Lack of LGBT Protagonists

[Evsever]

Posted: 4/18/18 at 2:32pm

This is my very first post, so here it goes....

This is something that has been on my mind for a while. There’s a severe lack of LGBT protagonists on Broadway, which I’m sure can be shocking to some since it's musical theatre, but this is just something I’ve taken notice. I’m aware that there are a few gay characters in shows like Mean Girls or Come From Away, but they’re secondary or minor characters. Even in Kinky Boots, Charlie Price is straight and the main character, while Lola is more of a supporting role.

Now you may be asking “well what about Angels in America or The Boys in the Band that are showing right now?”, well they’re not exactly new, and something that many theatre fans already know. Can we get something fresh and new, please?

Oooh Afterglow….oh, it’s Off-Broadway….well, fine I guess…oh it’s a one-act play….and I’m not a big fan of plays; I prefer musicals.

There is some LGBT representation on Broadway, and they’re definitely doing a better job than Hollywood. But in the whole grand scheme of things, there’s just not many gay characters that are placed on the forefront in a big-budget musical. I can count Falsettos or La Cage aux Folles, but again, they’re old shows that we already know. 

And there’s so few and far between. The last new big musical with an LGBT protagonist would be Fun Home, and that was a couple of years ago.

This is just strange since Broadway has a huge gay following; I wouldn’t be surprised if the majority of the audiences were gay. So you would think that there would be more gay protagonists and not playing second to their straight counterparts.

If you look at the first page of Broadway.com, and look at musicals from The Lion King to The Phantom of The Opera, you’ll see that NONE of them have gay protagonists. Sure, some of them have gay characters, but again, they’re not protagonists. And that’s kinda what I’ve been thinking about.

Even if there’s a couple of new ones coming out soon, it’s still not enough because of the large amount of musicals and plays with straight protagonists.

What are your thoughts?

Updated On: 4/18/18 at 02:32 PM

[SeanD2]

Posted: 4/18/18 at 2:38pm

LGBT Americans make up roughly 3.4% of the population. There are 25 musicals currently on Broadway. Mathematically only 0.85 shows should feature an LGBT protagonist to accurately reflect the makeup of the country. 

 

And if you think the majority of the audience at Broadway shows are LGBT then you're grossly mistaken.

[Someone in a Tree2]

Posted: 4/18/18 at 2:39pm

If you're only speaking of musicals (and NEW musicals at that), you're speaking about shows that have to take in millions in tourist dollars for years in order to break even. Did HEDWIG break even? Did the FALSETTOS revival break even? Did any of the LA CAGE revivals (hateful as I may have found them) break even? There's your answer in a nutshell.

[veronicamae]

Posted: 4/18/18 at 2:39pm

You're correct in your observation that there aren't a lot of new works with LGBT protagonists. However, there aren't a lot of new works PERIOD. Bringing a new work to the stage is an immense undertaking, and if it's considered "risky," as - like it or not - such a work would be, it makes it even more difficult to bring it to the Broadway stage.

That's why you see far, far more of this Off-Broadway than on - it's seen as a financial risk to not "appeal to the masses," and while theatre does have a very large LGBT audience, it is not larger than the heterosexual audience.

[haterobics]

Posted: 4/18/18 at 2:57pm

As opposed to the overwhelming number of LGBT protagonists on TV and in movies?

[Wick3]

Posted: 4/18/18 at 3:00pm

Normally new plays or musicals are first seen off broadway or at a regional theater as a 'tryout' before it goes on Broadway (and it only goes on Broadway if it does really well off-bway or in regional theater.) 

One new musical in West End that I think would be a hit on Broadway is Everyone's talking about Jamie. It has an LGBT protagonist but I think the theme is much bigger than that. It got nominated for 5 Olivier awards but to my knowledge did not win any since it was outshone by bigger musicals (ahem.. Hamilton.) 

Updated On: 4/18/18 at 03:00 PM

[MyLife]

Posted: 4/18/18 at 3:03pm

Evsever said: "If you look at the first page of Broadway.com, and look at musicals from The Lion King to The Phantom of The Opera, you’ll see that NONE of them have gay protagonists. Sure, some of them have gay characters, but again, they’re not protagonists. And that’s kinda what I’ve been thinking about.

