Predict when we will have a proper representation of LGBTQ+ in ITV

During these dark ages of ITV, when channels are competing against each other to feed as much toxicity as possible, and when the 'TRP' aunties never seem to get bored of the saas-bahu drama, it seems funny to even consider that one day, there will be a day when we will see a proper representation.

But this runs much deeper, The ITV (no matter how silly it is) is a mirror of the society. The shows show us what is still consider normal in society. Shows which at least show things like: infidelity, polygamy, female infanticide, rape, child marriages, second-marriges, inter caste/religion marriages, at least admit that these things are happening in society. Whether they show in positive/negative light depends on the toxicity the creators want in their story. And it also shows that the audience are OK with that, they consider things like these 'normal'.

But by not even having a verbal representation of these communities in ITV, these communities are treated as unnatural or non-existent.

LGBTQ+ representation have improved in other places such as movies and OTT series, but we all know that it has still long way to go. Movies may still have far wider reach but OTT series are mostly seen by youth and that too mostly urban youth.

It is ITV that has far wider reach. Every family at least sees one drama. They more influential.

In current times I am sure there will be no producer who want to produce a show which has or even slightly mentions these communities. 'TRP aunties' can get angry and in the worst case scenario, it can be used as a political tool or in the least case, the show might be cancelled in 2 weeks. It is too much risk.

So My Prediction:

"20 Years"

Please tell your prediction:

Sorry, I can't predict how much longer Hindi TV will stay in its heterosexist fantasy world, because I haven't watched enough Hindi serials to get a sense of what they are trying to do.

I watched Mehandī Hai Racanevālī, in which the character Farhad quoted "Sri Sri Sri Karan Johar" and was mistaken as gay by the male lead's mother Jaya, who tried to keep him away from her son. Farhad was abruptly paired with a woman about a month later, and never had any life of his own. There were also two scenes of the male lead making homophobic remarks. Once, when his wife asked which gadhā called him cute, he said, "Gadhā? Don't know. Gadhī is better." His wife asked, what difference does it make? He replied, "Tuma śāyada modern nikalā!" As if bisexuality is a fashion! Later, when he asked whether his wife had undressed him after he had passed out drunk, and he was relieved to hear that Farhad had done it, she joked that he would prefer to be undressed by a boy, and he retorted that his mind is "single-track, not double-track," and he's not "aisā-vaisā!" The producer of the show once said in an interview that he would like to see gay characters on Indian TV, but what made it to screen on his show only reinforced bigotry.

It is incredibly frustrating that these "family" dramas never progress past the "comedy" scene of a horrified middle-aged busybody thinking that someone is gay and trying to keep him away. Middle-aged people and grandparents have life experience. We aren't invariably bigots!

Every family has gay/lesbian members, and everyone knows someone with transgender identity. You know them, but if they haven't come out to you, that is a tragedy. Fiction in any medium has the power to open minds, portray adjustment, and prevent tragedy in real life.

I am tired of seeing only perfectly heterosexual and cis-gendered families. As much as I've enjoyed some Marathi daily dramas, I think that they could be more realistic about diversity and still satisfy my escapism.

On the Marathi serial Jīva Zhālā Yeḍāpisā, I think there were a few attempts to push the envelope. One of the villains, politician Narapat Chikane, was unmarried; one of his henchmen asked him why, and Narapat retorted with a threat. It was a subtle hint that Narapat might be gay, although he later preened and said that women would find him handsome. The male lead Shiva's family used to refer to his best friend JaLaWa as his "second wife," which is heterosexist, of course, but it was played as affectionate recognition of the deep (apparently platonic) attachment that JaLaWa had for Shiva.

I have been thinking of writing a fan fiction in which JaLaWa and Shiva had more than friendly feelings.

20 years? 🤣 I don't think ITV would "dare" to do some realist portrayal.

I’m trying to think how ITV has evolved in the last 20 years. Has it? If anything it might have regressed… seems to me it has a longer evolutionary cycle than that.

The first gay kiss on US TV was ca. early 1990s iirc. so about 30 years ago. I would venture the TV shows there in the 50s-60s were in the vein of our current largely patriarchal, family oriented, traditional gender role type shows. So that puts us about 60-70 years behind. Based on that I’d guess 30-40 years before we see any serious LGBTQ programming.

(I’m being somewhat tongue in cheek. Somewhat…)