Difference between revisions of "Reality Television and the LGBTQ Community"

Latest revision as of 15:00, 21 September 2024

Reality television is a genre of television show that presents its characters and story line in an unscripted and spontaneous format, intending the show to represent real life with real people. Over the past twenty five years, it has become one of the largest segments of programming on television networks, specialty channels, and streaming services.

The vast majority of reality television shows are competitive in nature with a focus on a specific profession or skill. These include singing, cooking, modelling, dancing, slam poetry, and more. Many of the shows set up their characters in programmed elimination bouts, with the final character standing declared the winner. A smaller number of the shows are focused on documenting the daily lives of the characters in the show and their interactions with others.

To appreciate the size of the industry, we have identified a total of 84 global reality television shows from 29 countries that have had prominent LGBTQ representation. In many cases, the original show concept has been so popular that it has become an international franchise that is replicated in numerous countries and which are broadcast more locally.

LGBTQ representation can be by way of producers or directors of the show, hosts, or characters. Many of theses individuals have become household names around the world as a result of their profile on reality television.

The ranking of the top thirteen shows in terms of the greatest number of LGBTQ participants is: the Big Brother franchise; RuPaul Drag Race franchise; the Idol franchise; X Factor and Project Runway (tied); Eurovision; the Next Top Model franchise; Top Chef; The Amazing Race and The Voice (tied); and So You Think You Can Dance, the Got Talent franchise, and the Queer Eye franchise (tied).

The wide acceptance of LGBTQ individuals in reality television has helped educate the public about the community. The appeal of this genre has helped move the dial forward on tolerance around the issue of sexual orientation, and the wide representation of lesbians, gays, transgender and others has truly reflected the diversity of the community itself. Because it is reality television, the community believes they are being represented authentically and are shown as a genuine and real segment of society. The success of the genre is because the shows are entertaining and the audience develops an intense interest in the characters' lives. In the quest for ratings however, there is concern about the risk of sensationalizing the characters to the extreme to attract popularity and advertising support.

We have identified the following LGBTQ individuals as prominent in the reality television industry around the world. Simply click on their name to read more about each of them.

Australia

• Jordan Bruno, My Kitchen Rules
• Anthony Callea, Australian Idol
• Tim Campbell, Dancing With the Stars
• Dominic Clarke, The Voice
• Joel Creasey, I'm A Celebrity...Get Me Out of Here
• Maria Thattil, I'm A Celebrity...Get Me Out of Here

Austria

• Conchita Wurst, Eurovision

Brazil

• Jean Wyllys, Big Brother Brazil

Bulgaria

• Lucy Diakovska, Music Idol

Cameroon

• BeBe Zahara Benet, RuPaul's Drag Race

Canada

• Jeffrey Bowyer-Chapman, Canada's Drag Race
• Gigi Gorgeous, The Avenue
• Brooke Lynn Hytes, Canada's Drag Race, RuPaul's Drag Race
• Sabrina Jalees, Vanderpump Rules
• James Makokis, The Amazing Race Canada
• Stacey McKenzie, Canada's Drag Race, Canada's Next Top Model
• Rosa Mendes, Total Divas
• Mike Ruiz, America's Next Top Model, RuPaul's Drag Race
• Emanuel Sandhu, So You Think You Can Dance Canada
• Jenna Talackova, Brave New Girl
• Ilona Verley, Canada's Drag Race
• Richie Wilcox, Canadian Idol

