Abstract
This paper is a research I conducted on the representations of intimacy on gay couples in television, especially in comparison to the intimacy shown in cases of straight couples. I was also interested in understanding how audiences feel about such representations. I decided to focus my research on the TV sitcom Modern Family. To gather and analyze in an appropriate manner, I conducted a content analysis of the show’s episode in terms of intimacy shown whether it was physical, emotional or intellectual. To study the impact of the representations on the audiences, I conducted a mini survey using questionnaires. I expected my findings to be a lot more controversial. In fact, people are not bothered by the depiction of intimacy among gay couples. They think it’s natural when telling a couple’s tale to have moments of intimacy. Thus, they were troubled by the fact that even though Modern Family involves a same-sex family, it almost disregards the natural need for intimacy that characterizes all personal relationships. I came to the conclusion that, even though television seems to have progressed and removed taboos, in reality it is as conservative as ever and most of the LGBT portrayals are just an excuse for diversity.

Intimacy in televised portrayals of homosexual couples: Modern Family
When watching a movie or a TV show that has any kind of a romantic plot, we naturally expect to see intimacy between the couple. Intimacy is crucial in close relationships. Actually, if there is no intimacy of any sort, there is no relationship. It is interesting to see how this element of relationships is translated in their televisual portrayals. It is even more interesting to see how this element of relationships is translated when it comes to the seemingly out of bounds kind, to the same-sex relationships.
Weirdly enough, it seems like homosexual relationships are portrayed as sexless. And by sexless I am not referring to the lack of risqué scenes but the fundamental lack of any show of affection, which gets me to the example of Modern Family. The show consists of three related couples with children. Jay, the father of Claire and Mitchell, is married to the much younger Gloria. Claire is married to Phil and Mitchell lives with his lifelong partner, Cameron. The representation of Mitchell and Cameron however, has troubled many. Seemingly, having two men as the heads of one of the show’s three families is very progressive. But this couple is missing many traits that are required in such situations. Their relationship in the first seasons of the show is actually so platonic that viewers were sending in complaints. And even after these complaints were taken under consideration, a super quick, easy-to-miss, lip lock was shown. When Jay and Gloria or Claire and Phil have their physical intimacy clearly outspoken and shown throughout the show, isn’t it unfair for Cam and Mitchell’s relationship to be restrained to only sharing furniture shopping ideas and emotional discussions? Mitchell and Cameron are very close to perfection when it comes to the emotional and intellectual aspects of intimacy. And they even share plenty of activities. Still, their physical intimacy is nonexistent for the most part.
Discussion of Primary Research
To start studying this matter, I first went to the library where I found books, journals and articles related to portrayals of homosexuality in popular culture and television but also related to the importance of intimacy. I also referred to the textbook’s Chapter 9, which deals with the “Interpersonal Communication in Close Relationships”. The first material I studied to prepare for my research were the Conference Papers called “Modern Family and the Mainstream: The Politics of Respectability and Reification of New Televisual Gayness” from the International Communication Association. The text not only discusses homosexual couple representations but also their rights providing a great overview of the topic. Then, I moved on to the Journal of Mass Communication and Society where I found a very interesting piece by Holz Ivory, Gibson and Ivory, “Gendered Relationships on Television: Portrayals of Same-Sex and Heterosexual Couples”. The authors of this article discuss the idea that same-sex couples are presented according to the way we are used to seeing heterosexual couples in terms of roles, without this being a positive attribute as it strips them of the uniqueness that every couple has. I elaborated further on my reading by also studying several popular culture articles.
Having studied them all, I was adequately prepared to start my content analysis of episodes from Modern Family. Obviously, watching all the seasons of the show would be extremely time-consuming therefore I chose the episodes that stirred the most reactions when aired. Both episodes I analyzed are from season two. In the episode “Caught in the Act”, Phil and Claire’s kids walk in on them being intimate. Obviously, since Modern Family is aired on ABC, which is broadcast television, no graphic content is shown. But still, what is happening is crystal clear. So this is an episode that sufficiently covers the portrayal of heterosexual intimacy.
The second episode I watched for my research is called “The Kiss”, which is a perfectly fitting title as it is the first episode ever in which we see affection between Mitchell and Cam. The episode was created to please the people who took part in the campaign complaining about the desexualized depiction of the couple. Thus, I was expecting a redeeming episode. Sadly, all the fuss was about a brief quickie kiss between the partners.
Is it possible to have a satisfying relationship with your partner with no physical intimacy? Obviously not. And that is why all heterosexual relationships have that attribute in them. So, why is television pretending that homosexual relationships exist without physical intimacy? Are audiences afraid of facing it, or are networks being extremely fuddy-duddy? Relationships need physical intimacy for a vast amount of reasons. Through physical intimacy people come closer together, the show their love and overcome insecurities. Often we even see problems being resolved or lessened thanks to this kind of intimacy. People value their personal space and establishing physical intimacy means that you are giving that up for someone you care for. Basically, Cameron and Mitchell are stripped of this opportunity to reach a higher level of bond in their relationship.
Thinking of all this, I decided to conduct a questionnaire survey to people inside the college in order to see how they feel about physical intimacy and about this differentiation in couple representations. I gave out twenty questionnaires within Deree College. I made sure that the people were aware of the show before handing them a questionnaire so that their answers would be relevant. After asking about the show’s portrayal of couples’ intimacy I also asked participants to pinpoint their age group so that I would see whether there is any correlation in what we expect to see and the generation we come from.
People responded to my questionnaire eagerly and therefore I gathered all the information I wanted with relative ease. Turns out that seventeen of the respondents agree that physical intimacy is crucial when it comes to relationships. Most respondents also agree that the way that Mitchell and Cameron are portrayed in comparison to the way the rest of the couples are, doesn’t really add to the believability of the script. A point of controversy among responses gathered however, was in Question 3 where I am asking them how they feel about the levels of affection they see between Cam and Mitchell. Only two people said that they wouldn’t like to see any and the rest of the responses were divided between being satisfied with what they see and wanting to see more.
Conclusions and Discussion
It is granted therefore that we are very well aware of what constitutes a healthy and viable relationship even though we might not always realize. People need to have all levels of intimacy both in the relationships in their lives and in the relationships they view on popular culture. If the representations are not true to reality, then people find it hard to attach to the story. Television networks however, are not yet ready to truly embrace different lifestyles nor are they ready to represent them accurately. TV plays a vital role in shaping norms, opinions and beliefs and I am afraid that as long as TV keeps up some outdated taboos, societies will also follow. (1.400 w.)

