The Rise of the New Gay Villains

Meet the new gay villains of television and film: If their wrists are bent, it's probably to cut someone's throat.

Far from their limp-wristed, lisping predecessors, the modern-day villains of "Skyfall" and "Dexter" do their own dirty work and are every bit as masculine as the heroes with whom they do battle.

OK, one stereotype remains: They still wear some nice clothes. But while the old portrayals suggested that gays were vain and effeminate, the fashion-consciousness of the new gay villains reflects an admirable attention to detail.

Is this progress? In a way, yes......