It’s hokey. The characters are stereotypes. The plot is predictable. People break out in song unnecessarily.
But I dare you to find a show that addresses controversial issues like teen pregnancy, body confidence, sex education, ableism and gay bullying as honestly.
Which brings me to my next point: Gay people kiss, too. Glee acknowledged that on the most recent episode (Season 2, Episode 16) entitled “Original Song” when characters Kurt and Blaine shared a kiss.
And it was just that: a kiss. It wasn’t a little peck, and it wasn’t oversexualized. It was a kiss that suggested that there might be real intimacy to come in their relationship.
Glee did it, and they did it in front of America’s youth. They sent a message that it’s okay to be who you are.
CUE BACKLASH.
In the Philippines, the kiss was censored. Change.org began a petition soon after the censorship occurred, stating: “By cutting this scene, you are sending a strong message to viewers that gays should be ‘censored’ from Philippine society..”
And in the ol’ US of A, there’s been backlash of the most American sort. While some are praising the show’s courage in displaying affection between two gay boys, others are decrying the event as “sickening”.
One such decry…er exists in the form of former SNL star Victoria Jackson.
Wielding a leather-bound bible in one hand and a hate for the “Anti-Christ liberal agenda” in the other, Jackson defends a blog she wrote denouncing the “sickening” display and saying that the media has left her with nothing “appropriate” to allow her teenage daughter to watch.
Fortunately, Jackson makes a fool enough of herself without me having to bash her in this, our little corner of the blogosphere. But her sentiment is widespread, even in people who are more adept at voicing there opinions…and who wear smaller scrunchies.
So feminists! Here’s Earnest Gaines’ age-old question: Why is it that, as a culture, we are more comfortable seeing two men holding guns than holding hands?
I’m thrilled that the gays are earning more than just sidekick roles on mainstream television. I think it’s a vital example to all of America’s youth, gay AND straight.
But I can’t say that I don’t look forward to the day when 2 boys can kiss on TV and it doesn’t make national media.
ShoutOut! James Madison University 
Wow, great post! Gay relationships are not a joke, nor are oppression and homophobia. Annnd of course she pulled the “but I have gay friends!” card. As though that would make her homophobia any more acceptable.
One thing she did get right though: It doesn’t matter what she thinks.
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Yeah, great post, indeed. She was right about two things, actually! Two men on a wedding cake is not an alternate lifestyle. Because, it is not a lifestyle at all. Lifestyle implies choice. There was no choice.
But don’t forget, Muslims kill gays. And they both hate God. Thanks, Victoria. You are quite the scholar.
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That is really shocking that Victoria Jackson has such horrible things to say about Glee. I had no idea how much of a crazy person she was! It always seems to me that the cast of SNL was rather liberal and pro gay-rights, but she has certainly proved me wrong–some of them certainly are not.
Also, even though I am not a fan of Glee–mostly because of the spontaneous singing–I do respect the show for finally giving its adolescent viewers a positive portrayal of a gay relationship. Yay!
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BAM. Rocking post somethingbeany. I have nothing new to say except I love it.
I like to visualize what the antichrist might look like if I could see it, and it involves a lot of really awful people spontaneously breaking out in song about how really awesome people suck.
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