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Reality TV shows with gay contestants let those viewers who may not have any openly gay acquaintances get to know and even identify with real gays on a long-term basis. In a way, the genre successfully runs its own heartland version of the “stay close” ad campaign.

Moreover, with more and more gays agreeing to be filmed participants, reality TV facilitates the willingness on our part to be publicly exposed to middle America. It has been a builder of gay public self-confidence and empowerment.

The sheer number and variety of “real” gay persons presented in current reality shows is considerable. Such a high visibility can only help to counter the war of misinformation being waged against us and go on to provide greater gay recognition and social integration between gays and mainstream America.

Right-wingers may object to a U.S. entertainment industry they feel is elitist, leftist, liberal, pro-gay and out-of-touch. They have even scored some successes in boycotting scripted shows that depict gay characters on television. But they have no footing (not to mention no moral ground) in trying to censor unscripted, unrehearsed shows that include real gay people together with real straight people all just being themselves. (It's called reality .) And so far all anti-gay protestations to gay-inclusive reality TV have pretty much fallen flat.

There is a downside. In recent years, American television drama has become more violent and sexually explicit. Comedy has become edgier. Reality TV has also mutated into a genre that many believe presents ever nastier, more competitive, shameless and hurtful versions of “reality” to an ever-expanding audience.

As gays have learned, reality TV is a double-edged sword. Unlike the good-natured fun and harmless embarrassments of vintage reality offerings like the original Candid Camera and People are Funny, the modern reality genre can be more mean-spirited, and even ethically and morally reprehensible.

Who has not been repulsed by the cruel, tabloid, circus-freak atmosphere afforded to gays and transgenders in audience-participation “talk” shows such as Jerry Springer, Ricki Lake, Montel Williams, etc.? As the price for 15 minutes of fame, we allow our orientation to be exploited as a source of scorn and ridicule.

Just like any other participant, gays on reality TV can be harmed physically performing various stunts or even humiliated and emotionally abused when they fail to win. Furthermore, reality TV shows often glorify superficial and negative characteristics such as looks, greed and shrewdness over more positive inner, personal qualities. The genre can thus set a poor example for gay teens, with whom the shows are especially popular.

Additionally, some reality offerings like American Idol still suffer from entrenched, hetero-centric notions of talent that tend to exclude many kinds of “out” gay talent.

Reality TV is now more than just a trend. It is now a full-fledged entertainment form, just like soap operas, police dramas and the nightly news. And it's going to be around for a while.

Whether it ends up dissolving into television history or continues to evolve, gay life is now an integral part of the social, psychological, and ethical impact of this fascinating aspect of American entertainment culture.

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