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Tolerance Media Example

In its varying contexts and forms, tolerance can take on multiple definitions. In Walters’ Intro to Tolerance, he discusses the many differing definitions of tolerance. On its surface level, without analyzing, tolerance can be perceived as a good thing. Tolerance essentially refers to our ability and capacity to endure subjection to something. While these may sound like experiences that are better for us, they are negative. Walter argues that tolerance “almost always implies or assumes something negative or undesired or even a variation contained and circumscribed,” (Walters, p. 1).

In the particular context of queer identities, tolerance to it is ultimately a negative thing. Tolerance does not occur if we can accept something at its and our fullest. So, to be tolerant of homosexuality, “is to imply that homosexuality is bad or immoral,” (Walters, p. 2). It is to imply that you are trying your best to put up with something that makes you uncomfortable and deemed problematic. If you are not homophobic, tolerance would not be necessary.

Many homophobic people try to challenge and assert that tolerance is the best that they can do. Many people in the LGBTQ+ community go along with this notion and find themselves thankful that a homophobic person can tolerate them to the point of giving them a chance. Walters refers to this as a sort of delusion in which the LGBTQ+ community believes that tolerance is a path to gay rights. They believe that if their tolerant person can accept them partly right now, they will be fully accepted later on. This perspective keeps many blinded to the fact that tolerance allows for many social issues like bigotry, multiculturalism, passive indifference and more.

Love, Victor, presents us with many scenes in which tolerance comes to light.

In this particular episode and scene, Victor’s dad comes into his room to tell him that he was proud of him for sticking up for some boys (who are gay) at his school. He said it was brave and courageous and Victor responded with emotional satisfaction. His father goes as far to say that it isn’t his business what other people do. He ultimately leads Victor to a dead end by ending the conversation stating that he hopes Adrian isn’t “that way.” His father can tolerate if other boys are gay, but not his own son.

This next scene takes place about five episodes later. Victor comes out and builds up the courage to come out to his parents. Pilar immediately gets up to hug him, showing and expressing her full support. On the other hand, Victor’s parents are sitting on the couch, unresponsive and dismissive. We can see that it isn't an ideal statement they want to hear from their son. But at the end of the day, they are his son and it drives them to try to be tolerant, to try and revisit the conversation in the morning.

With the particular case of his mom, she tries her best to accept Victor–she is tolerant. Victor is led to believe that they are making progress through her tolerance only to find that she wishes and prays for him to be straight. This is what Walters stated as a process of loving the sinner and hating the sin. She loves Victor because he is her son but she is overall unaccepting of his ‘lifestyle.’ She even states that she is doing the best that she can, in a way that suggests she doesn’t have much else to offer. This is tolerance. Simon does not receive full acceptance from his parents right off the bat. They have an comfortability with homosexuality that only makes them tolerant of them--it makes them have to work to accept him.

“To live freely and fully is not to be tolerated but to be included, even sometimes celebrated.” (Walters, p. 13).

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