Gasp. It’s like you can see into my very soul…

One of the main characters is a gay frat boy and he’s had more guys in his bed than the main character (has had girls).

Ellen has gone out of her way to show those homophobic americans that even though she might be gay, she is as “normal” or as “abnormal” as the next person. i don’t watch her show a lot, but in the few ties I have watches, she has many many times talked about her sexuality, and Portia. Hell, she even did a whole insert on her and Portia’s wedding, shared the wedding pics etc. And as said here in other comments, frequently have gay out celebs on. So personally I think your statements here hold absolutely no water.

I do however agree with you that it has become (and even a lot in SA) fashion to be gay, and everywhere you turn you here people saying “I have no problem with gays” or “some of my best friends are gay”, but boy oh boy, if you dare to actually BE gay on a TV show, and God forbid touch or kiss another man, then all hell breaks loose.

Even though I was also disappointed with the Egoli gay storyline, as it never pushed the envelope, I still think it was very brave of Franz Marx to introduce gay charachters into a prime time daytime soap in SA for the first time. I remember even my previously sorta homophobic grandmother loving Krynau and Braam on Egoli. So it served a purpose. Other soaps have tried it too, but like you say. If they dare make it more realistic, then everybody is up in arms.

And SA males, black and white are such hypocrites. They can accept two women kissing, in fact, they prefer it, but now just dare to show two men holding hands, or saying “I love you”, and then it is immoral and sick and wrong and “what about the children” and all that bullshit.

And of these hypocrites, DSTV is one of the biggest. They claim, like most South Africans, not to have a problem with it, but yet refuse to properly cater for their gay audience. They’ll show season after season of “The L Word” with sometimes really suggestive and explicit lesbian loving, but do you think they will ever show an episode of Queer as Folk? God forbid!!!

I think there is ample demand and material for a gay and lesbian channel, and I have suggested it in the past to them, hell, I’ll even be prepared to pay extra for it, to protect the poor innocent childrens eyes from seeing two men in love. But they just chose not to respond. Perhaps we should all send requests for a channel that shows gay themed movies and programmes, and perhaps then they will do something about it.

Yeah man- Not true!. Definitely not true about ellen- I started hating that show but I soon “GOT” it- and she DOES talk about gay themes a lot- had Wanda sykes coming to talk about what it means to a black gay and out woman in america, Had that cute boy from doogie howser talk about his life and his boyfriend, had Adam lambert come and talk about the issues of being and artist and gay, talks about portia a lot and their lives together, provides a platform for her gay, but not so OUT friends to come on the show more than once and i think the audince already know this- and she speaks about the injustice against homosexuality quite often where it’s relevant! Perhaps your gripe should be about the male versions of the phenomenon you are decrying because I do not see a lot of that. In south africa we have made a lot of strides in soapies discussing gay issues in a real and human way- Isidingo, cul-de-sac, Generations, Rhythm City are some of the major soapies that portray homosexuality on television in more humane way rather than just SEX. Shows like Society as well as AFTER 9, Black Beulahs- were all on our TV in the last year- and locally made. Mzantsi Magic on DSTV has some cutting edge shows- and why, jus yesterday i watched a short movie made locally showing black women kissing passionately! maybe renew your subscription and then write this article again?

Regarding Egoli, she gay story line was was thin to say the least. Not only was it, at times, completely unrealistic but it also wasn’t a true reflection of gay relationships in general. Personally if was happy to see the story line canceled and even happier when Egoli got canceled all together.

Obviously there’s still a way to go in terms of censorship on television – but it’s not just limited to sexual orientation.