Gay culture has been relevant since Socrates' time, Shakespeare’s time, and, of course, today. Culture has gone from “So?” to “You’re putting WHAT, WHERE?” to “Pray the gay away” and “God hates NAGS”. If you live in America today, you are sure to see a frown or smile when two men stand too close, or when two women past their grade-schooling years hold hands, depending on one’s geography. Though this issue of rights hasn’t made as big of a stain on our history as racism (yet), it will continue to stand out until equality has been achieved.
In 2003, Avenue Q went to Broadway. It includes a song entitled “If You Were Gay”, a number where Nicky ensures his friend that he will be supportive if were he gay, but poor Rod just wants to be left alone to read. Rod seems very displeased at Nicky’s choice of conversation, playing the closeted conservative roll, while Nicky plays the open friend. While both characters are gay, they play different rolls and have almost polar reactions.
Rod is obviously uncomfortable -- “Why should I care? I don't care.” -- and even Nicky isn’t completely complacent about it, putting a “no homo” tag at the end of the chorus -- “But I’m not gay”. Even though these characters are gay, they’re closeted, revealing the ugliness that is homophobia towards oneself and the idea that “it’s okay as long as it isn’t me”. These two ideas that can be spotted throughout pop culture -- see: The Merchant of Venice, In and Out, Brokeback Mountain -- and can harm the psyche for both the individual and most who associate with them.
Sources:
Song: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OUvLPTKODHE
Lyrics: http://www.stlyrics.com/lyrics/avenueq/ifyouweregay.htm
Avenue Q on TVTropes: http://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pmwiki.php/Main/AvenueQ
Avenue Q on Wikipedia: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Avenue_Q
In 2003, Avenue Q went to Broadway. It includes a song entitled “If You Were Gay”, a number where Nicky ensures his friend that he will be supportive if were he gay, but poor Rod just wants to be left alone to read. Rod seems very displeased at Nicky’s choice of conversation, playing the closeted conservative roll, while Nicky plays the open friend. While both characters are gay, they play different rolls and have almost polar reactions.
Rod is obviously uncomfortable -- “Why should I care? I don't care.” -- and even Nicky isn’t completely complacent about it, putting a “no homo” tag at the end of the chorus -- “But I’m not gay”. Even though these characters are gay, they’re closeted, revealing the ugliness that is homophobia towards oneself and the idea that “it’s okay as long as it isn’t me”. These two ideas that can be spotted throughout pop culture -- see: The Merchant of Venice, In and Out, Brokeback Mountain -- and can harm the psyche for both the individual and most who associate with them.
Sources:
Song: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OUvLPTKODHE
Lyrics: http://www.stlyrics.com/lyrics/avenueq/ifyouweregay.htm
Avenue Q on TVTropes: http://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pmwiki.php/Main/AvenueQ
Avenue Q on Wikipedia: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Avenue_Q
3 comments:
Likin' the message here, a lot.
Every day I hear kids at school saying "that's so gay" or "no homo" and calling other's... That one derogatory word that starts with the letter 'f'. I don't even want to type it here, that's how bad it is. I'd feel offensive typing it let alone saying it, knowing how much it can hurt a person. I haven't had any one I know experience LGBT bullying but I don't doubt it's out there, and it gets grim.
Homophobia infiltrates every part of society, and although I don't believe equality can EVER be achieved, I know it can be better than this, and it needs to be.
....I like the saying "Don't like gay marriage? Don't get one"
:) It's dead on
I don't understand why Nicky needs to constantly say he's not gay if he is. It displeases me when people aren't comfortable with their sexual identity. If a person tells others that "oh dude it's cool if you're gay" and then in the same breath reassures the other person, themselves, and anyone who might overhear that they aren't gay, then that's ridiculously hypocritical.
I hate when people say "Oh, you're gay?" or "Is he/she gay?" like it actually matters. They say it like it should and will change the relationship they have with the person. The sad part is that for most people, it does change the way they view someone.
Homophobia takes away some friendships and guarantees others never begin to happen, and makes those that are gay or lesbian afraid to come out and be themselves because of that.
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