What are some ways the Media has helped the gay community persevere?

[Alexa Kane]

I'm writing a 10 page research paper on the subject and need help with some things to discuss in the body of the paper. I was planning on doing part of it about celebrities like Ellen and Facebook. If you guys have any ideas or just things in general you think would beneficial to mention, please feel free to chime in. Thanks!

[Luka]

we homosexuals convinced society by lying to them that homosexuality is not a choice and they encourage others to be gay and its a healthy fulfilling lifestyle.

[Meta]

I believe there are many notable, successful media and entertainment personalities who are openly LGBT and/or LGBT-friendly and often have significantly campaigned, emphasized, and supported officially or unofficially gay rights and lifestyle awareness on behalf of the LGBT community, in general.

In fact, I can think of few exceptions, except perhaps for cases of those who have simply stated their orientation and retreated back into their private lives to seldom publicly comment about it again. Perhaps generally once A or B listers, less famous, semi-retired, indie-film type celebs. Like Neil Patrick Harris. Or, the woman who played the love interest in Top Gun who came out just over the past few years, Kelly McGillis.

Leading up to the "It Gets Better" campaign, whose general mission, I'd say, is to empower and give real hope to LGBT youths by creating a supportive community of assertive LGBT role models to pair with people struggling with their gender identity, sexuality, social acceptance, etc. Celebrities of some renown have more frequently been using the media as a means to come out after many years of dodging attention directed towards their personal life and sexuality. I'd argue anti-bullying/gay rights/anti-hate crime campaigns have seriously influenced this shift. Likewise, our increasingly digital and social networking age has played a significant role in connecting and strengthening the LGBT community overall. (So, you're right, Facebook/YouTube etc seem like a great sub-topic)

Most recent media figure to officially come out in a public interview: Anderson Cooper
Somewhat-recent examples: Ricky Martin, Lance Bass
Popular daytime talk show hosts: Ellen Degeneres, Rosie O'Donnell
Long-time LGBT supporter/advocate: Madonna (it's actually really challenging to think of anyone else who is as world-famous as she who has done quite so much to support and embrace gay culture... OK, Elton John is another; so, I challenge you to think up several more or at least consider more recent examples who might compare, for instance, Lady Gaga)
Fashion icons and fashion editors... for example Tom Ford (who directed A Single Man), Calvin Klein, Isaac Mizrahi, André Leon Talley at Vogue etc. etc.
Artists... especially Keith Haring, and from that point onward 80s/NYC scene I would say

A List Critically-Acclaimed LGBT Movies: Milk (Sean Penn), A Single Man (Colin Firth), Brokeback Mountain (Heath Ledger), Monster (Charlize Theron), Boys Don't Cry (Hillary Swank), Philadephia (Tom Hanks)

I think, in the sense that publicity is publicity (even if it's bad publicity), even if the Hollywood personality types or contrived fictional composite character of a LGBT person actually poorly represents or misrepresents and distorts the LGBT community, both work to keep LGBT issues in pop culture consciousness and more mainstreamed than it might be otherwise.

Essentially, I'd say, it's the LGBT and LGBT-friendly celebs and public figures who have done the most to help the gay community persevere; yet obviously these people don't do it alone, they are empowered by their many fans and supporters, so the behinds-the-scene LGBT friends in high places likewise could be included (if you can think of any.. editors, producers, business execs, etc).

In a nutshell: 80s-present AIDS awareness -> anti hate crimes -> anti - bullying -> gay rights movement gains momentum -> to the point where the President of the United States acknowledges the rights of LGBT people (important) / interweaves with -> increasing Hollywood portrayals -> social networking and community building -> more household celebs and public figures coming out

Hope some of my notes help, though I imagine you've thought up most these things already. Good luck with your paper~! it sounds fascinating! Take care!