Laughing All the Way to Tolerance? Mexican Comedic Telenovelas as Vehicles for Lessons Against Homophobia

The use of telenovelas as didactic tools to educate the viewing public about a variety of social issues, ranging from drug abuse to domestic violence, is not a new phenomenon. In Mexico in particular, telenovelas have been used strategically for several decades to target particular groups with messages intended to curb or in some way alter behavior and attitudes. In recent years, an increasing number of Mexican telenovela productions have adopted a comedic tone and forgone the unrelenting melodrama that has defined the genre during its half century of history. Like their more melodramatic brethren, these comedic telenovelas entertain and, at times, educate the viewing audience about various social issues. Homophobia is a relative newcomer to the list of societal concerns that telenovelas address, and comedic telenovelas have proved to be fertile ground for the inclusion of didactic messages that promote attitudes oftolerance toward homosexuals. This investigation highlights this trend and examines how three telenovelas in particular, La fea más bella (2006–2007), Yo amo a Juan Querendón (2007–2008) and Las tontas no van al cielo (2008), participate in an evolving popular narrative of tolerance.