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One of the reason 'gay' movies aren't shown or marketed as often as other films in the USA, is largely due to the MPAA (Motion Picture Association of America) judging films in that vein as 'NC-17'.
For those of you who don't live in the United States (which I don't, so I'm sort of in a handicap here), the ratings system for motion pictures in the United States goes as follows:
G - General Audiences. All Ages Admitted.
PG - Parental Guidance Suggested. Some Material May Not Be Suitable For Children.
PG-13 - Parents Strongly Cautioned. Some Material May Be Inappropriate For Children Under 13.
R - Restricted. Children Under 17 Require Accompanying Parent or Adult Guardian.
NC-17 - No One 17 and Under Admitted.
In contrast to these, the categories that are currently used in the UK (of which I live currently) by the BBFC (British Board of Film Classification) are as follows:
U - 'Universal', Suitable for All
PG - General viewing, but some scenes may be unsuitable for young children
12/12a - Suitable for 12 years and over. No one younger than 12 may see a ‘12’ film in a cinema. No one younger than 12 may rent or buy a ‘12’ rated video work.
15 - Suitable only for 15 years and over. No one younger than 15 may see a ‘15’ film in a cinema. No one younger than 15 may rent or buy a ‘15’ rated video work.
18 -Suitable only for adults. No-one younger than 18 may see an ‘18’ film in a cinema. No-one younger than 18 may rent or buy an ‘18’ rated video.
R18 - To be shown only in specially licensed cinemas, or supplied only in licensed sex shops, and to adults of not less than 18 years
From the research I've done, the MPAA seems to treat homosexual material much more harshly than heterosexual material. (Although I'm judging this board by the documentary 'This Film has not yet been Rated' and the minimal research I've been able to do about this subject, so I may be wrong and out of date in my information.) In America, films that contain Homosexual behaviour tend to be rated harsher than films with Heterosexual behaviour.
For instance, A film which depicts a Heterosexuality in any way, may be rated 'R', whereas a film that depicts Homosexuality in any way will probably be rated 'NC-17'.
If an American motion picture company finds that, after a film has been made and is pretty much finished, the film is rated NC-17, said film will not receive any financial backing.
In America, an NC-17 is considered the commercial 'kiss of death' for films. In America, the idea that film is fit only for adults still has connotations if it being 'pornographic', 'smutty', 'indecent' or something outside the mainstream. Film studios will either cut films down after receiving the Rating or try to appeal to the MPAA for them to reconsider the rating and change it to an 'R'. The NC-17 certificate was originally created because there wasn't a rating that could deal with grown-up films which weren't pornographic.
I'm not trying to make America out to be inferior in any way, I'm just talking about ratings and how they are applied. Here in Britain, an 18 rated film is perfectly acceptable. Here we don't have a problem with the idea that films are for adults only, but are still proper respectable movies.
Also what I find odd is that, in America, an R rating (which would probably be a 15 or an 18 here) can be viewed by anyone under the age of 17, provided there's an adult.
Sorry for the wall of text. I totally understand if it's tl;dr.
;)
