From the dawn of film and television, these media have trafficked in stereotypes for both comedic and dramatic effect. Such reductive treatment has extended to every possible minority group, but it does seem that gay people have been singled out with alarming frequency. Here we present some of the most tired clichés, broad stereotypes, and outright misinformation we've been subjected to at the local multiplex and in the privacy of our own living rooms.

But things have improved and you'll also find citations of movies and TV shows in which stereotypes have been held up to the light, lampooned and exploded. While it may often seem we take a step backward for every step forward, there has definitely been progress as well.

Inside every super-masculine man is a queen screaming to get out.

The current hit movie I Now Pronounce You Chuck and Larry (2007) tries to have it both ways, earning cheap laughs from stereotypes while ostensibly ridiculing them. Ving Rhames plays Duncan, a huge African-American so mean-looking that some of his fellow firefighters think he may be an ax murderer. But when Chuck and Larry “come out,” so does Duncan — in a big way. He goes so far as to sing “I'm Every Woman” in the communal shower, much to the chagrin of the other guys, who are so flustered that they keep dropping the soap.

This cliché is not a new one, by any means. In Victor Victoria (1982), gangster King Marchand (James Garner) has a bodyguard called Squash (Alex Karras). A former pro-football player, the burly Squash is the essence of stoic masculinity — until he comes to believe that his boss is gay. Next thing you know, Squash is weeping and kissing King on the cheek. Not long after that, we see him in bed with the flamboyantly homosexual entertainer Toddy (Robert Preston).

On the flip side: A better representation can be found in Kiss Kiss Bang Bang (2005) with Val Kilmer's Gay Perry, a tough-as-nails private eye who is traditionally masculine and loves show tunes showing the two need not be mutually exclusive.

As boys, all gay men prefer musical theater to sports.

To cite only the most recent example, one of the title character's sons in Chuck and Larry loves musicals and tap dances like a pro. We're supposed to laugh at the kid because these traits mark him as a homo — or, at least, a homo-in-training. (The fact that he's only about 11 years old makes this “joke” borderline offensive.)

On the flip side: A similar stereotype exists with Ugly Betty's Justin (Mark Indelicato), but in this case, the stereotype is examined (and not played for laughs) rather than being used as a means of alienating the character or categorizing him in a simplistic way. More good news: On the ABC Family series Greek, the gay character Calvin is traditionally masculine, was an all-star hockey player in high school and shows no signs he is about to belt out a rendition of “Over the Rainbow.”

Gay men love to cross dress.

If you didn't learn this from The Adventures of Priscilla, Queen of the Desert in 1994, the point was made again one year later in another movie with an even longer title: To Wong Foo, Thanks for Everything, Julie Newmar (1995). I don't know about you, but the sight of Terence Stamp and Patrick Swayze in full drag is still burned in my memory — and not necessarily in a good way. (But John Leguizamo looked really cute as a girl, didn't he?) Something to bear in mind: Studies have shown that a large percentage of cross-dressers are, in fact, heterosexual.

On the flip side: Gay slasher movie HellBent (2004) made the joke that men — gay or otherwise — can look pretty clumsy and ridiculous in drag by having the group's jock dress up as one of the screen's worst drag queens, stressing that not all gay men are transformed into sirens when they throw on a wig and lipstick. And movies like Smokin' Aces (2006), Everything You Always Wanted to Know About Sex* But Were Afraid to Ask (1972) and the upcoming Stardust (2007) explore cross-dressing as a wholly heterosexual occurrence.

Gay men spend all their time in dance clubs, have sex constantly, and are ill equipped to become involved in healthy romantic relationships.

Thanks to the creators of Queer as Folk for telling it like is! On the other hand, this series — we're talking about the American version, mind you — was so completely unrealistic that it's rather pointless to criticize it for perpetuating stereotypes. Any show that depicts Pittsburgh as having a world-class gay scene should be taken with an enormous grain of salt. Even the more balanced Six Feet Under had gay Fisher son David hitting the gay clubs the minute he broke up with Keith, with definite consequences.

On the flip side: Brothers & Sisters out Kevin Walker (Matthew Rhys) has thus far only been found in straight bars and has yet to bust a move. Of course, that didn't stop him from getting lucky at a bar near a military base.

Gay men endlessly engage in witty banter full of references to fabulous divas.

In The Boys in the Band (1970), the “boys” talk of Judy Garland, Maria Montez, Vera Hruba Ralston, et al. On TV's Will & Grace, references to Cher, Britney Spears, and Madonna flew fast and furious. But the point is the same: Gay men adore their divas and just can't stop talking about them.

On the flip side: Six Feet Under's David (Michael C. Hall) and Keith (Mathew St. Patrick) managed to go whole seasons without referencing a diva. Heck, Keith even managed to talk about things like paintball.