he waysociety deems appropriate. In this episode, the fact that she is a lesbian is announced overthe airport loudspeaker, however, in subsequent episodes this fact is highly downplayed. Here is a parallel example in the discussion of another television character: "She twicestates that she is lesbian, but her character is never permitted to perform as a lesbian. Theabsence of a performance of lesbianism is not simply the absence of lesbian sex, but theabsence of any representation of lesbianism as a factor of Marilyn's identity. Theinvisibility of Marilyn's lesbianism not only allows Heartbeat to avoid any substantialportrayal of an experience outlawed by the dominant patriarchal discourse, but to obscurehomophobia…" and "…we suggest that the invisibility of her lesbianism supportspatriarchal values by removing the need to confront the homophobia andheterosexism/sexism that visible lesbianism signifies" (Hantzis & Lehr, p. 177). Thissanitization for public consumption is nearly always prevalent with the exception of whenthey do show gay characters, they are usually portrayed in a stereotypical, femininefashion such as Nathan Lane in the movie The Birdcage or with the stigma of the gay manwith AIDS, such as Tom Hanks in Philadelphia. This continued prevalence ofstigmatization and stereotyping of those considered "deviant" serves to maintain statusand control of power. Government is another forum where the role of power is rampant, specifically inlegislating laws to control, restrict, and punish behaviors deemed deviant by society. Thepower of legislation is conveyed many times in this statement regarding the matter ofbiology in homosexuality. "If homosexuality were found to be an immutable trait, likeskin color, then laws criminalizing homosexual sex might be overturned. Same sexmarriage, job protection, antidiscrimination in housing laws - all these could hinge on theredefinition of homosexuality as biological...
