Comments on: Project Runway’s surprising homophobic editing

By: America’s Next Top Feminist Manifesto « Canonball

America’s Next Top Feminist Manifesto « Canonball — Wed, 16 Mar 2011 12:11:52 +0000

[...] To me it’s particularly disappointing in the case of The Real World, the lost child of reality television. Now they provoke and galvanize oftentimes hatefully ignorant sociopaths rather than give a platform to brave individuals seeking a chance to provide a face and a voice against prejudice. Though it is perhaps equally insulting that in Project Runway, a show with a nearly dominant gay fan base, gay men are allowed to be boundlessly talented, excessively flamboyant, tragically and heroically ill, but never romantic. [...]

By: nerdmafia

nerdmafia — Fri, 18 Dec 2009 06:03:20 +0000

there’s definitely a gay double standard on project runway. and not just a gay/straight double standard. there’s a gay male vs. lesbian double standard. the gay men on the show seem to be encouraged to be as “swishy” and fey and super gay as they can on the show, but the one and only (to my knowledge) out lesbian contestant on the show, zuleima griffin (who wanted it to be known that she was a lesbian with a wife of 3 years), was completely marginalized and edited out. to the extent that at the 2006 GLAAD awards, the “cast” of project runway was asked to present an award, and by cast, they clearly meant all the flamboyantly gay men from the show…also in an interview with RealityBlurred.com “that producers asked her, “Do you want us to promote you in the gay market?” She said yes, but she soon discovered that, in December, “Everyone was in the article in The Advocate about being gay but me.” in fashion, it’s only okay to be gay if you’re male. if you’re a gay female, you’d better keep it to yourself.

By: cybele

cybele — Sat, 07 Nov 2009 00:52:06 +0000

I’m sorry but I have to ask: Do you actually watch the shows on Bravo? Because you don’t seem to have a grasp at all. Bravo shows regularly feature gay contestants/people including their crushes, romances and romantic partners. Last season there was even a long-time lesbian couple competing against each other on Top Chef. And, as previously stated in another comment, other gay romances have been highlighted.

What you failed to mention in your obvious case of trying to garner attention for yourself is that Wesley was eliminated in the SECOND EPISODE. The viewers didn’t even know anyone’s names yet and you are calling them out for not highlighting their romance? To be perfectly honest, if the show was highlighting a “romance” after the people had known each other a week, I would find it a negative reflection on the people involved. And that would apply whether they were heterosexual, homosexual or liked to screw car stereos. To me, to become so quickly involved with each other in a situation where you are there to compete for something that could change your life, would look shallow. Maybe after living in close quarters for several weeks… but one? Sorry.

The Logan/Carol Hannah romance wasn’t really even mentioned on the show. The only thing that was said was that she thought he was cute and he liked her southern sayings. That’s it. And frankly there were very few people on the show who DIDN’T say that they thought Logan was cute. In fact, one of the gay male contestants went to far as to suggest that he might jump on him during the night. PR didn’t shy away from showing that. Furthermore, the media were the ones who outed the two as having a romance not the show. Maybe you should be attacking the AP instead?

I am very happy that the two gentlemen are still together and happy. I wish everyone happiness in love. Truly. But for them (and you) to say that Project Runway was homophobic in their treatment is ridiculous. I think maybe someone is trying to extend their 15 minutes of fame.

By: Giuseppe Zanotti Won’t Do Diffusion Line; Diane Von Furstenberg Robbed | Dámské kozačky

Tue, 27 Oct 2009 20:15:50 +0000

[...] Does Project Runway only show straight relationships and edit out gay ones? [True Slant via [...]

By: kb123

kb123 — Tue, 27 Oct 2009 18:07:32 +0000

This is phenomenally overstated. The first episode or two of any season of PR have been devoted to cast members getting acquainted with one another, with Tim/Heidi/etc. Regardless of whether there was a love at first sight situation between Wes and Daniel, the producers or editors can hardly be blamed for not having given air-time to what LATER became a serious relationship.

Moreover, I’ve watched this entire season and gotten out of it that Carol Hannah has a crush on Logan, or thinks he’s attractive, and he enjoys her company — I honestly didn’t even know whether he was straight or gay.

I have no doubt there are other hookups, arguments or relationships that didn’t make other seasons. What makes Project Runway great is that it’s never really stooped to covering the drama, good or bad. Even Carol Hannah and Logan has been in the context of them working next to each other, not making eyes at one another on rooftops.

