq character brings justice to the lgbt
community? If yes, why? (Are they empowered?) If no, why? (Are they discriminated?)

3. Why do you think these shows are a hit nowadays?