125. Bury Your Gays

A Jaded Gay

In previous episodes, we explored the history of gay representation in TV and film, touching on stereotypes and the challenges faced by queer creators. One major roadblock has been the "Bury Your Gays" trope, which limits authentic representation by perpetuating harmful narratives that often depict LGBTQ+ characters as tragic or expendable, rather than allowing for diverse, fully realized stories.
In this episode, we’re diving into the origins of the "Bury Your Gays" trope, examining its ongoing presence in media, and discussing how creators can shift away from it to foster more authentic and meaningful LGBTQ+ representation in the future.
Related Episodes:

• Listen to Episode 06. Gay Panic Defense
• Listen to Episode 07. The History of Gay Representation in TV & Film
• Listen to Episode 28. Gay Horror
• Listen to Episode 80. Queer Haunts: Happy Halloween (with Ralph Anthony)
• Listen to Episode 97. Diversifying Queer Horror Cinema (with Jose Nateras)
• Listen to Episode 108. Celebrate Queer Joy

Additional Resources:

• Bury Your Gays
• Vasquez Always Dies
• Ever Wondered How to Kill Off a Queer Character Without Falling into the 'Bury Your Gays' Trope?
• Hollywood's "Bury Your Gays" Trope Explained: History & Controversy
• Depraved Homosexual
• 15 Recent, Especially Brutal, Examples of the Bury Your Gays Trope
• Supernatural: Castiel Sacrifices Himself to Save Dean From Death
• It Chapter Two: Adrian Mellon Death Scene

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Chapter

1. Snarky Opener (00:00:00)

2. Episode Introduction (00:00:24)

3. Bury Your Gays (00:01:51)

4. Tarot (00:02:42)

5. What is Bury Your Gays? (00:04:20)

6. Variants of the Bury Your Gays Trope (00:05:10)

7. Themes of Bury Your Gays (00:06:43)

8. The Origins of Bury Your Gays (00:07:12)

9. Ties to the Gay Panic Defense (00:08:56)

10. The Hays Code (00:10:12)

11. Modern Examples of Bury Your Gays (00:11:58)

12. Moving Away from Bury Your Gays (00:14:25)

13. Episode Closing (00:16:01)

14. Connect with A Jaded Gay (00:19:21)

15. Outtake (00:21:04)