An Epidemic Sweeps the Nation.

Crisis of Health: The emergence of the HIV/AIDS epidemic in the early 1980s had a profound impact on LGBTQ+ communities worldwide. As the epidemic unfolded, media coverage of HIV/AIDS increased, bringing issues of sexuality, health, and discrimination to the forefront of public consciousness. Despite public perception, the epidemic also led to greater visibility of LGBTQ+ individuals and communities, as activists and artists mobilized to raise awareness and demand action from governments and society. In fact, some artists and filmmakers dedicated themselves to seeking out gay content, hosting film festivals and other events.

Conservative Moral Values: The evangelical resurgence brought with it a renewed emphasis on conservative moral values, including traditional views on gender and sexuality. Evangelical leaders and organizations played a prominent role in advocating for “family values” and opposing what they perceived as threats to traditional heterosexual norms, including homosexuality. The growing influence of evangelical Christianity contributed to a cultural backlash against the perceived liberalization of American society during the 1960s and 1970s. This backlash manifested in various forms, including efforts to censor or restrict media content deemed morally objectionable, including depictions of homosexuality.

Moral Panic and Fearmongering: The emergence of HIV/AIDS fueled a moral panic characterized by fear, misinformation, and hysteria. Media coverage often sensationalized the epidemic, portraying it as a catastrophic threat to public health and portraying gay men as carriers of a deadly contagion. This fearmongering painted out gay men as vectors of immorality and wickedness.

“Empathy started really drying up, and especially empathy from men, towards men,” said Teresa Delfin, , an LGBTQ cultural anthropologist and professor at the University of Southern California. “So in some ways HIV and AIDS probably was applauded by some folks as an I told you so.”

Mainstream Breakthroughs: Though stigma and discrimination continued to persist, the 1980s saw breakthrough moments for LGBTQ+ representation in mainstream media. Films like “Philadelphia” featured prominent gay characters, albeit in tragic roles. The release of films like “Torch Song Trilogy” also garnered critical acclaim and introduced LGBTQ+ narratives to broader audiences.

Despite progress, LGBTQ+ representation in film and media during the 1970s and 1980s was still limited and fraught with challenges. Censorship, discrimination, and the perpetuation of stereotypes remained significant barriers to authentic and inclusive representation. LGBTQ+ filmmakers and creators faced obstacles in getting their work produced and distributed, and many had to navigate censorship and backlash from conservative groups.

Depiction of Gay Men: In films produced during this period, gay male characters were often depicted as villainous or tragic figures, reinforcing negative stereotypes and moralistic attitudes towards homosexuality. Gay relationships were rarely portrayed positively, and overt expressions of same-sex desire were often sanitized or euphemized to comply with prevailing societal norms. Studios and filmmakers became increasingly cautious about including gay characters or themes in their productions, fearing backlash from conservative groups and potential boycotts. As a result, LGBTQ+ representation in mainstream films became more scarce and often portrayed in negative or stereotypical ways.

“I did a survey a number of years ago where I really I sat with a focus group and tried to get them all to agree on what the American kind of boogeyman creature is,” explained Delfin “And the thing that they ended up agreeing on as the cultural boogeyman in this focus group was a white man in a white van. The fear of that perverted specter is related to gay panic.” 

Resistance and Subversion: Despite the challenges posed by the evangelical resurgence, LGBTQ+ filmmakers and artists continued to resist and subvert dominant narratives through alternative channels and genres. Independent filmmakers and underground artists created works that challenged traditional norms and provided more authentic and nuanced representations of gay men and their experiences.

“That queerness and outspoken lewdness then gets typified as perversion,” explained Delfin. “And so it sort of disempowers all of that work, the tropes that artists like Tom of Finland had created— of consensual gay sex. It takes all of the power out of those, and it brings us back to this frail— but now harmful— trope of gay masculinity.”