References
Elledge, J. (2010). Queers in American popular culture (Vol. 1). Santa Barbara, Calif.: Praeger.
Holz Ivory, A., Gibson, R., & Ivory, J. D. (2009). Gendered Relationships on Television: Portrayals of Same-Sex and Heterosexual Couples. Mass Communication & Society, 12(2), 170-192
Lloyd, C.. Levitan, S., Ellis, S. (2011). Caught In the Act, Season 2 Episode 13. Modern Family. Beverly Hills, CA: 20th Century Fox Home Entertainment.
Lloyd, C.. Levitan, S., Ellis, S. (2010). The Kiss, Season 2 Episode 2. Modern Family. Beverly Hills, CA: 20th Century Fox Home Entertainment.
Modern Family and the Mainstream: The Politics of Respectability and Reification of New Televisual Gayness. (2012). Conference Papers -- International Communication Association, 1-26.
Peitzman, L. (2013, December 10). Television may be embracing gay characters but where is the same-sex intimacy?, BuzzFeed
Perich, J. (2011, February 9). The Oddly Conservative “Modern Family”, OverthinkingIt
Stelter, B. (2012, May 8). Gay on TV: It’s All in the Family., New York Times

Appendix

1. Are you familiar with the sitcom ‘Modern Family’?
Yes 
No 

2. What do you think of the representations of couples in this show?
I don’t care 
I like the diversity 
I disapprove 

3. What do you think about the level of affection displayed by Cameron and MItchell?
I wouldn’t want to see more 
I think it is underrepresented 
I do not wish to see any 

4. How important do you think physical intimacy is in relationships? Not at all A little Very Crucial 1 2 3 4

5. Do you think the sexless representation of Mitchell and Cameron is plausible?
Yes 
No 

6. Please indicate your gender.
__Male
__Female

7. Please indicate the age group in which you belong.
18-25 
26-35 
36-50 
51+  Thank you for your time and contribution!