Denmark

• Tommy Ahlers, Dragon's Den

Finland

• Saara Aalto, The X Factor
• Sauli Koskinen, Big Brother
• Jani Toivola, Idols

Great Britain

• Nicola Adams, Strictly Come Dancing
• Luke Anderson, Big Brother
• David Atherton, The Great British Bake Off
• Amanda Barrie, Celebrity Big Brother
• Remy Blumenfeld, Come Dine With Me, I'm a Celebrity...Get Me Out of Here
• Jeremy Brandrick, Project Runway
• Talulah-Eve Brown, Britain's Next Top Model
• Paul Burrell, I'm a Celebrity...Get Me Out of Here
• Rylan Clark, Celebrity Big Brother, X Factor
• Julian Clary, Celebrity Big Brother
• Robin Cousins, Dancing on Ice
• Tom Daley, Splash
• Evan Davis, Dragon's Den
• Levi Davis, Celebrity X Factor
• Mark Foster, Strictly Come Dancing, The Weakest Link
• Honey G, The X Factor
• Jess Glynne, The X Factor
• Julie Goodyear, Celebrity Big Brother
• Jordan Gray, The Voice
• Nick Grimshaw, X Factor
• Jaymi Hensley, The X Factor
• Becky Hill, The Voice UK
• Craig Revel Horwood, Strictly Come Dancing
• Colin Jackson, Strictly Come Dancing
• Jessica Kellgren-Fozard, Britain's Missing Top Model
• Edd Kimber, The Great British Bake Off
• Andrew Kinlochan, The Only Gays in the Village, Popstars: The Rivals
• Jamie Lambert, Britain's Got Talent
• Derek Laud, Big Brother
• Ollie Locke, Celebrity Big Brother
• Joe McElderry, X Factor, Popstar to Operastar
• John Partridge, Celebrity Big Brother
• Jonathan Phang, Britain's Next Top Model
• Vangelis Polydorou, The Voice UK
• Lee Ryan, Celebrity Big Brother
• Jill Scott, I'm a Celebrity...Get Me Out of Here
• George Shelley, The X Factor, I'm A Celebrity...Get Me Out of Here
• Ranj Singh, Strictly Come Dancing
• Sanjay Sood-Smith, The Apprentice
• Louie Spence, Dancing On Ice, Celebrity Circus
• Lucy Spraggan, The X Factor
• Chris Steed, Gogglebox
• Matt Terry, XFactor UK
• Ian H. Watkins, Celebrity Big Brother
• Andy West, Big Brother
• John Whaite, Great British Bake Off
• Layton Williams, Strictly Come Dancing
• Matthew Williamson, Project Runway
• Will Young, Pop Idol

Iceland

• Paul Oscar, Eurovision

India

• Bobby Darling, Big Boss
• Vikas Gupta, Big Boss, Fear Factor
• Karan Johar, Jhalak Dikhhla Jaa, India's Got Talent, India's Next Superstars

Ireland

• Brian Dowling, Big Brother, Celebrity Big Brother
• Brian Kennedy, Eurovision
• Riyadh Khalaf, Celebrity Chef
• Anna Nolan, Big Brother

Israel

• Assi Azar, Big Brother Israel, Eurovision, The Next Star
• Jason Danino-Holt, Eurovision
• Dana International, Eurovision
• Gili Shem Tov, Dancing With the Stars

Italy

• Gabriele Bertaccini, Say I Do
• Alex Di Giorgio, Dancing With the Stars
• Bruno Tonioli, Dancing With the Stars

Jamaica

• Michael Gunning, The Bi Life

Mexico

• Miriam Rivera, Big Brother Australia

New Zealand

• Tamati Coffey, Dancing With the Stars, New Zealand's Got Talent

Norway

• Tooji, Eurovision

Pakistan

• Ali Saleem, Big Boss

Peru

• Nicola Porcella, La Casa de los Famosos México

Philippines

• Rose Fostanes, The X Factor Israel
• Rica Paras, Piony Big Brother
• Charice Pempengco, The X Factor

Puerto Rico

• Ricky Martin, The Voice Australia, The Voice Mexico

Romania

• Leonard Miron, Eurovision

Serbia

• Marija Serifovic, Eurovision

Singapore

• Tila Tequila, A Shot At Love With Tila Tequila

South Korea

• Som Hye In, Idol School

Sweden

• Fredrik Eklund, Million Dollar Listing New York
• Anton Hysen, Let's Dance
• Loreen, Swedish Idol, Eurovision
• Eddie Razaz, Idol
• Darin Zanyar, Idol

