The Simpsons wrer explas the importance of Smhers' monumental gay love story | Metro News

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• "SMHERS & BEYOND" TRAC EVERY QUEER MOMENT "THE SIMPSONS"EXPERTS AND SUPER-FANS TALK THROUGH THE EPIC SUPERCUT OF EVERY LGBTQ REFERENCE THE SHOW'S FIRST 32 {FONT:NORMAL 800 1.2REM/1.2 "D BOLD",SANS-SERIF;TEXT-TRANSFORM:NORMAL;LOR:HER;DISPLAY:LE-BLOCK;PADDG-BOTTOM:6PX;POSN:RELATIVE;TEXT-TRANSFORM:UPPERSE;}{BACKGROUND:#89308A;BOTTOM:0;NTENT:'';DISPLAY:BLOCK;HEIGHT:2PX;LEFT:0;POSN:ABSOLUTE;RIGHT:0;-WEBK-TRANSN:ALL 0.2S EASE;TRANSN:ALL 0.2S EASE;WIDTH:100%;}{LEFT:51%;RIGHT:51%;WIDTH:0;}{FONT:NORMAL 800 1.2REM/1.2 "D BOLD",SANS-SERIF;TEXT-TRANSFORM:NORMAL;LOR:HER;DISPLAY:LE-BLOCK;PADDG-BOTTOM:6PX;POSN:RELATIVE;TEXT-TRANSFORM:UPPERSE;}{BACKGROUND:#89308A;BOTTOM:0;NTENT:'';DISPLAY:BLOCK;HEIGHT:2PX;LEFT:0;POSN:ABSOLUTE;RIGHT:0;-WEBK-TRANSN:ALL 0.2S EASE;TRANSN:ALL 0.2S EASE;WIDTH:100%;}{LEFT:51%;RIGHT:51%;WIDTH:0;}TVBY HENRY GIARDAMARCH 2, 2021/3:33 {HEIGHT:HER;DISPLAY:-WEBK-BOX;DISPLAY:-WEBK-FLEX;DISPLAY:-MS-FLEXBOX;DISPLAY:FLEX;POSN:RELATIVE;-WEBK-FLEX-WRAP:WRAP;-MS-FLEX-WRAP:WRAP;FLEX-WRAP:WRAP;-WEBK-ALIGN-EMS:CENTER;-WEBK-BOX-ALIGN:CENTER;-MS-FLEX-ALIGN:CENTER;ALIGN-EMS:CENTER;-WEBK-BOX-PACK:CENTER;-WEBK-JTIFY-NTENT:CENTER;-MS-FLEX-PACK:CENTER;JTIFY-NTENT:CENTER;-WEBK-TRANSFORM-ORIG:CENTER;-MS-TRANSFORM-ORIG:CENTER;TRANSFORM-ORIG:CENTER;} IMG{HEIGHT:100%;WIDTH:100%;OBJECT-F:VER;}{HEIGHT:4256PX;WIDTH:2832PX;}GETTYALAI, ATRALIA - OCTOBER 19, 2015: AN ISOLATED IMAGE OF A WAYLON SMHERS SERI 2 LEGO MIFIGURE. THE SIMPSONS IS THE LONGT NNG ANIMATED TV SERI OF ALL TIME. ITEMS OM THE SIMPSON AND LEGO ARE HIGHLY SOUGHT AFTER LLECTABL.BY HENRY GIARDAMARCH 2, 2021 / 3:33 PM{"@NTEXT":","@TYPE":"NEWSARTICLE","HEADLE":"\"SMHERS & BEYOND\" TRAC EVERY QUEER MOMENT \"THE SIMPSONS\"","THUMBNAILURL":","DATEPUBLISHED":"2021-03-02T20:33:57.000+0000","DATEMODIFIED":"2021-03-02T20:33:57.000+0000","IMAGE":{"@NTEXT":","@TYPE":"IMAGEOBJECT","URL":","WIDTH":1920,"HEIGHT":1080},"URL":","THOR":{"@TYPE":"ORGANIZATN","NAME":"LOGO TV"},"MAENTYOFPAGE":{"@TYPE":"WEBPAGE","@ID":"},"PUBLISHER":{"@TYPE":"ORGANIZATN","@ID":","NAME":"LOGO TV","URL":","LOGO":{"@TYPE":"IMAGEOBJECT"}},"CREATOR":"HENRY GIARDA","KEYWORDS":"GEEK","ARTICLESECTN":"TV"}{BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}COVID-19 HAS ED MANY CREATIV TO E THEIR TIME UNEXPECTED WAYS. FOR GAYT EPISO EVER PODST HOST DREW MACKIE, ROLLG TO THE UMPTEENTH MONTH OF QUARANTE SPARKED UNLIKELY SPIRATN. WHILE DOG REARCH FOR A EP-DIVE TO THE SIMPSONS EPISO “THREE GAYS OF THE CONDO,” MACKIE TRIED TO FIGURE OUT WHO THE SHOW FIRST IMPLIED WAS GAY VIA SOME SORT OF QUEER SIMPSONS SUPERCUT. “I WAS LIKE, SH, THIS DON’T EXIST ANYWHERE,” HE TELLS NEWNOWNEXT. “I HAVE TO DO .”{BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}THE RULT, “SMHERS & BEYOND: EVERY LGBT JOKE ON THE SIMPSONS EVER,” IS A TWO HOUR-LONG JOURNEY THROUGH EVERY GAY JOKE, CHARACTER, PLOT, AND FERENCE THE SHOW’S FIRST 32 SEASONS. AND WH SOME UNEXPECTED TWISTS AND TURNS NCERNG LGBTQ {BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}TO PARSE THROUGH THREE S OF GAY AND TRANS JOK — RANGG OM THE UNEXPECTEDLY AFFIRMG TO THE DOWNRIGHT TRANSPHOBIC — I SPOKE TO A FEW QUEER SIMPSONS SCHOLARS TO TAKE A MEASURE OF JT HOW FAR WE’VE E SCE VIEWERS WERE FIRST TRODUCED TO THE RINTS OF SPRGFIELD, {BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;DISPLAY:-WEBK-BOX;DISPLAY:-WEBK-FLEX;DISPLAY:-MS-FLEXBOX;DISPLAY:FLEX;-WEBK-BOX-PACK:CENTER;-WEBK-JTIFY-NTENT:CENTER;-MS-FLEX-PACK:CENTER;JTIFY-NTENT:CENTER;POSN:RELATIVE;PADDG-BOTTOM:56.49999999999999%;} .TWTER-TWEET-RENRED, {M-WIDTH:65%;WIDTH:TO !IMPORTANT;} {WIDTH:100%;} {MARG-LEFT:TO !IMPORTANT;MARG-RIGHT:TO !IMPORTANT;} IMG{MAX-WIDTH:100%;WIDTH:100%;} > IAME{BORR:NONE;MAX-WIDTH:100%;} > *{MAX-WIDTH:NONE !IMPORTANT;POSN:ABSOLUTE;HEIGHT:100% !IMPORTANT;WIDTH:100% !IMPORTANT;}{BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}WHAT DID YOU FIRST NOTICE ABOUT THE CHANGG NATURE OF THE JOK THROUGH THE YEARS?{BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}DREW MACKIE (COHOST OF GAYT EPISO EVER; CREATOR OF "SMHERS & BEYOND: EVERY LGBT JOKE ON THE SIMPSONS EVER"): IT WAS TERTG SEEG THE POT AT WHICH THEY CID THAT SMHERS IS GAY. AT FIRST, THE JOKE IS THAT SMHERS IS A WEIRDO WHO'S SEXUALLY ATTRACTED TO MR BURNS, AND HE'S NOT GAY. AND THEN THEY START TO BRG OTHER ELEMENTS OF GAY STEREOTYP HIS CHARACTER, AND HE EVOLV OM BEG LIKE BURNS-SEXUAL TO, NOT A HEALTHY GAY PERSON, BUT A GAY PERSON. THAT WAS A WEIRD THG TO TERNALIZE, BEE I WOULD HAVE BEEN ABOUT 7 YEARS OLD WHEN I STARTED WATCHG THAT. THE IA OF SMHERS BEG A WEIRDO WAS PROBABLY THE FIRST THG I PICKED UP {BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}HENRY GILBERT (COHOST OF TALKG SIMPSONS): WHAT STCK ME AT FIRST WAS SEEG A TIMELE OF AMERIN PERCEPTNS TOWARDS QUEER ISSU EPEN AND CHANGE, AS WELL AS SEEG THE CREATORS OF THE SHOW SELF GROW THEIR UNRSTANDG OF GAY ISSU. I NOTICED THAT SIMPLY THE IA OF A GAY MAN LIKE SMHERS APPEARG ON SCREEN AND EXISTG WAS A JOKE, AND BY NOW, THE IA THAT HIS CHARACTER ULD BE THE CLOSET SEEMS {BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}KAT BAILEY (JOURNALIST): A LOT OF JOK THE ‘90S ARE THE EXPECTED “GAY PANIC” JOK, SPECIFILLY THE JOKE OF NSTANTLY DG HOMER AS GAY A GOOFY WAY — HAVG PEOPLE BE WORRIED ABOUT BEG PERCEIVED AS GAY, HAVG BART BE ABED OR BULLIED BEE PEOPLE PERCEIVE HIM TO BE GAY, ALONG WH MART PRCE AND MILLHOE. “HOMER’S PHOBIA” (WH SPECIAL GUT JOHN WATERS) IS THIS WATERSHED EPISO WHERE A GAY PERSON IS ALLOWED TO BE HUMAN FOR THE FIRST TIME. BUT EVEN THAT EPISO, THERE’S STILL A B OF GAY PANIC BEE HOMER IS WORRIED ABOUT BART BEG {BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}WHY ARE SOME CHARACTERS ALLOWED TO "E OUT" (PATTY, SMHERS) WHILE OTHERS REMA THE CLOSET?{BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}JONAH FLYNN (COFOUNR OF “NO HOMERS CLUB”): SOME OF THE GAY-D CHARACTERS ARE JT PERIPHERAL CHARACTERS WHO APPEAR FOR MAYBE 5-10 SENDS AT A TIME AND JT HAVE NEVER HAD THE SPOTLIGHT TO VELOP BEYOND THAT (FOR EXAMPLE, THE CHOREOGRAPHER “LISA THE BETY QUEEN” OR THE ORIGAL ACTOR WHO PLAYED FALLOUT BOY “THREE MEN AND A COMIC BOOK”). HOMER’S ASSISTANT KARL SEASON 2’S “SIMPSON AND DELILAH” IS VOICED BY HARVEY FIERSTE AND KISS HOMER, BUT IS NEVER EXPLICLY STATED TO BE GAY. THE KISS IS NOT PLAYED AS A JOKE EHER, WHICH IS GREAT. THIS EPISO WAS MA 1990, AND I WOULD BET THE REASONS HE’S NOT OUT THE EPISO HAVE MORE TO DO WH THE TIM. IN 1990, PROFSNAL ENVIRONMENTS WEREN’T AS ACCEPTG AND OPEN TOWARDS GAY PEOPLE. EVEN TODAY, SO MANY QUEER PEOPLE STILL STAY CLOSETED AT WORK. BUT THERE WAS CERTALY MORE SHAME AND SECRECY AROUND 1990. … ALSO, LISA’S MIC TEACHER, MR. LARGO, WHO WAS D AS GAY FOR ABOUT 20 YEARS, GRADUALLY BEME ONE OF THE SHOW’S OPENLY GAY CHARACTERS. HE DIDN’T HAVE A BIG G-OUT MOMENT, BUT THE PAST FEW YEARS HE’S SEEN WH OTHER GAY CHARACTERS, OPENLY DAT MEN, AND IS EVEN SHOWN A LONG-TERM IMPERFECT RELATNSHIP WH ANOTHER MAN. IT’S NICE TO SEE A PERIPHERAL GAY CHARACTER FLHED OUT AND TREATED LIKE A REAL PERSON, RATHER THAN AN EXAGGERATED GAY STEREOTYPE OR {BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}GILBERT: I THK PART, 'S THE GENERAL EDY WRER MDSET WHEN TO HOW JOK ARE EXECUTED THE WORLD OF THE SIMPSONS. GOG AGAST EXPECTATNS IS A HUGE PART OF THE SPIR OF SIMPSONS EDY, AS WELL AS HAVG FUN WH THE AMBIGUY OF A GIVEN SUATN. FROM THAT MDSET, HAVG A CHARACTER JT OPENLY ADDRS THEIR INTY GO AGAST THE GRA TO A GREE, SO I IMAGE THAT HAS SOMETHG TO DO WH {BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}MACKIE: SMHERS DO GET A G-OUT EPISO, BUT ’S FAIRLY RECENT (“THE BURNS CAGE”). IT’S THE ONE WHERE HE TELLS MR. BURNS THAT HE’S GAY. EVERYONE ELSE ALREADY KNOWS BY THEN. I THK ’S A WRG PROBLEM BEE AT SOME POT, ORR TO MAKE THOSE JOK ABOUT SMHERS, YOU HAVE TO IMPLY THAT EVERYONE KNOWS HE'S GAY. IT’S JT LIKE AN OPEN SECRET. SO MUCH OF THE GAY HUMOR WAS GIVEN TO HIM THAT DIDN’T SEEM NECSARY TO “OUT” HIM, WHEREAS PATTY HAD BEEN MUCH MORE “CLOSETED.”{BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}WAS THERE EVER AN OPENLY GAY WRER THE WRERS’ ROOM? {BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}BAILEY: THE SIMPSONS WRERS’ ROOM HAS ALWAYS BEEN A LOT OF HARVARD GRADS AND VERY AT-ORIENTED. AT THE VERY BEGNG OF THE SHOW, THERE WAS A PRODUCER WHO EXPLICLY SAID HE DIDN’T WANT WOMEN WRG ON . THERE WAS A WOMAN WHO HELPED WRE ONE OF THE SIMPSONS’ CHRISTMAS EPISOS, I BELIEVE. THERE’S FELY A GHT HISTORY WH THAT, WHERE ’S JT STRAIGHT CIS DUS OF A CERTA AGE FOR A LONG TIME. AND YOU N SEE THAT THE HUMOR BEE SO MANY OF THE JOK ARE LLBACKS TO GROWG UP THE ‘{BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}FLYNN: TO MY KNOWLEDGE, THERE HAS NEVER BEEN AN OUT GAY WRER ON THE SHOW’S STAFF AT ANY POT THE SHOW’S HISTORY, AT LEAST NOT ON THE PERMANENT WRG STAFF. I THK THIS IS FELY ONE OF THE REASONS THE SHOW’S QUEER CHARACTERS HAVE OFTEN FLTED TO ONE-NOTE STEREOTYPIL REPRENTATNS, AND WHY TOOK SO LONG FOR THE SHOW TO FEATURE ANY OUT GAY CHARACTERS. WHEN YOU LOOK AT THE BT AND MOST MULTI-DIMENSNAL GAY CHARACTERS ON THE SHOW, MOST OF THEM WERE VOICED BY ACTUAL GAY PEOPLE WHO REALLY HELPED RM THE CHARACTER. SOME EXAMPL WOULD BE JOHN WATERS AS JOHN (SEASON 8’S “HOMER’S PHOBIA”), STT THOMPSON AS GRADY (A RECURRG CHARACTER SCE SEASON 14) OR PATTY’S NEW GIRLIEND EVELYN PLAYED BY FORTUNE FEIMSTER (SEASON 31’S “LIV’ LA PURA VIDA.”){BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}MACKIE: THE WRER OF “THE BURNS CAGE” [ROB LAZEBNIK] WROTE FOR HIS SON, WHO ME OUT HIGH SCHOOL. WORKG THROUGH THAT WH HIS SON GOT HIM WANTG TO WRE A G-OUT STORY FOR SMHERS. THERE IS A WRER WHO TRANSNED AFTER THE FACT (JENNIFER VENTIIA, WHO ME OUT AFTER WRG FOR THE SHOW). IF YOU LOOK AT CURRENT SIMPSONS EPISOS, THERE ARE SEVERAL WOMEN WRERS AS OPPOSED TO, LIKE, ONE. THERE ARE TWO JOK THAT ACTUALLY E THE WORD “TRANSGENR.” I DON'T THK THEY MENTNED THE WORD “BISEXUAL” ONCE ON THAT SHOW, WHICH IS RARE BEE 'S BEEN ON FOR 32 YEARS. YOU’D THK SOMEONE WOULD SAY BISEXUAL OR BI, BUT THEY DON'{BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}I'VE NOTICED THAT MANY OF THE JOK ARE NCERNED WH TRANSNS RATHER THAN GAYNS AND OFTEN THE TWO BLUR {BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}FLYNN: IN THE FIRST OF THE SHOW, BART IS SHOWN WEARG WOMEN’S WIGS, HIGH HEELS, CHEERLEAR OUTFS, AND MARGE’S DRS. I NEVER REALLY READ THOSE MOMENTS AS IMPLITNS THAT BART WAS GAY. I SAW THEM AS ACTS OF REBELLN AND NFINCE. I ALSO DON’T THK WE WERE TEND TO MOCK HIM FOR , BUT RATHER LGH BEE OF HOW SURPRISGLY FORTABLE BART IS HIS OWN SK. I THK ’S A DIFFERENT STORY WHEN MART DRS DRAG, THOUGH. HE WEARS A SKIRT “TREEHOE OF HORROR III” AND ACCINTALLY LLS HIMSELF THE “QUEEN OF SUMMERTIME” “BART OF DARKNS” BEFORE QUICKLY RRECTG HIMSELF. I THK THE EXAMPL DIFFER OM BART A NEGATIVE WAY, BEE OTHER CHARACTERS THE SCENE REACT NEGATIVELY TOWARDS HIM (NELSON EVEN PUNCH HIM), WHICH RERC TO THE DIENCE THAT MART SHOULD BE MOCKED FOR BEHAVG THIS WAY, WHEREAS BART IS {BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}GILBERT: THAT NTUED NFLATN OF TRANSNS WH CIS HOMOSEXUAL MEN, PARTICULAR, WAS PRETTY SHOCKG TO ME WHEN WATCHG DREW'S PILATN. I HAD FOTTEN SO MANY OF THOSE JOK. SADLY, I THK THAT FOR THE STRAIGHT GUY WRG STAFF WHO ARE MOSTLY LEFT-OF-CENTER, THEY JT SAW GAY AND TRANS SUATNS AS TERCHANGEABLE, AND THE SAME GO FOR NFLATG DRAG AND TRANSNS. MOST MEDIA DID THAT BACK THEN — EVEN MYSELF AS A GAY MAN, I DIDN'T KNOW ANY OPENLY TRANS PEOPLE UNTIL I MOVED TO THE BAY AREA 2006, AND I THANK THOSE IENDS FOR TEACHG ME SO MUCH. THAT IGNORANCE PROBABLY LED TO SIMPSONS DIENC THE PAST ALSO NFLATG THE TWO GROUPS AS THE SAME. ... LATE THE VIO, I WAS PLEASANTLY SURPRISED TO FALLY HEAR MARGE SAY THE WORD "TRANSGENR," WHICH SHOWS THAT AT LEAST SOME LEARNG EVENTUALLY HAPPENED WH THE {BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}BAILEY: I THK THE ‘90S, THERE WAS A CERTA CULTURAL AWARENS OF TRANSNS, BUT WAS ALWAYS TREATED AS SOMETHG THAT LIKE “WEIRD” PEOPLE DO. LIKE THERE’S A JOKE WHERE HOMER TALKS ABOUT FRANK, WHO SLEPT WH HIS PARENTS, I THK, AND THEN BEME FRANCE AT A CERTA POT — THAT WAS THE TYPE OF JOKE YOU’D GET. OR THERE WAS A MOMENT WHERE OTTO ASKS IF PATTY IS TRANS. THAT’S A WAY TO TAKE AWAY FEMY, AND OF URSE TRANS MASCULE PEOPLE DON’T EXIST