In the past, the show "Grey's Anatomy" on ABC has been praised for integrating diversity into its storylines. An Asian doctor had a serious relationship with an African American doctor, an openly gay actor was defended by the network against anti-homosexual sentiments, and a lesbian relationship between two doctors had been developing. However, last week's episode and the rumors surrounding it have created concern. The actor who played the lesbian doctor Erica Hahn left the show abruptly, leaving questions both for the characters of the show and for its fans. The storyline did not have a resolution; it simply ended. As an avid Grey’s watcher, I was confused at the message of the network. Perhaps I was reading too much into it and Erica Hahn was simply not a good character for the show. I hope this is the case, especially due to ABC’s past record of defending and promoting acceptance among cast and plotlines.
Last night’s episode continued my questioning of the intent and effects of the writing of Grey’s Anatomy. Callie, the other person in the lesbian relationship, made comments to fellow characters that she would continue to be gay in the future. I’m not sure if that is the correct way to make that statement, but those were essentially her words. I don’t really know how I feel about Callie suddenly “becoming” a lesbian on the show. She was married to another male doctor and had sexual relationships with other male doctors on the show, even during her relationship with Erica Hahn. I feel like perhaps Grey’s is portraying homosexuality as something that can be “discovered” in one’s adult life, that someone can “turn gay” as a result of failed heterosexual relationships. If this is the message people are taking from the show, I think that it reflects poorly on the writers of the show.
Perhaps I am reading too much into this; after all, it is just a weekly drama, not an educational program. However, I know that many people are avid Grey’s fans, and this might be the only experience with homosexuality that they encounter. I hope that ABC is careful in the future as to their portrayal of any diverse group of people, whether it is a doctor or a patient on Grey’s Anatomy. I have not heard any negativity about the Callie/Erica lesbian storyline, and I hope there is not any in the future.
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I found this post very interesting because I myself and also very into the show. I had the same thought about the two characters and also thought of this class when I saw this episode. When you said it made it seem as though the character was just becoming a lesbian I thought of the article Out of the Closet and onto the Bookshelves, by Mari M. Mclean. She discusses common stereotypes that are found in GLBT literature and I think one of them represents this situation in the show perfectly. She says that in the literature characters are portrayed as becoming gay and lesbian due to a traumatizing event. Although its not a death of a family member, Callie gets divorced, and then becomes a lesbian. Im sure that ABC did not do this on purpose, and did not even think about it in this way, but it does affect its viewers both homosexual and straight. If outsiders of the group are constantly introduced to gay or lesbians becoming homosexual in this way that is what they will only believe and know. Insiders to the group may see this and think that they are not normal because they may have always known or that it is not acceptable for them to come out to others if this is not the case. Its so interesting to me how everything connects to what we have learned in this course in some way. This is something to think about not only when portraying GLBT but also when portraying other diverse groups in the media and in the classroom because both insiders and outsiders are affected. We do not want to give innacurate information.
I'm also a fan of the show and was bothered by the relationship between Erica and Callie. I think in the beginning, the show was toying with sexual exploration and did a good job by allowing Callie to question her sexuality and Erica to find hers. They present the two possible scenarios: One realizes she's always been gay, and the other realizes that she's really not. However, like you've pointed out, the turning point was when Callie said that she would continue to be gay in the future. This invokes that sexuality is a choice. This is a misconception, sexuality is a genetic trait. While opposers to homosexuality promote that gay people choose to be gay, it is as much a part of them as being straight is to a straight person. The show made a serious error by adding that line because it infers that Callie can choose to be whatever sexual persuasion that she wants. That would be no different than a white man deciding one day to be black, or vice versa. Sexuality is something you are born with, whether or not you know right away is uncertain because of the pressures society places on us to conform to the norm. But nonetheless, sexuality is not a choice, it is genetically programmed into each and every one of us.
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