Taiwan

• Li Jing, Super Idol

Thailand

• Piyarat Kaljareuk, Drag Race Thailand
• Pongsak Rattanapong, Academy Fantasia

The Netherlands

• Nikkie de Jager, I Can Make You a Supermodel
• Loiza Lamers, Holland's Next Top Model
• Duncan Laurence, Eurovision

United States

• Jonathan Adler, Top Design
• Clay Aiken, American Idol
• Ted Allen, Chopped, Queer Eye for the Straight Guy
• Jared Allman, Girls Who Like Boys Who Like Boys
• David Archuleta, American Idol
• Austin Armacost, Celebrity Big Brother
• Chip Arndt, Amazing Race
• Fenton Bailey, World of Wonder production company
• Randy Barbato, World of Wonder production company
• Lance Bass, Dancing With the Stars
• Rebecca Black, The Four
• Chaz Bono, Dancing With the Stars
• Wayne Brady, Dancing With The Stars
• Jeremiah Brent, Say I Do
• Karamo Brown, Queer Eye, The Real World
• Nao Bustamante, Work of Art: The Next Great Artist
• Regie Cabico, Def Poetry Jam
• J.P. Calderon, Survivor
• Carmen Carrera, RuPaul's Drag Race
• Aaron Carter, House of Carters, Dancing With the Stars
• Ross Cassidy, Million Dollar Decorators
• Ashley Catharine, Verses and Flow
• Elgin Charles, Good Hair
• Chris Cheng, Top Shot
• Kim Chi, RuPaul's Drag Race
• Margaret Cho, Dancing With the Stars
• Milan Christopher, Love & Hip Hop: Hollywood
• Andy Cohen, Housewives series
• Cat Cora, Iron Chef America
• Laverne Cox, Transform Me
• Alan Cumming, The Traitors
• Frenchie Davis, The Voice, American Idol
• Ellen DeGeneres, American Idol
• Ariana DeBose, So You Think You Can Dance
• Nyle DiMarco, Dancing With the Stars
• Kyan Douglas, Queer Eye for the Straight Guy
• Drew Elliott, America's Next Top Model
• Laganja Estranja, RuPaul's Drag Race
• Matt Evers, Dancing on Ice
• Tiffani Faison, Top Chef
• Thom Filicia, Queer Eye for the Straight Guy
• Josh Flagg, Million Dollar Listing Los Angeles
• Clark Frasier, Top Chef
• Mark Gaier, Top Chef
• De’Borah Garner, The Voice
• Jesse Godderz, Big Brother
• Julie Goldman, RuPaul's Drag U
• Frankie Grande, America's Best Dance Crew
• Mitch Grassi, The Sing Off
• Mollee Grey, So You Think You Can Dance
• Kathy Griffin, Kathy Griffen: My Life on the D-List
• Tim Gunn, Project Runway
• Todrick Hall, American Idol
• Bob Harper, The Biggest Loser
• Sam Harris, Star Search
• Richard Hatch, Survivor
• Asher HaVon, The Voice
• Tyler Henry, E!Hollywood Medium
• David Hernandez, American Idol
• Madison Hildebrand, Million Dollar Listing Los Angeles
• Cory Wade Hindorff, America's Next Top Model
• Chamique Holdsclaw, Fix My Life
• Julianne Hough, America's Got Talent, Dancing With the Stars
• Branden James, America's Got Talent
• Lauren Jauregui, The X Factor
• Caitlyn Jenner, Keeping Up With the Kardashians
• EJ Johnson, Rich Kids of Beverly Hills
• Rafe Judkins, Survivor
• Anthony Steven Kalloniatis, Last Comic Standing
• Josh Kilmer-Purcell, The Fabulous Beekman Boys, The Amazing Race
• Isis King, America's Next Top Model
• Kristen Kish, Top Chef
• Claire Kittrell, Hollywood Hillbillies
• Jonathan Knight, The Amazing Race
• Michael Kors, Project Runway
• Carson Kressley, Queer Eye for the Straight Guy, How to Look Good Naked, Dancing With the Stars, RuPaul's Drag Race