AT ALL THIS WORLD. BUT THERE ARE SOME REALLY VIC JOK ABOUT TRANS PEOPLE PECIALLY GETTG TO THE 2000S AS VISIBILY SPREADS. THERE’S A WHOLE EPISO THAT’S BASILLY JT QUEER EYE FOR THE STRAIGHT GUY, WHICH I REMEMBER BEG A WATERSHED MOMENT AROUND 2004, WHERE HOMER GETS A MAKEOVER. YOU N SEE THE CHANGE JT OM THE JOHN WATERS EPISO TO THE QUEER EYE EPISO BEE ’S LIKE, THEY’RE OL AND FASHNABLE NOW. THAT’S HOW WE WERE STARTG TO PERCEIVE OF GAY MEN 2004. AND OF URSE THERE’S PATTY’S ARC WHERE SHE OUT AS GAY AND GETS MARRIED DURG THAT SEASON. IT WAS AN IMPORTANT EPISO AS WELL: THEY BASILLY RETNNED HER OM BEG ASEXUAL TO BEG A QUEER WOMAN, WHICH, I DON’T KNOW HOW I FEEL ABOUT THAT. THERE’S ALSO A NNG GAG ABOUT HOMER LOVG WOMEN’S {BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}GILBERT: THE SIMPSONS ALWAYS REFERENC POPULAR FILMS AND TV SHOWS THROUGHOUT THE YEARS, SO 'S BOUND TO TOUCH ON POPULAR QUEER MEDIA LIKE BROKEBACK MOUNTA, THELMA & LOUISE, OR RUPL'S DRAG RACE. BUT BY REMOVG A LOT OF THE EXPLIC GAYNS OM THOSE MOMENTS, BOTH HELPS THEM GET NTROVERSIAL TOPICS PAST THE FOX NETWORK CENSORS, AND ALSO N SURPRISE THE DIENCE WH ADULT MOVIE REFERENC YOU MIGHT NOT BE ED TO SEEG A RTOON. FOR THE CRYG GAME PARTICULAR, I THK GOT PARODIED A LOT BY THE SIMPSONS AND OTHER EDI OF THE EARLY '90S AS A WAY TO SNEAK JOK THEY NORMALLY ULDN'T, MOSTLY FOR THE WORSE. THE MANY AWFUL "YUCK, SHE'S REALLY A MAN" JOK OF THAT ERA WERE BAD THEN AND LOOK EVEN WORSE {BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;DISPLAY:-WEBK-BOX;DISPLAY:-WEBK-FLEX;DISPLAY:-MS-FLEXBOX;DISPLAY:FLEX;-WEBK-BOX-PACK:CENTER;-WEBK-JTIFY-NTENT:CENTER;-MS-FLEX-PACK:CENTER;JTIFY-NTENT:CENTER;POSN:RELATIVE;PADDG-BOTTOM:56.49999999999999%;} .TWTER-TWEET-RENRED, {M-WIDTH:65%;WIDTH:TO !IMPORTANT;} {WIDTH:100%;} {MARG-LEFT:TO !IMPORTANT;MARG-RIGHT:TO !IMPORTANT;} IMG{MAX-WIDTH:100%;WIDTH:100%;} > IAME{BORR:NONE;MAX-WIDTH:100%;} > *{MAX-WIDTH:NONE !IMPORTANT;POSN:ABSOLUTE;HEIGHT:100% !IMPORTANT;WIDTH:100% !IMPORTANT;}{BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}THE TEEN BOYS THE SHOW ARE OBVLY STUCK THE ‘90S, AND TH FD THE WORD "GAY" AS AN SULT ETERNALLY HILAR. DO YOU THK THERE WILL BE A POT TIME WHEN VIEWERS WILL LOOK AT THE SIMPSONS AND THK, "WOW, THOSE LTLE KIDS WERE SO HOMOPHOBIC FOR NO REASON!"{BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}FLYNN: I HOPE SO, BEE THAT WILL BE AN DITN THAT SOCIETY HAS BEE A LOT LS HOMOPHOBIC, AND KIDS AREN’T G “GAY” AS AN SULT ANYMORE. I ALREADY FD MYSELF OCSNALLY UGHT OFF-GUARD BY SOME OF THE OUTDATED GAY JOK I SEE RENS OF THE SIMPSONS, SOUTH PARK, SEFELD, AND OTHER SHOWS I WATCHED GROWG UP. GO TO SHOW HOW FAR WE’VE E THE LAST 20 {BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}GILBERT: IN THE ‘96 EPISO "LISA'S DATE WH DENSY," WHEN NELSON IS UGHT ON A DATE WH LISA, HIS BULLYG IENDS SAY "THAT IS SOOOO GAY" AS AN SULT. IT'S A IL MOMENT OF BOYS BEG SO IGNORANTLY HOMOPHOBIC THAT THEY LL A HETEROSEXUAL KISS "GAY," BUT IS A B MORE SHOCKG THE DAYS TO HEAR THAT TERM ED AS A PEJORATIVE. I WAS A CLOSETED TEEN WHEN THAT EPISO ME OUT, AND G "GAY" THAT WAY WAS BOTH VERY HURTFUL TO ME AND SO MANY OTHERS, THOUGH AT THE TIME I LGHED AT THE JOKE AND UNRSTOOD THAT TO ACCURATELY PORTRAY MEAN BOYS 1996. IN MOMENTS LIKE THAT ONE, I FELY THK THE SIMPSONS IS ATTACKG THE BULLI FOR THEIR RIDICULO LEVEL OF HOMOPHOBIA, AND THE SHOW DON'T THK THEY SHOULD E "GAY" TO MEAN SOMETHG NEGATIVE. IN THE NTEXT OF THAT SCENE, I THK 'S ACCURATE FOR THE BULLI TO E THE TERM, BUT I HOPE THAT EVENTUALLY THOSE MOMENTS MAKE PEOPLE SAY, "WOW, I N'T BELIEVE HOMOPHOBIA WAS SO NORMALIZED BACK THEN!"{BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;CLEAR:BOTH;}{BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;MARG:0 TO;WIDTH:90%;M-WIDTH:288PX;MAX-WIDTH:1440PX;M-HEIGHT:194PX;}LATT NEWS
• THE SIMPSONS WRER FOUGHT HARD FOR LENNY AND CARL GAY SEX JOKE: ‘WE’RE DOG THIS!’
• HOW THE SIMPSONS MA SMHERS INTO A THREE-DIMENSNAL GAY CHARACTER
• THE SIMPSONS: WHEN SMHERS' GAY CLU FIRST STARTED
• THE SIMPSONS WRER EXPLAS THE IMPORTANCE OF SMHERS’ MONUMENTAL GAY LOVE STORY: ‘I DON’T THK HAS EVER HAPPENED’