By: tbone

tbone — Tue, 27 Oct 2009 15:40:42 +0000

The comparison between how Seasons 1-5 and 6 were produced is really unfair. As others have noted – new network, new producers.

Wesley was eliminated in Episode 2, so there was hardly any time to play the relationship up on camera anyways. And in fairness to Bravo, they acknowledged the relationship on their online aftershow program and did promote it via cast interviews.

A couple of cuts showing Logan and Carol Hannah flirting hardly constitutes a romance and the network has not really tried to promote it. The internet may be “abuzz” about it, but it was abuzz over Daniel and Wesley as well.

Although not directly pertinent to the argument, it should also be noted that Wesley and Daniel are no longer together. The link to “Most recently they traded commitment rings” is more than a year old!

I would argue that Bravo has done more to show gay people in a positive light than any other network through its myriad of reality programming. Lifetime now has the same opportunity to broaden its appeal.

If you want to argue homophobia on Project Runway, I think the bigger scandal was in Season 2. Zulema Griffin was an out lesbian but you would have never known it watching the show. In post-show interviews, she complained at how this was mentioned on camera in the confessionals, in the workroom and living space but always edited out. It was ok to be an openly gay man but not a woman!

By: nibblybits

nibblybits — Tue, 27 Oct 2009 01:41:19 +0000

Rather than your conspiracy theory regarding Project Runway’s gay/not-gay relationship policy, there’s actually a much simpler answer to why this season’s relationship is getting play. Which is that with the move to Lifetime and LA, the producer changed. Now the producers of The Real World are running the show, and sadly, in charge of the casting. Is there one designer on this season that is half as talented as some of the top people from previous seasons? This year’s designers suck, and were obviously chosen for reasons other than talent. Where are the Daniel Vosivics, the Christian Sirianos, the Jay Carrolls?

As such, that The Real World producers are putting much more emphasis on the infighting, the personality clashes, and the hookups than actual talent in designing leaves me unsurprised. They ruined the show.

By: sals1

sals1 — Tue, 27 Oct 2009 00:01:53 +0000

I disagree that it’s homophobic editing. Do you really think the network that’s famous for Queer Eye would do that?

Keep in mind that season 5 and season 6 have different networks and production companies. I think season 6’s producers (Bunim/Murray) are just trying to create some sort of story line for TV purposes. Season 5’s producers (Magical Elves) didn’t need to do any of that because of all the strong personalities on that season, such as Kenley.

The storyline of Daniel’s and Wesley’s relationship wasn’t even necessary because Wesley got eliminated 2nd. I was suprised and sad to see him go early, but his design was hard to forgive and he was in the bottom 2 with Leanne, who ended up winning that season.

I also recall during the time Season 5 was airing on TV, they showed clips of never-be-scene moments during commercials. one of them was about Daniel’s and Wesley’s relationship.

Andy Cohen was also supportive about their relationship. Both Daniel and Wes were on his aftershow. You could watch the clips on Bravo’s site.

By: aryanroe

aryanroe — Mon, 26 Oct 2009 20:09:31 +0000

Allison-
Great post! While I definitely agree with you about the fact that there is a certain level of homophobia involved in the way that the two differnt relationships have been handled, I think that it is more reflective of how the move to Lifetime has been bad for the show.

Overall, the quality of the show has really been dismal-from the delays due to the legal drama to the rotating cast of guest judges that have prevented any sort of coherent flow in the judging decisions. And even worse, by moving the show to L.a., you lose the ever-important charachter that is New York City.

Personally, I think in some ways that playing out the Carol Hannah/Logan relationship is really more about Lifetime trying to provide some distraction from the trainwreck that is Season Six. Here’s to hoping the move back to NYC for Season Seven will cure at least some of what is ailing the show!

By: Allison Kilkenny

Allison Kilkenny — Mon, 26 Oct 2009 17:43:34 +0000

But that doesn’t change the fact that the relationship between Wesley and Daniel was nonexistent on the show. The excuse that the producers were being “discreet” doesn’t really hold up under scrutiny, considering they so freely advertise the romance between Carol and Logan (a relationship much discussed on the blogs). Though it was only briefly touched on in one episode thus far, the straight flirtation was at least mentioned, while Wesley and Daniel’s relationship wasn’t mentioned at all on the show, despite the fact they were clearly falling in love (as demonstrated by the fact that they are still together.)