The Gay Best Friend

Can men and women ever be just friends? Isn’t there always a sexual attraction between men and women permitting a true friendship? How can women avoid the awkward tension between her and her male friends? The answer to this question: find a gay best friend. The stereotypical gay best friend is represented all over television and movies. It has become the “it” thing. From celebrities to socialites, the gay best friend who is there to tag along, gossip, and have fun, has become a staple in most women’s entourage. It gives women a male perspective without the sexual tension in-between. Stereotypically, the fantastic shopping partner as well as the gentle, opinionated listener, serves an escape from the stereotypical male who notices little and rarely pays attention. On the ABC hit show Ugly Betty, the character Marc St. James, who fits his standard mold quite accurately, represents the gay best friend.

Ugly Betty breaks the heterosexist perspective, mainly due to its fashion-based theme. Stereotypically, the gay community is very apparent in the fashion industry. This makes it easy for the producers of the show to incorporate the roles of gay men into the cast. Marc St. James is an assistant at the glamorous Mode magazine. He works closely with the editor and always finds it necessary to incorporate his opinion. His stylish, flamboyant lifestyle represents a large portion of the fashion industry as well as the gay community. On February 26ths episode, Marc, who strolls down the street with his designer pocketbook while dressed in his pea coat and cashmere scarf, is there for Betty while she is struggling with her own boy problems. She looks for his guidance and values his opinions. She enjoys his perspective on certain issues that she wouldn’t be able to ask any of her other male friends. Marc also fills the role of his boss’s personal shopper. He has a great taste for fashion and knows what looks good on a woman. He serves as the voice of reason to many of the female characters in the show. Marc St. James adds a type of humor the show that wouldn’t be present if the show had a heterosexist perspective. It is easy for the viewers to relate to his character. Whether you fit the mold yourself or your “gay best friend” is similar to Marc, he helps to break the heterosexist perspective that is apparent in many television shows. The producers of the hit television show do a fabulous part in incorporating the roles of gay characters into the cast

On television as well as in movies, the roles of gay characters have not been as apparent as the gay community may have wished- that is, until now. From shows like Ugly Betty, to Gossip Girl, to Grey’s Anatomy, the roles of homosexuals have been cast to generate an entirely new audience. There is someone for everyone to relate to making these shows more and more popular. Producers of movies like Milk, and Broke Back Mountain have been recognized for their fabulous portrayal of the gay community. Through Ugly Betty’s representation of the gay best friend, more audiences and types of viewers are reached. It gives the gay community a positive representation through a stereotypical portrayal. By breaking the heterosexist perspective that is commonly taken on TV, more and more people will be able to appreciate and relate to the characters in the shows.