What are your thoughts?"

I always thought the Lion King would be a better story with a gay lion. It is called Pride Rock, after all.

[thedrybandit]

Posted: 4/18/18 at 3:03pm

Someone in a Tree2 said: "If you're only speaking of musicals (and NEW musicals at that), you're speaking about shows that have to take in millions in tourist dollars for years in order to break even. Did HEDWIG break even? Did the FALSETTOS revival break even? Did any of the LA CAGE revivals (hateful as I may have found them) break even? There's your answer in a nutshell."

Hedwig did, very early in the run.

[Rainah]

Posted: 4/18/18 at 3:55pm

It is the most peculiar thing to me. That there should be so many queer folks making shows, being in shows, seeing shows... but rarely reflected in the characters. Especially when musical theatre has such a reputation for being a queer space. 

(The stats are even worse if you take out "Shows specifically about the aids crisis" of which there are quite a few)

[geoffreyC]

Posted: 4/18/18 at 4:05pm

This is an issue for all minority groups, not just the gays, but in general, Broadway crowds from the flyover states don't mind seeing an occasional LGBT representation as long as its non-threatening, stereotypical or unattractive in some way -- just like on TV a la Familia Moderna, etc.   

[South Florida]

Posted: 4/18/18 at 4:16pm

Thinking over the last ten shows I've seen Fun Home and Hedwig come to mind.  The OP has made a fail at first post.  Two minutes in the penalty box.

 

[Evsever]

Posted: 4/18/18 at 4:24pm

SeanD2 said: "LGBT Americans make up roughly 3.4% of the population. There are 25 musicals currently on Broadway. Mathematically only 0.85 shows should feature an LGBT protagonist to accurately reflect the makeup of the country."

Actually, there's no clear percentage of the LGBT population since it's difficult and tricky to detect someone's sexual orientation. Besides, are you saying that minority groups should have less options and less representation than straight, white people? That doesn't sound right to me.

"As opposed to the overwhelming number of LGBT protagonists on TV and in movies?"

Overwhelming? The large majority of TV shows and movies have straight protagonists.

Updated On: 4/18/18 at 04:24 PM

[SeanD2]

Posted: 4/18/18 at 4:40pm

Evsever said: "Actually, there's no clear percentage of the LGBT population since it's difficult and tricky to detect someone's sexual orientation. Besides, are you saying that minority groups should have less options and less representation than straight, white people? That doesn't sound right to me."

I'm saying that the representation on Broadway in regards to sexual orientation and gender identity isn't out of whack with the population as a whole. I'm all for more representation, and think that's a worthy goal. But the current level of representation is not a horrific slight to the LGBT community that you seem to feel it is. Plenty of minority groups have less representation on Broadway than the LGBT community does.

[haterobics]

Posted: 4/18/18 at 4:47pm

Evsever said: "Overwhelming? The large majority of TV shows and movies have straight protagonists."

Yes, which makes Broadway not a unique example for your thesis and proof that you can't really detect sarcasm online.

[Evsever]

Posted: 4/18/18 at 4:54pm

SeanD2 said: "I'm saying that the representation on Broadway in regards to sexual orientation and gender identity isn't out of whack with the population as a whole. I'm all for more representation, and think that's a worthy goal. But the current level of representation is not a horrific slight to the LGBT community that you seem to feel it is. Plenty of minority groups have less representation on Broadway than the LGBT community does."

LGBT people feel that they're underrepresented, and how they feel about it is valid and understandable. The fact of the matter is, there has been a huge lack of LGBT protagonists. There's just not that much to choose from. And using the percentage of their population against them is rude and unfair: "Oh there's only three percent of you guys, so you get one show with a gay protagonist once a year, and that's it!"........Um no. 

Updated On: 4/18/18 at 04:54 PM

[haterobics]

Posted: 4/18/18 at 5:07pm

Evsever said: "And using the percentage of their population against them is rude and unfair"

Well, if your thesis is LGBT people are underrepresented, you need some barometer for what representation is beyond wanting more than we have now. So, if we add one more, you'd be OK? Or is it two? If something is underrepresented, a similar metric must exist for when that no longer exists. If 3% of the population is LGBT and 4% of Broadway lead and featured roles are LGBT, that would be something to look at.

