History Main / QueerShowGhetto

ButNotTooGay, AmbiguouslyGay, AmbiguouslyBi, and HideYourLesbians are often used to avoid the stigma of seeming "too gay" for people. AdaptationalSexuality is sometimes used to subvert this. Genres like {{Yaoi}}, {{Yuri}}, {{Josei}}, and the {{Bara}} are often designed specifically to be consumed by LGBT people, and therefore are not in a queer ghetto. M/M (male/male) romance is also not in a queer ghetto because, despite featuring gay male love interests, so much of it is written by and for cishet women.

%%* ''Film/{{Tomboy}}'' was successful despite [[AlternativeCharacterInterpretation either]] being about a preteen {{transgender}} child or about a young lesbian romance depending on your interpretation.

See also MinorityShowGhetto and GirlShowGhetto.

ButNotTooGay, AmbiguouslyGay, AmbiguouslyBi, and HideYourLesbians are often used to avoid the stigma of seeming "too gay" for people. AdaptationalSexuality is sometimes used to subvert this. Genres like {{Yaoi}}, {{Yuri}}, {{Josei}}, and the {{Bara}} are often designed specifically to be consumed by LGBT people, and therefore are not in a queer ghetto.

* ''WesternAnimation/StevenUniverse'' has several [[NoBiologicalSex technically genderless aliens]] who [[DiscountLesbians pass as female]] [[QueerRomance in love]] with each other but happens to be one of the most popular American cartoons of the mid-2010s.

* In the film version of ''Film/FriedGreenTomatoes'', the lesbian romance was toned down to being implied instead of explicit to market at mainstream audiences.

* Discussed in ''Literature/BreakfastAtTiffanys''. Holly is uninterested in the protagonist's book because it revolves around two female teachers and how one of them spreads scandalous rumors about her friend in protest of her getting engaged. Holly mentions that stories about lesbians bore her, though she doesn't mind lesbians and is [[BiTheWay bisexual herself]].

* ''Film/{{Milk}}'', the biopic of assassinated early gay activist and politician Harvey Milk, won two Oscars but is barely known (to the point that Music/SamSmith mistakenly thought that he was the first gay artist to win an Oscar). Of course, it was written by Creator/DustinLanceBlack, whose original productions are mostly limited to be for an LGBTFanbase.

* {{Lampshaded}} in one of Creator/NeilPatrickHarris' {{Tony|AwardWinners}} [[UsefulNotes/{{Broadway}} Awards]] opening performances, where he does a number saying that "[Broadway]'s not just for gays anymore".

* Discussed, alongside the MinorityShowGhetto and GirlShowGhetto, in "Dumb" from the ''Music/StraightOuttaOz''. Being a queer black man makes it harder for Todrick's music to hit the mainstream:

Naturally this denotes an LGBTFanbase, and these works are more likely than others to have [[QueerCharacterQueerActor queer actors]], too.

* ''Film/BendItLikeBeckham'' was originally about a romance between two women interested in football. That was removed both due to worries that the film would be too niche and due to not wanting to perpetuate the LesbianJock stereotype. They ended up tacking a heterosexual subplot to the film at the last moment.

* ''Film/{{Milk}}'', the biopic of an early gay activist and politician who was assassinated, won two Oscars, but is barely known (to the point that Music/SamSmith mistakenly thought that he was the first gay artist to win an Oscar). Of course, it was written by Creator/DustinLanceBlack, whose original productions are mostly limited to be for an LGBTFanbase.

-->''And just don't tell the world that you're--shh!''

%%* ''Film/{{Tomboy}}'' was successful despite [[AlternativeCharacterInterpretation either]] being about a preteen {{transgender}} child or about a young lesbian romance depending on your interpretation
%%* ''Theatre/TheChildrensHour'', along with the original play, is about two women who get mistaken for a couple in the early 20th century. Despite (or because of) the [[ItWasHisSled popular 'spoiler']] that Martha was in love with Karen it's well known. Co-staring Creator/AudreyHepburn probably helped.
* ''Film/BoysDontCry'' is a bio film about a trans man (though [[MisaimedFandom many]] [[TransEqualsGay mistake it for a lesbian story]]) however it avoided the ghetto by becoming mainstream. It has even won a few awards.

* ''Film/ThorRagnarok'' had a brief scene cut revealing that Valkyrie was bisexual - although the subtext is still there if you interpret the warrior dying in the flashback to be [[TheLostLenore her lover]]. WordOfGod is that it interrupted the flow of the film (despite being all of ten seconds), and may suspected it was to avoid putting the movie in the ghetto.
* ''Film/BohemianRhapsody'' doesn't shy away from Freddie Mercury's bisexuality, yet it became a hit and received several awards. In fact, the film's success was largely thanks to it's very positive audience reactions, as professional critics thought the film was SoOkayItsAverage.

* ''Series/ThirteenReasonsWhy'' has a few prominent gay characters like Tony, Ryan and Courtney. Although the latter two had less to do in Season 2, the same season did give Tony a love interest subplot.

* ''WesternAnimation/StevenUniverse'' has several [[NoBiologicalSex technically genderless aliens]] who [[DiscountLesbians pass as female]] [[QueerRomance in love]] with each other but happens to be one of the most popular American cartoons of the mid 2010s.

