Gay rights in recent months and years have become a
worldwide issue. Nations and states have become divided on the issue, with citizens
either supporting it or vehemently opposing it. Families have become divided
because LGBT related differences.
Ghana, tucked away in its little corner of western Africa
has had its own share of gay rights related drama. Goggling
news articles in reference to the issue under discussion would bring up
hits such as Nana Oye’s brush with the Ghanaian media and general public when
she voiced out her intention to “protect rights of all Ghanians including gays
and lesbians” among others.
It’s rather ironic, to see how people cringe and protest at
the mention of homosexuality but
ignorantly embrace and gobble it up when
it served up by the mass media through television shows. Yes, almost all the
highly rated and most popular television shows coming from the west world are
underlined with subtle homosexual themes.
This might perhaps be accepted in the west where the phenomenon is tolerated.
Whether Africans or specifically Ghanians who watch these shows are oblivious
to these gay themes is unknown. If they are aware of it, does it mean they have
been desensitized or watch it with awed disgust?
Below is a list of three popular television shows that have elements
of homosexuality and lesbianism in them. These shows have characters of the
same sex who were either married or involved in a sexual relationship.
1. GREYS ANATOMY
This is an American medical drama
series created by Shonda Rhimes . The series revolves around a group of medical
students who are also friends. In the first season of the series, the main
characters enter Seattle Grace Hospital (the main setting of the series) as
medical students but then rise to become residents. The series is centered on
the academic life as well as the personal lives of the various characters. Two
female characters in the series who were both doctors were involved in a sexual
relationship and eventually had a lesbian wedding.
"calling dibs on tops tonight"
This series in particular was shown
on Ghanaian television station Viasat One.
I believe a lot of fans of the show found the whole thing entertaining
considering the way it all fitted in the storyline because there was no mention
of it in the Ghanaian media. The relationship of the two female characters
would be unacceptable in a Ghanaian setting. People have actually tried it and
have faced serious consequences from their communities. In the May of 2012, two
females in James Town were nearly lynched after their wedding was busted by an
angry mob. The above example shows the extent to which the Ghanaian society is
against the act.
So the question I ask is, do Ghanaians
accept the act as long as it is served up and garnished by the Mass media but
accept the harsh reality of it? Is this hypocrisy? Or a form of escape from
reality?
SPARTACUS:
This is an action series centered on the lives of gladiators
and their owners. Apart from the gory and bloody fights the show is also
popular for its explicit sexual content. Yes, the sex lives of the slave
gladiators and their owners are exploited in this TV show.
The homosexual content of this show is so overwhelming that
the show is now synonymous to gay rights promotion. In fact, there is a gay
guide pamphlet called “Spartacus International Gay guide” which contains
information on gay friendly countries, gay hangout spots in these countries and
other information which a gay person might find necessary.
Ironically, my Ghanaian friends love this show. Season one was
a huge hit here. I remember rushing to Circle to by one from my Nigerian C.D
vendor, only to be told there was a shortage. The guy then offered season one
and two of Hanna Montana at a discount price but I was like WTF!! “Do I look
Gay to you?”
Many Ghanaians cringe at the mention of homosexuality or
anything gay related, but watch a scene of Agron and Nasir move hot Gay love on
an episode of Spartacus without flinching.
Do we find it normal as long as it’s far from our reality or are we just
hypocrites?
GAME OF THRONES
This is an American fantasy series that has taken Ghana by
storm. Almost everyone I have come across recently has a season or two on his
or her laptop. In general the story is intriguing and very engaging. And even
though it does not have enough gay scenes like the above, it does have gay
characters. Brother of King Richard, loras and the knight of the flowers dude
are shown to make love a couple of times. They even shave hair off each other (
ewwwwww). But hey! My GH fans loved it. It fascinated them.
“Ouch!!! You poked
me!”
In conclusion, I will presume that the Ghanaian audience
have been so desensitized by the western media that they don’t “see” anything
wrong with the act as long as its fits into a story they are watching (fantasy).
But then, they snap back to reality when they are faced with it in the real
world. I also think that individually there are those who don’t mind the act or
the lifestyle but then follow the crowd out of fear of being shunned or prosecuted