• Ronnie Kroell, Make Me a Supermodel
• Adam Lambert, American Idol
• Reichen Lehmkuhl, The Amazing Race
• Jeff Lewis, Flipping Out
• Lazarus Lynch, Chopped
• Jenna Lyons, The Real Housewives of New York
• Anita Lo, Top Chef
• Lance Loud, An American Family
• Demi Lovato, The X Factor USA
• Ilona Maher, Dancing With The Stars
• Sanjaya Malakar, American Idol, I'm a Celebrity...Get Me Out of Here
• Kelly Mantle, RuPaul's Drag Race
• Jeffrey Alan Marks, Million Dollar Decorators
• Ross Mathews, RuPaul's Drag Race
• Trixie Mattel, RuPaul's Drag Race
• Michael Mejia, Skin Wars
• Ashley Merriman, Top Chef
• Jillian Michaels, The Biggest Loser
• Tiq Milan, I'm From Rolling Stone
• Preeti Mistry, Top Chef
• Monifah, R&B Divas
• Jonathan Murray, Keeping Up With the Kardashians, The Real World, Project Runway
• Sharon Needles, RuPaul's Drag Race
• Josephine Ochoa, Nuestra Belleza Latina
• George Ortiz, Project Runway
• James Oseland, Top Chef
• Rayvon Owen, American Idol
• Raquel Pennington, The Ultimate Fighter
• Jordan Pious, The Amazing Race
• Monica Pope, Top Chef
• Zachary Posen, Project Runway
• Yigit Pura, Top Chef: Just Desserts
• Traver Rains, America's Next Top Model, Project Runway
• Santino Rice, Project Runway, RuPaul's Drag Race
• Law Roach, America's Next Top Model
• Raja, RuPaul's Drag Race
• Marcellas Reynolds, Big Brother
• Jen Richards, I am Cait
• Brent Ridge, The Fabulous Beekman Boys
• Cody Rigsby, Dancing With The Stars
• Danny Roberts, The Real World
• Fatima Robinson, The Voice
• RuPaul, RuPaul's Drag Race
• Mia Ryan, Houston Beauty
• Tyra Sanchez, RuPaul's Drag Race
• Benjamin Schwimmer, So You Think You Can Dance
• Amiyah Scott, Real Housewives of Atlanta
• Adam Shankman, So You Think You Can Dance
• Ari Shapiro, The Mole
• Jenny Shimizu, Make Me a Supermodel
• Miles Siir Brock, Love and Hip Hop: Hollywood
• Christian Siriano, Project Runway
• JoJo Siwa, The Masked Singer, Dance Moms
• Terrance Stone, American Idol
• Jonathan Van Ness, Queer Eye
• Jaymes Vaughn, The Amazing Race
• Sasha Velour, RuPaul's Drag Race
• Jim Verraros, American Idol
• Nick Verreos, Project Runway
• Michelle Visage, RuPaul's Drag Race, Ireland's Got Talent, Strictly Come Dancing
• Daniel Vosovic, Project Runway
• Travis Wall, So You Think You Can Dance
• Johnny Weir, Dancing With The Stars
• Mike White, Survivor
• Dashaun Williams, America's Best Dance Crew
• Nathan Hale Williams, Girls Who Like Boys Who Like Boys
• Jody Williams, Chopped
• Avery Wilson, The Voice
• Braunwyn Windham-Burke, Real Houswives of Orange County
• Vern Yip, Design Star, Trading Places
• Pedro Zamora, The Real World

Vietnam

• Thai Nguyen, Say I Do

See Also

• Boy Band Members Who Are Out As Gay, Bisexual or Queer
• Top Television News Anchors Who Identify as LGBTQ
• Lesbian Film and Television Producers and Directors
• Soap Opera Stars and Producers Who Identify as LGBTQ

Further Reading/Research

• https://complicatingqueertheory.wordpress.com/queer-representations/reality-tv/
• https://www.vanityfair.com/hollywood/2019/09/reality-tv-dating-shows-queer-representation
• https://www.palgrave.com/gp/book/9783030142148

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