You'd certainly use that number if it proved your point, so not sure why it is evil if it disproves it.

[BroadwayStar4]

Posted: 4/18/18 at 5:10pm

SeanD2 said: "LGBT Americans make up roughly 3.4% of the population. There are 25 musicals currently on Broadway. Mathematically only 0.85 shows should feature an LGBT protagonist to accurately reflect the makeup of the country."

Oh boy, why would you say this? Ugh. Firstly, some sources are saying 10%, others are saying 5%. Either way, it doesn't matter and it's illogical to use a minority group's population as a tool to show how many times they should be represented. I mean for crying out loud, 0.85 shows? You might as well leave them with crumbs.

Everyone deserves equal representation. Period.

Updated On: 4/18/18 at 05:10 PM

[Luminaire2]

Posted: 4/18/18 at 5:19pm

Representation matters, and is important. We need more representation of every group in general. How great would it be if it could just be normal to have random minorties be protagonists for no reason at all? Why can’t it just be normalized?

Imagine a show where a character was gay, or black, or First Nations, or Asian and it really didn’t matter to the story, it wasn’t a part of the story persay, it was just a part of who the person was?

[haterobics]

Posted: 4/18/18 at 5:29pm

Luminaire2 said: "Representation matters, and is important. We need more representation of every group in general. How great would it be if it could just be normal to have random minorties be protagonists for no reason at all? Why can’t it just be normalized?"

Yes, but that is different from saying something is underrepresented, based entirely on a feeling, since that isn't anything that can be addressed, since it is defined solely by the person making the claim. I'm not a lesbian cartoonist or a black drag queen, so from my standpoint, Broadway hasn't really spoken to me aside from Significant Other lately, hmm, only I think that character was Jewish, and I'm not Jewish, so that's only half a point toward representation.

And if you ask Harvey Fierstein, Lola represents trans people, but if you ask Billy Porter, Lola is a drag queen, so which part of LGBT does she (or he) represent?

Also, limiting a discussion to representation within theater to Broadway is like judging Hollywood only on blockbusters, and ignoring all of Off-Broadway and independent movies, which is where (let's face it), you're going to find more LGBT representation.

[BroadwayStar4]

Posted: 4/18/18 at 5:42pm

haterobics said: "Yes, but that is different from saying something is underrepresented, based entirely on a feeling, since that isn't anything that can be addressed, since it is defined solely by the person making the claim."

It's not just a feeling, but it's also pretty obvious that they're underrepresented. Straight people get to have countless of shows with straight protagonists, meanwhile gay people only get a few here and there....and why? Just because they're minorities? So straight, white people should always be the protagonists just because they're the majority? Do you not see how problematic that is?

Updated On: 4/18/18 at 05:42 PM

[BroadwayRox3588]

Posted: 4/18/18 at 5:54pm

Updated On: 4/18/18 at 05:54 PM

[dearalanaaaa]

Posted: 4/18/18 at 5:54pm

As a part of the racial minority, I see these issues. I'd love a show (play or not) with a mixed bi lead who goes out and makes change in their community through small actions for the good, and while these identities pose obstacles, it's not the main storyline. And the message you leave with is love and acceptance for all, (a CNN hero type of person-- doesn't save the world but helps enough people that they're a good person)

[BroadwayRox3588]

Posted: 4/18/18 at 6:09pm

A solution: Pick up a pen & paper, and start writing a musical with an LGBT protagonist.

[Evsever]

Posted: 4/18/18 at 6:34pm

BroadwayRox3588 said: "A solution: Pick up a pen & paper, and start writing a musical with an LGBT protagonist."

I'm flattered that you think I have the time and the talent to write a musical, and you think I have connections in show business to make it happen, but in actuality, that's not something that I have. I don't think telling people "well, write your own" is gonna fix the root of the problem. Even if I had Sondheim's talent and came out with a musical with a gay protagonist, that's still just one show. 

[greensgreens]

Posted: 4/18/18 at 6:42pm

Luminaire2 said

Imagine a show where a character was gay, or black, or First Nations, or Asian and it really didn’t matter to the story, it wasn’t a part of the story persay, it was just a part of who the person was?

Isn’t this exactly what’s going on at Frozen???