The other day, I wrote about an awful segment on Fox’s Houston affiliate, in which the newscaster, Damali Keith, hosted hate group lackey Bryan Fischer and gay activist Ray Hill to debate the question, “Is TV too gay?” It was a truly terrible segment, as Keith asked ridiculous leading questions suggesting that the gayness of the characters on Glee was comparable to “product placement,” and suggesting that people should be concerned by the show’s early time slot. Lots of other people have taken notice since then. Mary Elizabeth Williams has an entertaining piece at Salon which cuts right to the heart of what terrible journalism this was:
During the segment, which aired after last week’s Lady Gaga-themed “Born This Way” episode, host Damali Keith kicked off by comparing the show’s gay themes to “product placement” — you know, the kind that leaves “everyone in the theater thirsty for that particular brand.” Yes, that’s how it happens, America. One day your teenage son is banging the head cheerleader. The next, he hears a few bars of Chris Colfer’s seductive warbling, and wham! Suddenly he’s “thirsty” for that particular “brand.” Of penis. Homosexuality – it’s exactly like walking past a Cinnabon.
It’s funny, because that’s actually sort of what Religious Right wingnuts believe. The fact that it’s ridiculously stupid just makes it more attractive for them.
Williams sums the whole issue up here:
You can’t unring the stupid bell, and both Keith and Fischer’s ignorant remarks have already been given the undeserved legitimacy of a platform. But as “Glee” and its ilk continue – not always successfully or convincingly, but at least always with sensitivity and consistency – to explore the issues facing gay and questioning youth and their communities, it remains crucial to keep sending the message to broadcasters to stop booking bigots.
[...]
[T]he punditsphere has got to step up and try a little harder, to say that crackpots don’t deserve airtime. Because idiocy and intolerance are neither fair nor balanced.
Hear, hear! This is what we’ve saying for a long time now, and what the media WILL finally figure out someday. Despite the crowing of bigots, there are not two sides to these issues! Science has spoken, and continues to speak as scientists learn more. Mental health associations have spoken. Child welfare experts have spoken. Every single credible expert in every relevant field is on our side of this battle, encouraging full inclusion and acceptance for LGBT people. There is no debate anymore, for this is too much correct information out there. Media outlets don’t address issues of interest to black people by asking the Ku Klux Klan for their opinion. It’s high time they stop asking the Klan’s anti-gay equivalent to weigh in on matters of interest to LGBT people, and society at large.
Williams points out that Fox Houston originally agreed to apologize when GLAAD called them out, but that they have gone back on that promise. Sign the petition at change.org to demand that apology.
When the smoke clears away, perhaps someone would be good enough to explain to me what precisely is meant by the phrase “too gay.”
@Scott — I think he means there wasn’t enough random gunfire and big explosions.
Considering the audience, the question (is TV too gay?) probably means: “Does the presence of gay characters on television make you feel icky?”
It both amuses & saddens me that the ones who are most vocally adamant against LGBT issues are generally the ones tapping their foot in the bathroom stalls waiting for a strapping young intern while the wife sits at home with her Bible.
Pure hypocrisy. I am involved in a local community theater in Northwest Ohio in a mid size conservative religious town. I’d say 80% of the married men are gay and cruise local spots for unsafe sex, yet they spout hatred & anti gay sentiment claiming to be “Gods messengers”. Wake up America! It’s ok to be gay!
“GLEE” is a beautifully written voice for gay youth. I commend Ryan Murphy, Brad Falchuk & Adam Anders for creating well balanced, honest portrayals of gay youth. Kudos to you and may you continue to thrive- spreading the message that it is ok to be whomever you want to be. To quote Lady Gaga ” ‘cuz baby you were born that way”.
As someone who grew up in a conservative, religious NW Oh town like Lima (in which “GLEE” takes place), I can tell you that self hatred and denial unfortunately runs rampant and still thrives today. The use of the word “gay” is used as a negatory statement amongst high school students. I have had issues with school administration who have used the words “gay”, “fag”, “fairy”, “homo”, etc. in their classroom to ‘gently mock’ (as they put it) male students that didn’t live up to their masculine ideals. It is pathetic. Many NW Ohioans would sooner ignore the issue than come to terms with it. Homosexuality is still a very taboo, “hush hush” topic in our community which is ignorant to say the very least. The bullying does not stop with students!! Teachers & community members spout hatred & have suggested “not in MY town”. It is 2011, Ohio. Love, support and nurture your youth, no matter what. Period.
http://www.cdc.gov/hiv/topics/msm/pdf/msm.pdf
Problem GLAAD?
“Religious Right wingnuts”
Thanks for showing your “tolerance” once again GLAAD!
“Thanks for showing your “tolerance” once again GLAAD!”
A typical response by a bully or bully-apologist when their victims finally fight back: “Hey, stop attacking me! That’s not fair! You’re intolerant!”
GLAADs description was accurate. Wingnuts. Sounds about right.
Meh…I live in Houston, never saw it. I’d watch KPRC, KHOU, KTRK, or even KIAH before I’d watch this silliness on KRIV.
@SickofPCazzholes:
“Wingnut” is the accepted term for conspiracy-minded social conservative crackpots who can’t find their a*s with both hands and a canary, and who run away crying from science, facts, reality, etc.
Certain douchenozzles [also a scientific term] on the right attempt to call liberals “left wingnuts,” which is funny because it’s pathetic.
Where’s the petition to complain about how GLEE is damn-a*s awful and shows gays and Jewish people in a horribly stereotypical manner?
Oh yeah, you are blind to that.
It helps a lot of kids who don’t fit in, for various reasons. Also, the founder of this organization is Jewish, and he’s not complaining about Glee.
Bruce, you’re an idiot. Most of the gay characters in Glee aren’t shown in any sort of stereotype. You just have to b***h when gays are shown in a positive light.
Well, Bruce, why don’t you start such a petition? We’ll just sit back and watch the guffaws as you try to make a go of it.
Wow not the gay Wingnuts are coming over here. And Jewish stereotypes?? Let’s see Puck is a delinquent bad boy. Not like any Jewish stereotype I know. And a gay football player? Again not a stereotype I am aware of.
Bruce, I think the GayPatriot/GoProud crowd is obsessed with acting/appearing stereotypically straight. If you people had come-of-age in the late 50s / early 60s, as I did, I suspect you would have followed the common path of passing as straight, which would have included a marriage with children and the white picket fence, plus maybe occasional secret homo-sex on the side in a restroom. But thanks to decades of risks and efforts by left-leaning gays, you have mustered the courage to “come out.” But I think you people are still essentially conformists at your core. In essence, I suspect you say to your conservative friends, “I’m just like you in every way, except for just one forgettable itty-bitty way.”
On GLEE I think the character of Kurt is exactly right. He represents the type most likely to be bullied because he is different. Do you only want to see a stereotypically studly star of the football team who is gay, but probably still closeted with his classmates? Oh, wait, they have one of those, too (okay, he’s not exactly the studly star, but still).
It’s no wonder you think GLEE “is damn-a*s awful” – the characters are predominantly non-comformists.
Actually, at my pesach seder this past year, there was a suplement to our haggadah that used 4 Jewish characters in Glee to represent the archetypal “Four Children.” They completely re-interpreted the “Children” and gave a very enlightened view of how Jews are shown in the media.
This is most likely no accident. I believe the creator/head writer or something of the show is Jewish. And his father is head of Hadassah, I believe…