Who's What on Ugly Betty? 

In the fall of 2007 ABC’s Ugly Betty hit primetime TV with a cast full of hilarious characters that helped the show receive a Golden Globe Award. Salma Hayek, the executive producer, based this comedy on the groundbreaking Colombian telenovela Yo Soy Betty La Fea, which sparked an international phenomenon. Ugly Betty features a girl from Queens, Betty Suarez played by America Ferrerra, who is trying to break into the New York City publishing scene. Once she is hired at Mode fashion magazine as Daniel Meade’s assistant (Eric Mabius), her frizzy hair, braces, outdated wardrobe, and weight stick out like a sore thumb.

If you are familiar with the over dramatization associated with telenovelas, then you are used to the extremely evil villains and the unlikely storylines. However, what you may not be accustomed to are the various gay characters portrayed in the show. First off, we have Marc St. James (Michael Urie)—the assistant to Mode’s creative director, Wilhelmina Slater (Vanessa Williams)—who is extremely effeminate and whose gayness is unquestionable although not directly disclosed. In a later episode Marc admits he “pretends to have a girlfriend” for his family’s benefit as he prepares to go home for Thanksgiving. Although this character is adding to the number of gay characters on television, he is simultaneously upholding the flamboyant stereotype that gay men are boxed into.

A new twist to this stereotype is portrayed in Betty’s nephew, Justin Suarez (Mark Indelicato) who is a “gay” junior high schooler who is concerned with everything fashionable. Similar to Marc, Justin’s sexuality is constantly discussed indirectly and is instantly recognized to all those around him. It is unclear whether his family acknowledges his homosexuality, but it is apparent that they encourage him to be himself and accept his eccentric nature, never once referring to or chastising him as “gay”. Once again, a gay character is depicted as feminine and flamboyant, although he is representing a Latino gay young man. What is unique about Justin’s character is that he is validating the experience of young LGBT people who do not have any other role models on TV. The representations of these gay characters are overall portrayed as normal, accepted members of society in an inspiring and innovative way.

In addition to the gay characters, Ugly Betty makes a space on primetime television for a Mexican American family. The Suarez family represents the Latino family in a very different way. For instance, Betty’s father Ignacio (Tony Plana) is often seen wearing an apron, preparing the family meals, and staying home taking care of the household. Ignacio’s masculinity is not shaken when he discusses emotional matters and openly shows his daughters and nephew affection. In fact, Betty and her older sister Hilda (Ana Ortiz) challenge patriarchal notions that the man must provide for his family by being the sole breadwinners of the household.

Ugly Betty takes a step in a new direction as it represents alternative portrayals of the Latino family and gay characters.

Magdy Hurtado is a grad student in the Ethnic Studies Master’s Program at San Francisco State University. Her research interests include the psychodynamics of the Chicana/o family and the multifaceted formation of Chicana/o identity across the axes of race, gender, sexuality, and class.