"SMHERS & BEYOND" TRAC EVERY QUEER MOMENT "THE SIMPSONS"EXPERTS AND SUPER-FANS TALK THROUGH THE EPIC SUPERCUT OF EVERY LGBTQ REFERENCE THE SHOW'S FIRST 32 {FONT:NORMAL 800 1.2REM/1.2 "D BOLD",SANS-SERIF;TEXT-TRANSFORM:NORMAL;LOR:HER;DISPLAY:LE-BLOCK;PADDG-BOTTOM:6PX;POSN:RELATIVE;TEXT-TRANSFORM:UPPERSE;}{BACKGROUND:#89308A;BOTTOM:0;NTENT:'';DISPLAY:BLOCK;HEIGHT:2PX;LEFT:0;POSN:ABSOLUTE;RIGHT:0;-WEBK-TRANSN:ALL 0.2S EASE;TRANSN:ALL 0.2S EASE;WIDTH:100%;}{LEFT:51%;RIGHT:51%;WIDTH:0;}{FONT:NORMAL 800 1.2REM/1.2 "D BOLD",SANS-SERIF;TEXT-TRANSFORM:NORMAL;LOR:HER;DISPLAY:LE-BLOCK;PADDG-BOTTOM:6PX;POSN:RELATIVE;TEXT-TRANSFORM:UPPERSE;}{BACKGROUND:#89308A;BOTTOM:0;NTENT:'';DISPLAY:BLOCK;HEIGHT:2PX;LEFT:0;POSN:ABSOLUTE;RIGHT:0;-WEBK-TRANSN:ALL 0.2S EASE;TRANSN:ALL 0.2S EASE;WIDTH:100%;}{LEFT:51%;RIGHT:51%;WIDTH:0;}TVBY HENRY GIARDAMARCH 2, 2021/3:33 {HEIGHT:HER;DISPLAY:-WEBK-BOX;DISPLAY:-WEBK-FLEX;DISPLAY:-MS-FLEXBOX;DISPLAY:FLEX;POSN:RELATIVE;-WEBK-FLEX-WRAP:WRAP;-MS-FLEX-WRAP:WRAP;FLEX-WRAP:WRAP;-WEBK-ALIGN-EMS:CENTER;-WEBK-BOX-ALIGN:CENTER;-MS-FLEX-ALIGN:CENTER;ALIGN-EMS:CENTER;-WEBK-BOX-PACK:CENTER;-WEBK-JTIFY-NTENT:CENTER;-MS-FLEX-PACK:CENTER;JTIFY-NTENT:CENTER;-WEBK-TRANSFORM-ORIG:CENTER;-MS-TRANSFORM-ORIG:CENTER;TRANSFORM-ORIG:CENTER;} IMG{HEIGHT:100%;WIDTH:100%;OBJECT-F:VER;}{HEIGHT:4256PX;WIDTH:2832PX;}GETTYALAI, ATRALIA - OCTOBER 19, 2015: AN ISOLATED IMAGE OF A WAYLON SMHERS SERI 2 LEGO MIFIGURE. THE SIMPSONS IS THE LONGT NNG ANIMATED TV SERI OF ALL TIME. ITEMS OM THE SIMPSON AND LEGO ARE HIGHLY SOUGHT AFTER LLECTABL.BY HENRY GIARDAMARCH 2, 2021 / 3:33 PM{"@NTEXT":","@TYPE":"NEWSARTICLE","HEADLE":"\"SMHERS & BEYOND\" TRAC EVERY QUEER MOMENT \"THE SIMPSONS\"","THUMBNAILURL":","DATEPUBLISHED":"2021-03-02T20:33:57.000+0000","DATEMODIFIED":"2021-03-02T20:33:57.000+0000","IMAGE":{"@NTEXT":","@TYPE":"IMAGEOBJECT","URL":","WIDTH":1920,"HEIGHT":1080},"URL":","THOR":{"@TYPE":"ORGANIZATN","NAME":"LOGO TV"},"MAENTYOFPAGE":{"@TYPE":"WEBPAGE","@ID":"},"PUBLISHER":{"@TYPE":"ORGANIZATN","@ID":","NAME":"LOGO TV","URL":","LOGO":{"@TYPE":"IMAGEOBJECT"}},"CREATOR":"HENRY GIARDA","KEYWORDS":"GEEK","ARTICLESECTN":"TV"}{BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}COVID-19 HAS ED MANY CREATIV TO E THEIR TIME UNEXPECTED WAYS. FOR GAYT EPISO EVER PODST HOST DREW MACKIE, ROLLG TO THE UMPTEENTH MONTH OF QUARANTE SPARKED UNLIKELY SPIRATN. WHILE DOG REARCH FOR A EP-DIVE TO THE SIMPSONS EPISO “THREE GAYS OF THE CONDO,” MACKIE TRIED TO FIGURE OUT WHO THE SHOW FIRST IMPLIED WAS GAY VIA SOME SORT OF QUEER SIMPSONS SUPERCUT. “I WAS LIKE, SH, THIS DON’T EXIST ANYWHERE,” HE TELLS NEWNOWNEXT. “I HAVE TO DO .”{BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}THE RULT, “SMHERS & BEYOND: EVERY LGBT JOKE ON THE SIMPSONS EVER,” IS A TWO HOUR-LONG JOURNEY THROUGH EVERY GAY JOKE, CHARACTER, PLOT, AND FERENCE THE SHOW’S FIRST 32 SEASONS. AND WH SOME UNEXPECTED TWISTS AND TURNS NCERNG LGBTQ {BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}TO PARSE THROUGH THREE S OF GAY AND TRANS JOK — RANGG OM THE UNEXPECTEDLY AFFIRMG TO THE DOWNRIGHT TRANSPHOBIC — I SPOKE TO A FEW QUEER SIMPSONS SCHOLARS TO TAKE A MEASURE OF JT HOW FAR WE’VE E SCE VIEWERS WERE FIRST TRODUCED TO THE RINTS OF SPRGFIELD, {BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;DISPLAY:-WEBK-BOX;DISPLAY:-WEBK-FLEX;DISPLAY:-MS-FLEXBOX;DISPLAY:FLEX;-WEBK-BOX-PACK:CENTER;-WEBK-JTIFY-NTENT:CENTER;-MS-FLEX-PACK:CENTER;JTIFY-NTENT:CENTER;POSN:RELATIVE;PADDG-BOTTOM:56.49999999999999%;} .TWTER-TWEET-RENRED, {M-WIDTH:65%;WIDTH:TO !IMPORTANT;} {WIDTH:100%;} {MARG-LEFT:TO !IMPORTANT;MARG-RIGHT:TO !IMPORTANT;} IMG{MAX-WIDTH:100%;WIDTH:100%;} > IAME{BORR:NONE;MAX-WIDTH:100%;} > *{MAX-WIDTH:NONE !IMPORTANT;POSN:ABSOLUTE;HEIGHT:100% !IMPORTANT;WIDTH:100% !IMPORTANT;}{BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}WHAT DID YOU FIRST NOTICE ABOUT THE CHANGG NATURE OF THE JOK THROUGH THE YEARS?{BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}DREW MACKIE (COHOST OF GAYT EPISO EVER; CREATOR OF "SMHERS & BEYOND: EVERY LGBT JOKE ON THE SIMPSONS EVER"): IT WAS TERTG SEEG THE POT AT WHICH THEY CID THAT SMHERS IS GAY. AT FIRST, THE JOKE IS THAT SMHERS IS A WEIRDO WHO'S SEXUALLY ATTRACTED TO MR BURNS, AND HE'S NOT GAY. AND THEN THEY START TO BRG OTHER ELEMENTS OF GAY STEREOTYP HIS CHARACTER, AND HE EVOLV OM BEG LIKE BURNS-SEXUAL TO, NOT A HEALTHY GAY PERSON, BUT A GAY PERSON. THAT WAS A WEIRD THG TO TERNALIZE, BEE I WOULD HAVE BEEN ABOUT 7 YEARS OLD WHEN I STARTED WATCHG THAT. THE IA OF SMHERS BEG A WEIRDO WAS PROBABLY THE FIRST THG I PICKED UP {BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}HENRY GILBERT (COHOST OF TALKG SIMPSONS): WHAT STCK ME AT FIRST WAS SEEG A TIMELE OF AMERIN PERCEPTNS TOWARDS QUEER ISSU EPEN AND CHANGE, AS WELL AS SEEG THE CREATORS OF THE SHOW SELF GROW THEIR UNRSTANDG OF GAY ISSU. I NOTICED THAT SIMPLY THE IA OF A GAY MAN LIKE SMHERS APPEARG ON SCREEN AND EXISTG WAS A JOKE, AND BY NOW, THE IA THAT HIS CHARACTER ULD BE THE CLOSET SEEMS {BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}KAT BAILEY (JOURNALIST): A LOT OF JOK THE ‘90S ARE THE EXPECTED “GAY PANIC” JOK, SPECIFILLY THE JOKE OF NSTANTLY DG HOMER AS GAY A GOOFY WAY — HAVG PEOPLE BE WORRIED ABOUT BEG PERCEIVED AS GAY, HAVG BART BE ABED OR BULLIED BEE PEOPLE PERCEIVE HIM TO BE GAY, ALONG WH MART PRCE AND MILLHOE. “HOMER’S PHOBIA” (WH SPECIAL GUT JOHN WATERS) IS THIS WATERSHED EPISO WHERE A GAY PERSON IS ALLOWED TO BE HUMAN FOR THE FIRST TIME. BUT EVEN THAT EPISO, THERE’S STILL A B OF GAY PANIC BEE HOMER IS WORRIED ABOUT BART BEG {BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}WHY ARE SOME CHARACTERS ALLOWED TO "E OUT" (PATTY, SMHERS) WHILE OTHERS REMA THE CLOSET?{BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}JONAH FLYNN (COFOUNR OF “NO HOMERS CLUB”): SOME OF THE GAY-D CHARACTERS ARE JT PERIPHERAL CHARACTERS WHO APPEAR FOR MAYBE 5-10 SENDS AT A TIME AND JT HAVE NEVER HAD THE SPOTLIGHT TO VELOP BEYOND THAT (FOR EXAMPLE, THE CHOREOGRAPHER “LISA THE BETY QUEEN” OR THE ORIGAL ACTOR WHO PLAYED FALLOUT BOY “THREE MEN AND A COMIC BOOK”). HOMER’S ASSISTANT KARL SEASON 2’S “SIMPSON AND DELILAH” IS VOICED BY HARVEY FIERSTE AND KISS HOMER, BUT IS NEVER EXPLICLY STATED TO BE GAY. THE KISS IS NOT PLAYED AS A JOKE EHER, WHICH IS GREAT. THIS EPISO WAS MA 1990, AND I WOULD BET THE REASONS HE’S NOT OUT THE EPISO HAVE MORE TO DO WH THE TIM. IN 1990, PROFSNAL ENVIRONMENTS WEREN’T AS ACCEPTG AND OPEN TOWARDS GAY PEOPLE. EVEN TODAY, SO MANY QUEER PEOPLE STILL STAY CLOSETED AT WORK. BUT THERE WAS CERTALY MORE SHAME AND SECRECY AROUND 1990. … ALSO, LISA’S MIC TEACHER, MR. LARGO, WHO WAS D AS GAY FOR ABOUT 20 YEARS, GRADUALLY BEME ONE OF THE SHOW’S OPENLY GAY CHARACTERS. HE DIDN’T HAVE A BIG G-OUT MOMENT, BUT THE PAST FEW YEARS HE’S SEEN WH OTHER GAY CHARACTERS, OPENLY DAT MEN, AND IS EVEN SHOWN A LONG-TERM IMPERFECT RELATNSHIP WH ANOTHER MAN. IT’S NICE TO SEE A PERIPHERAL GAY CHARACTER FLHED OUT AND TREATED LIKE A REAL PERSON, RATHER THAN AN EXAGGERATED GAY STEREOTYPE OR {BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}GILBERT: I THK PART, 'S THE GENERAL EDY WRER MDSET WHEN TO HOW JOK ARE EXECUTED THE WORLD OF THE SIMPSONS. GOG AGAST EXPECTATNS IS A HUGE PART OF THE SPIR OF SIMPSONS EDY, AS WELL AS HAVG FUN WH THE AMBIGUY OF A GIVEN SUATN. FROM THAT MDSET, HAVG A CHARACTER JT OPENLY ADDRS THEIR INTY GO AGAST THE GRA TO A GREE, SO I IMAGE THAT HAS SOMETHG TO DO WH {BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}MACKIE: SMHERS DO GET A G-OUT EPISO, BUT ’S FAIRLY RECENT (“THE BURNS CAGE”). IT’S THE ONE WHERE HE TELLS MR. BURNS THAT HE’S GAY. EVERYONE ELSE ALREADY KNOWS BY THEN. I THK ’S A WRG PROBLEM BEE AT SOME POT, ORR TO MAKE THOSE JOK ABOUT SMHERS, YOU HAVE TO IMPLY THAT EVERYONE KNOWS HE'S GAY. IT’S JT LIKE AN OPEN SECRET. SO MUCH OF THE GAY HUMOR WAS GIVEN TO HIM THAT DIDN’T SEEM NECSARY TO “OUT” HIM, WHEREAS PATTY HAD BEEN MUCH MORE “CLOSETED.”{BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}WAS THERE EVER AN OPENLY GAY WRER THE WRERS’ ROOM? {BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}BAILEY: THE SIMPSONS WRERS’ ROOM HAS ALWAYS BEEN A LOT OF HARVARD GRADS AND VERY AT-ORIENTED. AT THE VERY BEGNG OF THE SHOW, THERE WAS A PRODUCER WHO EXPLICLY SAID HE DIDN’T WANT WOMEN WRG ON . THERE WAS A WOMAN WHO HELPED WRE ONE OF THE SIMPSONS’ CHRISTMAS EPISOS, I BELIEVE. THERE’S FELY A GHT HISTORY WH THAT, WHERE ’S JT STRAIGHT CIS DUS OF A CERTA AGE FOR A LONG TIME. AND YOU N SEE THAT THE HUMOR BEE SO MANY OF THE JOK ARE LLBACKS TO GROWG UP THE ‘{BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}FLYNN: TO MY KNOWLEDGE, THERE HAS NEVER BEEN AN OUT GAY WRER ON THE SHOW’S STAFF AT ANY POT THE SHOW’S HISTORY, AT LEAST NOT ON THE PERMANENT WRG STAFF. I THK THIS IS FELY ONE OF THE REASONS THE SHOW’S QUEER CHARACTERS HAVE OFTEN FLTED TO ONE-NOTE STEREOTYPIL REPRENTATNS, AND WHY TOOK SO LONG FOR THE SHOW TO FEATURE ANY OUT GAY CHARACTERS. WHEN YOU LOOK AT THE BT AND MOST MULTI-DIMENSNAL GAY CHARACTERS ON THE SHOW, MOST OF THEM WERE VOICED BY ACTUAL GAY PEOPLE WHO REALLY HELPED RM THE CHARACTER. SOME EXAMPL WOULD BE JOHN WATERS AS JOHN (SEASON 8’S “HOMER’S PHOBIA”), STT THOMPSON AS GRADY (A RECURRG CHARACTER SCE SEASON 14) OR PATTY’S NEW GIRLIEND EVELYN PLAYED BY FORTUNE FEIMSTER (SEASON 31’S “LIV’ LA PURA VIDA.”){BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}MACKIE: THE WRER OF “THE BURNS CAGE” [ROB LAZEBNIK] WROTE FOR HIS SON, WHO ME OUT HIGH SCHOOL. WORKG THROUGH THAT WH HIS SON GOT HIM WANTG TO WRE A G-OUT STORY FOR SMHERS. THERE IS A WRER WHO TRANSNED AFTER THE FACT (JENNIFER VENTIIA, WHO ME OUT AFTER WRG FOR THE SHOW). IF YOU LOOK AT CURRENT SIMPSONS EPISOS, THERE ARE SEVERAL WOMEN WRERS AS OPPOSED TO, LIKE, ONE. THERE ARE TWO JOK THAT ACTUALLY E THE WORD “TRANSGENR.” I DON'T THK THEY MENTNED THE WORD “BISEXUAL” ONCE ON THAT SHOW, WHICH IS RARE BEE 'S BEEN ON FOR 32 YEARS. YOU’D THK SOMEONE WOULD SAY BISEXUAL OR BI, BUT THEY DON'{BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}I'VE NOTICED THAT MANY OF THE JOK ARE NCERNED WH TRANSNS RATHER THAN GAYNS AND OFTEN THE TWO BLUR {BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}FLYNN: IN THE FIRST OF THE SHOW, BART IS SHOWN WEARG WOMEN’S WIGS, HIGH HEELS, CHEERLEAR OUTFS, AND MARGE’S DRS. I NEVER REALLY READ THOSE MOMENTS AS IMPLITNS THAT BART WAS GAY. I SAW THEM AS ACTS OF REBELLN AND NFINCE. I ALSO DON’T THK WE WERE TEND TO MOCK HIM FOR , BUT RATHER LGH BEE OF HOW SURPRISGLY FORTABLE BART IS HIS OWN SK. I THK ’S A DIFFERENT STORY WHEN MART DRS DRAG, THOUGH. HE WEARS A SKIRT “TREEHOE OF HORROR III” AND ACCINTALLY LLS HIMSELF THE “QUEEN OF SUMMERTIME” “BART OF DARKNS” BEFORE QUICKLY RRECTG