Ausiello Speaks to AfterElton
AE: Now, sadly, I do want to talk to you a little about some of the negative examples of, let’s say, “not so good treatments” of gay characters.
MA: I don’t know if I want to say not good treatment, but I know what happened on Grey’s Anatomy with Brooke Smith was unfortunate.
I felt like it’s still very difficult to feature gay and lesbian characters who quote unquote appear very gay or lesbian. Brooke Smith on the show was rather butch and I think that turned off some viewers. I think ABC got complaints and it turned people off and so the solution was to bring in a more feminine version of Brooke Smith [Jessica Capshaw], a more palatable version of that character. I thought that was really unfortunate. I still think that it’s easier for America to see two straight-acting gay characters as opposed to anyone who comes close to the gay stereotype.
I think there was another part of it too. The character was very aggressive, very in your face. There was nothing timid or shy about her. I think the whole combination turned viewers off.
MA: I don’t know if I want to say not good treatment, but I know what happened on Grey’s Anatomy with Brooke Smith was unfortunate.
I felt like it’s still very difficult to feature gay and lesbian characters who quote unquote appear very gay or lesbian. Brooke Smith on the show was rather butch and I think that turned off some viewers. I think ABC got complaints and it turned people off and so the solution was to bring in a more feminine version of Brooke Smith [Jessica Capshaw], a more palatable version of that character. I thought that was really unfortunate. I still think that it’s easier for America to see two straight-acting gay characters as opposed to anyone who comes close to the gay stereotype.
I think there was another part of it too. The character was very aggressive, very in your face. There was nothing timid or shy about her. I think the whole combination turned viewers off.