Homosexuality
and its portrayal on television has always been a controversial topic, but
throughout the last couple of decades, society has slowly become more
accepting. Television has slowly
portrayed various kinds of same-sex relationships and contributed to the
nation’s changing attitudes regarding same-sex couples and marriages. In
today’s most recent hit television shows, like Modern Family and Grey’s
Anatomy, we see two very happy same-sex couples. Both couples are committed to one another, live financially
comfortably, and have chosen to raise a child together. Television portrays these couples
similarly to heterosexual married couples, showing that LGBT relationships
deserve the same rights as heterosexual couples. While these two examples of homosexuality represent happy
couples, there is another hit television show that introduces a different gay
character. Nashville, based on the country music industry in Nashville,
Tennessee, aired in 2012. The show
centers on an established country music star, Reyna James, and her rivalry with
a young spitfire, up and coming artist, Juliette Barnes. While the majority of the first season
is based on these two artists competing for the spotlight in Nashville’s
enormous country music industry, another character’s story emerges.
Will
Lexington, a young, hunky, straight artist emerges in the television show in
2013. His presence on the show
begins as a fellow singer, looking for a label to sign him, much like Scarlett
and Gunnar, two other characters on the show. What audience members later find
out, is that Will is not in fact straight. After Will is shown trying to kiss Gunnar after a long night
of drinking, all preconceived thoughts of Will are out the door. Will is shown trying to cover up his
sexuality, acting overly masculine in front of other characters, and most
importantly, homophobic.
Will’s
past comes back to haunt him when former hook up, Brent, approaches him in a
closet at a party. Will freaks out
and punches Brent in the face, yelling that the two of them can never have
relations. He finds himself in an
arrangement with Layla, another upcoming singer at Will’s new label. As a publicity stunt, the two are told
to act like a couple in front of all press. Will goes along with this in order to conceal his true
identity, and to appear straight to the public. But when Will finds himself in bed with his ex Brent, he
realizes that he cannot continue lying to himself and everyone around him.
Throughout
the show, and in society, gay country singers are hard to find. It is not widely accepted in the
industry, and that is apparent throughout the past couple seasons of Nashville. While other television shows
have portrayed same-sex couples as happy and comfortable in their own skin, Nashville’s Will Lexington is facing
many trials and tribulations regarding his sexuality. He is not living the happy-go-lucky lifestyle, but rather
finding himself in front of a train considering suicide in the winter
finale. The secrets and lies Will
hides from everyone shed light on the dark side of homosexuality and the way it
is still controversial in society.
As
I touched on earlier, Modern Family
and Grey’s Anatomy show same-sex
couples that are financially stable, happy, and raising a child together. This fits into the mold of how many
straight relationships are portrayed on television as well. I applaud Nashville for presenting audiences with a different story of
homosexuality. As harsh as Will’s story is, it is reality to a lot of
people. It is important for
audiences to see the hardships endured and I think it has the ability to
broaden people’s views of sexuality.
There is a possibility people will be more considerate and accepting of
homosexuality in our society when they see Will’s character as well.
Overall
I think Nashville has done a great
job of enriching the recent portrayals of homosexuality in television. While it
is great to see happily committed same-sex couples on television, it is also
refreshing to see another side. Will
Lexington exemplifies the difficulties and hardships that many people in his
position have to endure. His inner
struggle with being accepted, and being himself, is beyond saddening to watch,
and a struggle that should not be an issue for anyone. But in society today, this struggle is
real and I think with more portrayals of homosexuality like Nashville’s, our nation’s acceptance of
LGBT can continue to grow.
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