WWE plans to integrate LGBT characters on television

[cero2k]

Source: f4wonline.com

According to WWE Chief Brand Officer Stephanie McMahon, gender inclusive characters could soon be integrated into the company's programming.

McMahon was a featured speaker at an event hosted by Beyond Sport at the Barclays Center in Brooklyn, NY on Tuesday and spoke about the WWE's role in ensuring gender inclusion in sports.

"We will integrate LGBT characters into our programming ... and I do think there will be an opportunity to integrate some of those storylines in the near future," McMahon said.

McMahon made similar comments to The Daily Beast in 2015 when asked about Darren Young's on-screen character. It is unclear if she is now speaking about the current state of the creative process or if it only remains a future goal.

McMahon's comments come during the same week that longtime employee Pat Patterson's life story is receiving attention after the release of his autobiography "Accepted: How the First Gay Superstar Changed WWE."

During her speech, McMahon noted that she grew up knowing gay WWE wrestlers and employees, but now wants to get the message out there on television.

[Big Red Machine]

And, of course, based on their handling of the Divas Revolution, I'd say this won't be received particularly well. The best way to do this is not to treat it like anything special at all. They're normal people who happen to have a different sexual orientation. That's all there is too it. Just like women are normal people who happen to have different genitals. The way you get these characters over is by letting them be who they are, not reducing them to nothing but that one factor.

[cero2k]

And, of course, based on their handling of the Divas Revolution, I'd say this won't be received particularly well. The best way to do this is not to treat it like anything special at all. They're normal people who happen to have a different sexual orientation. That's all there is too it. Just like women are normal people who happen to have different genitals. The way you get these characters over is by letting them be who they are, not reducing them to nothing but that one factor.

exactly, and for that you already have Darren Young, we don't need characters beyond this

[Big Red Machine]

And, of course, based on their handling of the Divas Revolution, I'd say this won't be received particularly well. The best way to do this is not to treat it like anything special at all. They're normal people who happen to have a different sexual orientation. That's all there is too it. Just like women are normal people who happen to have different genitals. The way you get these characters over is by letting them be who they are, not reducing them to nothing but that one factor.

exactly, and for that you already have Darren Young, we don't need characters beyond this

There is an argument to be made that if Darren's homosexuality is not made visible on TV then it doesn't actually do much of anything to help with normalization. The trick is to do it in a way that isn't made overbearing. You need to do things like note Darren's boyfriend sitting in the front row for a big match, the same way you would note anyone else's significant other or parents or whatnot. Things that call attention to it without turning it into something that completely defines him.

[Big Red Machine]

Meltzer had an interesting comment essentially saying that anyone who they focus on as an LGBT character will never be able to be heel.

[KILLdozer]

Just the fact that they felt the need to go out of their way to make a point of saying it like that makes it sound like a bad idea.

[Big Red Machine]

Just the fact that they felt the need to go out of their way to make a point of saying it like that makes it sound like a bad idea.

That's a whole other issue. No matter how well they do it, WWE will not be able to resist the urge to do everything in their power to make sure everyone knows that they're doing it... and that reveals the dishonesty of their motives. It's not about helping the LGBT community: it's about making WWE look good, and helping the LGBT community in this way is just a means to that end.

[KILLdozer]

Just the fact that they felt the need to go out of their way to make a point of saying it like that makes it sound like a bad idea.

That's a whole other issue. No matter how well they do it, WWE will not be able to resist the urge to do everything in their power to make sure everyone knows that they're doing it... and that reveals the dishonesty of their motives. It's not about helping the LGBT community: it's about making WWE look good, and helping the LGBT community in this way is just a means to that end.

Really and entirely so. It's like their the worst fuckin' heroes ever. Well there's Kinder Mahal with a turbaon on Main Event. That's it I'm outta here.