HIMSELF. I THK THE EXAMPL DIFFER OM BART A NEGATIVE WAY, BEE OTHER CHARACTERS THE SCENE REACT NEGATIVELY TOWARDS HIM (NELSON EVEN PUNCH HIM), WHICH RERC TO THE DIENCE THAT MART SHOULD BE MOCKED FOR BEHAVG THIS WAY, WHEREAS BART IS {BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}GILBERT: THAT NTUED NFLATN OF TRANSNS WH CIS HOMOSEXUAL MEN, PARTICULAR, WAS PRETTY SHOCKG TO ME WHEN WATCHG DREW'S PILATN. I HAD FOTTEN SO MANY OF THOSE JOK. SADLY, I THK THAT FOR THE STRAIGHT GUY WRG STAFF WHO ARE MOSTLY LEFT-OF-CENTER, THEY JT SAW GAY AND TRANS SUATNS AS TERCHANGEABLE, AND THE SAME GO FOR NFLATG DRAG AND TRANSNS. MOST MEDIA DID THAT BACK THEN — EVEN MYSELF AS A GAY MAN, I DIDN'T KNOW ANY OPENLY TRANS PEOPLE UNTIL I MOVED TO THE BAY AREA 2006, AND I THANK THOSE IENDS FOR TEACHG ME SO MUCH. THAT IGNORANCE PROBABLY LED TO SIMPSONS DIENC THE PAST ALSO NFLATG THE TWO GROUPS AS THE SAME. ... LATE THE VIO, I WAS PLEASANTLY SURPRISED TO FALLY HEAR MARGE SAY THE WORD "TRANSGENR," WHICH SHOWS THAT AT LEAST SOME LEARNG EVENTUALLY HAPPENED WH THE {BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}BAILEY: I THK THE ‘90S, THERE WAS A CERTA CULTURAL AWARENS OF TRANSNS, BUT WAS ALWAYS TREATED AS SOMETHG THAT LIKE “WEIRD” PEOPLE DO. LIKE THERE’S A JOKE WHERE HOMER TALKS ABOUT FRANK, WHO SLEPT WH HIS PARENTS, I THK, AND THEN BEME FRANCE AT A CERTA POT — THAT WAS THE TYPE OF JOKE YOU’D GET. OR THERE WAS A MOMENT WHERE OTTO ASKS IF PATTY IS TRANS. THAT’S A WAY TO TAKE AWAY FEMY, AND OF URSE TRANS MASCULE PEOPLE DON’T EXIST AT ALL THIS WORLD. BUT THERE ARE SOME REALLY VIC JOK ABOUT TRANS PEOPLE PECIALLY GETTG TO THE 2000S AS VISIBILY SPREADS. THERE’S A WHOLE EPISO THAT’S BASILLY JT QUEER EYE FOR THE STRAIGHT GUY, WHICH I REMEMBER BEG A WATERSHED MOMENT AROUND 2004, WHERE HOMER GETS A MAKEOVER. YOU N SEE THE CHANGE JT OM THE JOHN WATERS EPISO TO THE QUEER EYE EPISO BEE ’S LIKE, THEY’RE OL AND FASHNABLE NOW. THAT’S HOW WE WERE STARTG TO PERCEIVE OF GAY MEN 2004. AND OF URSE THERE’S PATTY’S ARC WHERE SHE OUT AS GAY AND GETS MARRIED DURG THAT SEASON. IT WAS AN IMPORTANT EPISO AS WELL: THEY BASILLY RETNNED HER OM BEG ASEXUAL TO BEG A QUEER WOMAN, WHICH, I DON’T KNOW HOW I FEEL ABOUT THAT. THERE’S ALSO A NNG GAG ABOUT HOMER LOVG WOMEN’S {BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}GILBERT: THE SIMPSONS ALWAYS REFERENC POPULAR FILMS AND TV SHOWS THROUGHOUT THE YEARS, SO 'S BOUND TO TOUCH ON POPULAR QUEER MEDIA LIKE BROKEBACK MOUNTA, THELMA & LOUISE, OR RUPL'S DRAG RACE. BUT BY REMOVG A LOT OF THE EXPLIC GAYNS OM THOSE MOMENTS, BOTH HELPS THEM GET NTROVERSIAL TOPICS PAST THE FOX NETWORK CENSORS, AND ALSO N SURPRISE THE DIENCE WH ADULT MOVIE REFERENC YOU MIGHT NOT BE ED TO SEEG A RTOON. FOR THE CRYG GAME PARTICULAR, I THK GOT PARODIED A LOT BY THE SIMPSONS AND OTHER EDI OF THE EARLY '90S AS A WAY TO SNEAK JOK THEY NORMALLY ULDN'T, MOSTLY FOR THE WORSE. THE MANY AWFUL "YUCK, SHE'S REALLY A MAN" JOK OF THAT ERA WERE BAD THEN AND LOOK EVEN WORSE {BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;DISPLAY:-WEBK-BOX;DISPLAY:-WEBK-FLEX;DISPLAY:-MS-FLEXBOX;DISPLAY:FLEX;-WEBK-BOX-PACK:CENTER;-WEBK-JTIFY-NTENT:CENTER;-MS-FLEX-PACK:CENTER;JTIFY-NTENT:CENTER;POSN:RELATIVE;PADDG-BOTTOM:56.49999999999999%;} .TWTER-TWEET-RENRED, {M-WIDTH:65%;WIDTH:TO !IMPORTANT;} {WIDTH:100%;} {MARG-LEFT:TO !IMPORTANT;MARG-RIGHT:TO !IMPORTANT;} IMG{MAX-WIDTH:100%;WIDTH:100%;} > IAME{BORR:NONE;MAX-WIDTH:100%;} > *{MAX-WIDTH:NONE !IMPORTANT;POSN:ABSOLUTE;HEIGHT:100% !IMPORTANT;WIDTH:100% !IMPORTANT;}{BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}THE TEEN BOYS THE SHOW ARE OBVLY STUCK THE ‘90S, AND TH FD THE WORD "GAY" AS AN SULT ETERNALLY HILAR. DO YOU THK THERE WILL BE A POT TIME WHEN VIEWERS WILL LOOK AT THE SIMPSONS AND THK, "WOW, THOSE LTLE KIDS WERE SO HOMOPHOBIC FOR NO REASON!"{BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}FLYNN: I HOPE SO, BEE THAT WILL BE AN DITN THAT SOCIETY HAS BEE A LOT LS HOMOPHOBIC, AND KIDS AREN’T G “GAY” AS AN SULT ANYMORE. I ALREADY FD MYSELF OCSNALLY UGHT OFF-GUARD BY SOME OF THE OUTDATED GAY JOK I SEE RENS OF THE SIMPSONS, SOUTH PARK, SEFELD, AND OTHER SHOWS I WATCHED GROWG UP. GO TO SHOW HOW FAR WE’VE E THE LAST 20 {BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}GILBERT: IN THE ‘96 EPISO "LISA'S DATE WH DENSY," WHEN NELSON IS UGHT ON A DATE WH LISA, HIS BULLYG IENDS SAY "THAT IS SOOOO GAY" AS AN SULT. IT'S A IL MOMENT OF BOYS BEG SO IGNORANTLY HOMOPHOBIC THAT THEY LL A HETEROSEXUAL KISS "GAY," BUT IS A B MORE SHOCKG THE DAYS TO HEAR THAT TERM ED AS A PEJORATIVE. I WAS A CLOSETED TEEN WHEN THAT EPISO ME OUT, AND G "GAY" THAT WAY WAS BOTH VERY HURTFUL TO ME AND SO MANY OTHERS, THOUGH AT THE TIME I LGHED AT THE JOKE AND UNRSTOOD THAT TO ACCURATELY PORTRAY MEAN BOYS 1996. IN MOMENTS LIKE THAT ONE, I FELY THK THE SIMPSONS IS ATTACKG THE BULLI FOR THEIR RIDICULO LEVEL OF HOMOPHOBIA, AND THE SHOW DON'T THK THEY SHOULD E "GAY" TO MEAN SOMETHG NEGATIVE. IN THE NTEXT OF THAT SCENE, I THK 'S ACCURATE FOR THE BULLI TO E THE TERM, BUT I HOPE THAT EVENTUALLY THOSE MOMENTS MAKE PEOPLE SAY, "WOW, I N'T BELIEVE HOMOPHOBIA WAS SO NORMALIZED BACK THEN!"{BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;CLEAR:BOTH;}{BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;MARG:0 TO;WIDTH:90%;M-WIDTH:288PX;MAX-WIDTH:1440PX;M-HEIGHT:194PX;}LATT NEWS

