Page 12 - LGBT Families

These include the desire for acceptance by the public and family
members as well as encountering bias in laws and public percep-
tions. Lindsey Steinert says she sees a real difference in attitudes
toward families like hers, and she thinks shows like this one have
something to do with that change. “In 2017 with shows like ‘Mod-
ern Family’ and ‘Orange is the New Black’ where same- sex re-
lationships are depicted as ‘the norm,’ it’s becoming increasingly
hard to believe—let alone recall—a time
when having same- sex parents wasn’t
considered ‘trendy’ or ‘cool,’” Steinert
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“TV has been a power- says.
ful infl uence because it Industry experts attribute the public’s
brings the lives of gays growing acceptance of LGBT individuals
and lesbians into peo- and families partly to the entertainment in-
ple’s homes and that dustry. “TV has been a powerful infl uence
has increased people’s
understanding.” 33 because it brings the lives of gays and
lesbians into people’s homes and that has
— Michael Lombardo, the
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programming president of HBO increased people’s understanding, says
Michael Lombardo of the cable network
HBO. HBO has brought the gay- themed
plays Angels in America and The Normal
Heart to television and has prominently featured gay characters,
some with children, on such series as Six Feet Under, Sex and the
City, and Looking.

Turning Negatives into Positives
Although the public perception of LGBT families has become
more positive overall, some segments of society still have nega-
tive views and misconceptions. Young people in LGBT families
are aware of these viewpoints and deal with them daily. Some
believe these negative experiences have made them stronger and
have also brought their families closer together.
Taisce Gillespie, who was raised by two moms, is one of these
people. He has turned negative experiences into positive action,

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