* Discussed, alongside the MinorityShowGhetto and FemaleShowGhetto, in "Dumb" from the ''Music/StraightOuttaOz''. Being a queer black man makes it harder for Todrick's music to hit the mainstream:

* In the film version of ''Film/FriedGreenTomatoes'' the lesbian romance was toned down to being implied instead of explicit to market at mainstream audiences.

* ''Film/SaveMe'', a drama about a gay drug user who goes to Jesus Camp and kind-of-sort-of starts to turn his life around and then decides that all these people are horrible and leaves, but comes back to reconcile because the people aren't horrible, but the institution is (or something)
* ''Film/TheMostlyUnfabulousSocialLifeOfEthanGreen'', a romantic comedy about a neurotic and chronically-single gay guy who constantly screws up all of his relationships, but then finds love (or something)
* ''Film/BoyCulture'', a drama about a world-weary, cynical gay male escort who forms a begrudging relationship with a rich client who, unlike most clients, just wants to talk to him. His conversations with the client lead him to realize that, despite his cynicism, he's in love with his roommate.

* ''Film/MySummerOfLove'', a coming of age psycho lesbian religious summer movie starring a young Creator/EmilyBlunt. Notably, it was the lesbian and 15-years-too-early version of ''Film/GodsOwnCountry'' (which is set in the same place and mixes MSOL's story with that of ''Film/BrokebackMountain''), which was mainstream popular in 2017/18.

* The American network [=LOGO=] was originally LGBT themed however it went through NetworkDecay to become more mainstream, and subsequently less outright lgbt material is shown on the channel.

* Referenced in "Radio Friendly Pop Song" by Matt Fishel, which is about how Hollywood forces musicians and actors into the closet in order to make them mainstream and conveniental:

* {{Lampshaded}} in one of Creator/NeilPatrickHarris' UsefulNotes/{{Tony|AwardWinners}} [[UsefulNotes/{{Broadway}} Awards]] opening performances, where he does a number saying that "[Broadway]'s not just for gays anymore".

* Despite being the pun of many "gay cowboy" jokes ''Film/BrokebackMountain'' is well known, and was even nominated for Best Picture at the Academy Awards.

* ''Series/{{Glee}}'' was quite popular and mainstream for several seasons, though its popularity dissolved later into the run, despite (or [[LGBTFanbase maybe because of]]) having multiple major lgbt characters and gay romances.
* ''Series/RuPaulsDragRace'' started off on Logo with no budget and little attention from the mainstream. It garnered increased attention each season, eventually transferring to sister network VH1 and winning several Emmys, including two for RuPaul herself.

* ''RuPaul's Drag Race'' started off on Logo with no budget and little attention from the mainstream. It garnered increased attention each season, eventually transferring to sister network VH1 and winning several Emmys for the show, including two for RuPaul herself.

%%[[folder: Live-Action TV]]
%%* ''Series/{{Glee}}'' was quite popular and mainstream for several seasons, though its popularity dissolved later into the run, despite (or [[LGBTFanbase maybe because of]]) having multiple major lgbt characters and gay romances.

%%[[/folder]]

%%[[folder: Western Animation]]
%%* ''WesternAnimation/StevenUniverse'' has several [[NoBiologicalSex technically genderless aliens]] who [[DiscountLesbians pass as female]] [[QueerRomance in love]] with each other but happens to be one of the most popular American cartoons of the mid 2010s.
%%[[/folder]]

* ''Film/BoysDontCry'' is a bio film about a trans man (though [[MisaimedFandom many mistake it]] for a lesbian story) however it avoided the ghetto by becoming mainstream. It has even won a few awards.

%%* ''Film/{{Tomboy}}'' was successful despite [[AlternativeCharacterInterpretation either]] being about a preteen {{transsexual}} child or about a young lesbian romance depending on your interpretation

%%* Despite being the pun of many "gay cowboy" jokes ''Film/BrokebackMountain'' is well known.

ButNotTooGay, AmbiguouslyGay, AmbiguouslyBi, and HideYourLesbians are often used to avoid the stigma of seeming "too gay" for people. AdaptationalSexuality is sometimes used to subvert this. Genres like {{Yaoi}}, {{Yuri}}, {{Josei}}, and the {{Bara}} are designed specifically to be consumed by LGBT people, and therefore are not in a queer ghetto.

!!Breaking Out of the Ghetto::

* ''Series/TheBigGaySketchShow'', which is basically a low-budget LGBT version of Saturday Night Live. It became marginally more famous later for having starred Creator/KateMcKinnon, who would go on to be a breakout hit of SNL.
* The American network [=LOGO=] was originally lgbt themed however it went through NetworkDecay to become more mainstream, and subsequently less outright lgbt material is shown on the channel.

%%[[AC:{{Anime}} & {{Manga}}]]

[[AC: {{Film}}]]

%%[[AC: LiveActionTV]]
%%* ''Series/{{Glee}}'' was quite popular and mainstream for several seasons, though its popularity [[DeaderThanDisco dissolved]] later into the run, despite (or [[LGBTFanbase maybe because of]]) having multiple major lgbt characters and gay romances.

%%[[AC: WesternAnimation]]

%%!!Exceptions:

%%[[AC: {{Film}}]]

%%* ''Film/BoysDontCry'' is a bio film about a trans man (though [[MisaimedFandom many mistake it]] for a lesbian story) however it avoided the ghetto.

%%* ''WesternAnimation/StevenUniverse'' has several technically genderless aliens who [[DiscountLesbians pass as female]] in love with each other but happens to be one of the most popular American cartoons of the mid 2010s.