For Gayt Episo Ever podst host Drew Mackie, rollg to the umpteenth month of quarante sparked unlikely spiratn. While dog rearch for a ep-dive to The Simpsons episo “Three Gays of the Condo, ” Mackie tried to figure out who the show first implied was gay via some sort of queer Simpsons supercut.

”The rult, “Smhers & Beyond: Every LGBT Joke on The Simpsons Ever, ” is a two hour-long journey through every gay joke, character, plot, and ference the show’s first 32 seasons. And wh some unexpected twists and turns ncerng LGBTQ parse through three s of gay and trans jok — rangg om the unexpectedly affirmg to the downright transphobic — I spoke to a few queer Simpsons scholars to take a measure of jt how far we’ve e sce viewers were first troduced to the rints of Sprgfield, did you first notice about the changg nature of the jok through the years?

Drew Mackie (Cohost of Gayt Episo Ever; creator of "Smhers & Beyond: Every LGBT Joke on The Simpsons Ever"): It was tertg seeg the pot at which they cid that Smhers is gay.

THE SIMPSONS WRER FOUGHT HARD FOR LENNY AND CARL GAY SEX JOKE: ‘WE’RE DOG THIS!’

At first, the joke is that Smhers is a weirdo who's sexually attracted to Mr Burns, and he's not gay.

And then they start to brg other elements of gay stereotyp his character, and he evolv om beg like Burns-sexual to, not a healthy gay person, but a gay person.

HOW THE SIMPSONS MA SMHERS INTO A THREE-DIMENSNAL GAY CHARACTER

The ia of Smhers beg a weirdo was probably the first thg I picked up Gilbert (Cohost of Talkg Simpsons): What stck me at first was seeg a timele of Amerin perceptns towards queer issu epen and change, as well as seeg the creators of the show self grow their unrstandg of gay issu.

I noticed that simply the ia of a gay man like Smhers appearg on screen and existg was a joke, and by now, the ia that his character uld be the closet seems Bailey (Journalist): A lot of jok the ‘90s are the expected “gay panic” jok, specifilly the joke of nstantly dg Homer as gay a goofy way — havg people be worried about beg perceived as gay, havg Bart be abed or bullied bee people perceive him to be gay, along wh Mart Prce and Millhoe. “Homer’s Phobia” (wh special gut John Waters) is this watershed episo where a gay person is allowed to be human for the first time. But even that episo, there’s still a b of gay panic bee Homer is worried about Bart beg are some characters allowed to "e out" (Patty, Smhers) while others rema the closet?

Jonah Flynn (Cofounr of “No Homers Club”): Some of the gay-d characters are jt peripheral characters who appear for maybe 5-10 sends at a time and jt have never had the spotlight to velop beyond that (for example, the choreographer “Lisa the Bety Queen” or the origal actor who played Fallout Boy “Three Men and a Comic Book”). Homer’s assistant Karl Season 2’s “Simpson and Delilah” is voiced by Harvey Fierste and kiss Homer, but is never explicly stated to be gay. In 1990, profsnal environments weren’t as acceptg and open towards gay people.

THE SIMPSONS: WHEN SMHERS' GAY CLU FIRST STARTED

Largo, who was d as gay for about 20 years, gradually beme one of the show’s openly gay characters.

THE SIMPSONS WRER EXPLAS THE IMPORTANCE OF SMHERS’ MONUMENTAL GAY LOVE STORY: ‘I DON’T THK HAS EVER HAPPENED’

He didn’t have a big g-out moment, but the past few years he’s seen wh other gay characters, openly dat men, and is even shown a long-term imperfect relatnship wh another man. It’s nice to see a peripheral gay character flhed out and treated like a real person, rather than an exaggerated gay stereotype or punchle.

Burns that he’s gay.

I thk ’s a wrg problem bee at some pot, orr to make those jok about Smhers, you have to imply that everyone knows he's gay.