I have a tendency to say something when I think somebody is gay. I call it “gaydar,” and I consider it necessary for my survival as a gay guy in an overwhelmingly straight society. My friends call it “thinking everybody is gay.” To be fair, maybe my gaydar is a little too sensitive. I was just having a conversation with a friend today, and she asked me if I knew so-and-so, and I said, “Oh, yeah, your other gay friend.” To which she responded, “No, Chris, he’s so not gay,” and proceeded to list the times he's been with girls. We agreed to disagree. Does it matter that he's been with countless girls? It might throw a kink in my argument, but my thesis stands.
All right, maybe sometimes my gaydar is just wishful thinking.
My gaydar skills (or lack thereof) also extend to television. When Sam (AKA “Trouty-Mouth”) made his debut on Glee, I was 100% sure he was gay. People poo-poo’d me. When he started dating Quinn, I was taken aback, but I maintained my argument. Now he’s off the show. Okay, so maybe Sam wasn’t gay. He should have been, though. Way to go, Glee writers, you screwed that one up. God, it’s not my fault the writers of the show don’t know a gay character when they see one.
I’m usually right, I swear.
Back when I was a little kid, I didn’t have gaydar. So I never really thought about the abundance of possibly gay children’s TV/movie characters. Before we get to that, though, the obligatory word from our sponsor:
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Like I said, back when I watched The Smurfs and Arthur, I obviously didn’t think in terms of sexual orientation. In retrospect, though, some of the characters from these children’s shows were so totally gay. Bert and Ernie…need I say more? I started thinking about this after I saw the following video, which puts together a “tribute” to gay and lesbian children’s TV/movie characters.
I can agree with the selection of some of the characters. Velma, Vanity Smurf, Snagglepuss…okay. And I totally knew something was going on between Batman and Robin – I called that one a long time ago. At the same time, I’m not sure why Captain Planet, Edna from The Incredibles, and (of all characters) the Heat Miser were chosen. But the video forced me to rethink some characters – like Marcie and Peppermint Patty. I might add a few – what about the Cowardly Lion from The Wizard of Oz? And what about Timon and Pumbaa from The Lion King? I always had a feeling about those two.
Of course, I’m talking as if these characters are real, live people. But it’s interesting to ponder. Maybe it’s a sign that I need to find something more productive to do than think about the sexuality of children’s TV and movie characters. Then again, I think the inclusion of gay and lesbian characters is important in any setting. I’m all for putting gay and lesbian characters in children’s TV shows and movies. It would just help if they were out of the closet. (coughBertandErniecough)
Now, On To The Top Comments!
A special thanks to this week’s Top Comments contributors!
From Steveningen:
noweasels gets an A in civics class for sharing this comment.
From bronte17:
blueness shares the 50 years long Witness for Peace by three women on a street corner in Chico, CA in the diary A Protest Virgin Occupies Wall Street, Chico : A Photodiary by mimi2three.
And, in a thoughtful acknowledgment, mimi2three thanks blueness for speaking to her heart:
So that is why, if, from Occupy Wall Street, there does not, in the end, come the final to-change-all-the-world-fire-this-time, all involved have already won. For they will have all changed themselves. And they will move out, for the rest of their lives, to touch, all, as they have been touched.
A big welcome rollout mat for smileycreek's seestah, mimi2three, with her first diary here. Beautiful diary. Thank you for sharing.
From Clarknt67:
Phoebe Loosinhouse has the perfect explanation why OWS should not bow to pressure to become aligned with any political party.
From brillig:
I think marykk's comment about benefits and detriments is spot-on. From jim in IA's Facebook diary.
Finally, Some Top Mojo!
(excluding tip jars)
Top Mojo is brought to you by mik’s magic!
1) That's a good question by demimondian — 152
2) Bring back Glass Steagall by smiley7 — 119
3) Thank you, Senator Sanders. by DRo — 119
4) . by noweasels — 118
5) Serious answer: by The Troubadour — 103
6) I went into DC at 7 am by noweasels — 103
7) i'm doing okay, too, and i HATE taxes. by That Korean Guy — 101
8) RW S.O.P. by annieli — 100
9) Bernie Sanders... by WarrenS — 94
10) There's your "Mob" by noweasels — 83
11) Bree's response to the fundie is perfect by The Dead Man — 80
12) Now there is a man... by reflectionsv37 — 69
13) Sorry for the timing but I just learned that I by One Pissed Off Liberal — 66
14) Fairness Doesn't Begin Till National Security is by Gooserock — 66
15) This Pagan sends blessings to you and by SallyCat — 66
16) I just got home from OccupyCincinnati. It was by bkamr — 65
17) Thank you, OPOL. It is time for those of us by blue jersey mom — 65
18) Tip of the hat to you too! by annrose — 65
19) Traditionally, while Jewish people are by mahakali overdrive — 64
20) Strange? I Saw This in 1970 and My Acquaintance by Gooserock — 64
21) Ah, noblesse oblige by Dallasdoc — 64
22) Senator by 3goldens — 61
23) The 99% support your proposals by ladypockt — 60
24) Thank you for this by remembrance — 54
25) We're spending way too much on the military by Happy Days — 53
26) I'm sorry, I truly am sorry to say this by Renee — 53
27) Your "mob," your "DFH," your "radical," by Mother Mags — 53
28) Jesse La Greca is Truthdigger of the Week by trinityfly — 51
29) To me, Jewish values were summed up very well by elwior — 50
30) Eloquent, important and full of grace. by Otteray Scribe — 49
Thanks For Reading, Y’all!
See you next time!