Gayt Episo Ever: How John Waters Helped ‘The Simpsons’ Get LGBT Reprentatn Right | Hor, the Queer Social Network

Contents:

• THREE GAYS OF THE CONDO
• REVISG THE FIRST-EVER GAY EPISO OF THE SIMPSONS
• CLASSIC GAY TV: THE SIMPSONS, 'HOMER'S PHOBIA'{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;}NEWSBY LOUIS PEZMANSEPTEMBER 19, 2012/11:36 AMBY LOUIS PEZMANSEPTEMBER 19, 2012 / 11:36 AM{"@NTEXT":","@TYPE":"NEWSARTICLE","HEADLE":"CLASSIC GAY TV: THE SIMPSONS, 'HOMER'S PHOBIA'","DATEPUBLISHED":"2012-09-19T15:36:23.000+0000","DATEMODIFIED":"2012-09-19T15:36:23.000+0000","IMAGE":{"@NTEXT":","@TYPE":"IMAGEOBJECT","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":"LOUIS PEZMAN","ARTICLESECTN":"NEWS"}{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;}IN CLASSIC GAY TV, LOUIS PEZMAN LOOKS AT CLASSIC AND NEW-CLASSIC GAY-THEMED EPISOS OF TELEVISN. WAS THIS A MAJOR STEP FORWARD LGBT REPRENTATN OR A CRGEWORTHY RELIC OF THE PAST?{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;}{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;}SERI: 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;}EPISO: “HOMER’S PHOBIA” (SEASON 8, EPISO 15){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;}ORIGAL AIR DATE: FEBARY 16, {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;}PLOT POTS: BART STROYS THE DRYER, BUT THE FAY N’T AFFORD TO REPLACE . MARGE CIS TO SELL HER GRANDMA’S PREC CIVIL WAR FIGURE. THE SIMPSONS GO TO COCKAMAMIE’S, A STORE THAT SPECIALIZ MP – “THE TRAGILLY LUDICRO, THE LUDICROLY TRAGIC” – AND MEET THE FLAMBOYANT OWNER, JOHN (VOICED BY JOHN WATERS). HOMER AND JOHN H OFF STANTLY, AND HOMER V JOHN OVER. THEY DANCE TO “I LOVE THE NIGHTLIFE,” WHICH IS MAYBE THE GAYT THG YOU N DO OUTSI OF MAN-ON-MAN {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;}TURNS OUT HOMER HAS THE WORST GAYDAR EVER, BEE HE EAKS OUT WHEN MARGE TELLS HIM THAT JOHN IS GAY. (“OH MY GOD, OH MY GOD, OH MY GOD, I DANCED WH A GAY. MARGE, LISA, PROMISE ME YOU WON’T TELL ANYONE.”) HOMER ROLV TO SHUN JOHN, EVEN AS THE RT OF THE SIMPSON FAY EMBRAC HIM. AS BART BEGS TO ACT GAYER – WEARG A HAWAIIAN SHIRT, CHOOSG A PK SNOWBALL OVER A HOSTS CUPKE – HOMER BE TERMED TO STRAIGHTEN HIM {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;}IT’S A TOTAL DISASTER, AS THE WHOLE WORLD HAS APPARENTLY GONE GAY. HOMER TAK BART TO A STEEL L THAT TURNS TO A BIG GAY DIS. WHEN HE CIS TO TAKE HIS SON HUNTG – ALONG WH STUNNG EXAMPL OF MASCULY MOE AND BARNEY – THEY END UP HUNTG DOMTITED REER STEAD OF ER. THE REER GET THE UPPER HAND, AND ’S UP TO JOHN TO SAVE HOMER’S LIFE WH A MISSILE-FIRG ROBOT SANTA. HOMER FALLY ACCEPTS JOHN, LEADG JOHN TO NCLU THAT WE ULD END HOMOPHOBIA IF ALL GAY MEN WOULD JT SAVE A STRAIGHT MAN’S {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;} .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;}{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 MAK IT GAY: PREV EPISO OF THE SIMPSONS HAD SOME GAY THEM: SEASON 2’S SIMPSON AND DELILAH” EVEN SHOWED KARL (VOICED BY HARVEY FIERSTE) KISSG HOMER. BUT “HOMER’S PHOBIA” WAS THE FIRST EPISO TO TRODUCE AN OPENLY GAY CHARACTER. (IT ALSO NTU THE LONG PROCS OF OUTG SMHERS, WHO SEEMS TO HAVE A THG WH JOHN.) AND HAS THE GLAAD SEAL OF APPROVAL, EARNG THE GLAAD MEDIA AWARD FOR OUTSTANDG TV – INDIVIDUAL EPISO. ALSO: JOHN {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;}HOW DO IT HOLD UP: WHAT’S TERTG ABOUT “HOMER’S PHOBIA” IS THAT ’S VERY RELEVANT BUT ALSO A PRODUCT OF S TIME – CURRENT SS MAY MAKE THE OCSNAL GAY JOKE, BUT ’S RARE FOR A MA CHARACTER TO EXPRS SUCH SEVERE PREJUDICE. ON THE OTHER HAND, ’S SO OVER-THE-TOP THAT MAK HOMER OUT TO BE AN IDT, NOT A BIGOT. THAT’S WHY REMAS ONE OF THE GREAT TV EPISOS ABOUT HOMOPHOBIA: RATHER THAN GET PREACHY, SHOWS EXACTLY HOW STUPID HOMOPHOB {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;} .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;}{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;}KEY L:{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 LIKE MY BEER LD, MY TV LOUD, AND MY HOMOSEXUALS FLAAAAMG.” (HOMER){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;}JOHN: “HOMER, WHAT HAVE YOU GOT AGAST GAYS?”{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;}HOMER: “YOU KNOW, 'S NOT UAL. IF THERE WAS A LAW, WOULD BE AGAST .”{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;}MARGE: “HOMER, PLEASE, YOU’RE EMBARRASSG YOURSELF.”{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;}HOMER: “NO, I’M NOT, MARGE. THEY’RE EMBARRASSG ME. THEY’RE EMBARRASSG AMERI. THEY TURNED THE NAVY TO A FLOATG JOKE. THEY ED ALL OUR BT NAM LIKE BCE AND LANCE AND JULIAN. THOSE WERE THE TOUGHT NAM WE HAD. NOW THEY’RE JT—”{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;}JOHN: “QUEER?”{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;}HOMER: “YEAH, AND THAT’S ANOTHER THG! I RENT YOU PEOPLE G THAT WORD. THAT’S OUR WORD FOR MAKG FUN OF YOU. WE NEED !”{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;}“WHERE YOU BEEN, HOMER? ENTIRE STEEL DTRY’S GAY. YEAH, AEROSPACE, TOO. AND THE RAILROADS. AND YOU KNOW WHAT ELSE? BROADWAY.” (MOE){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;}“YOU KNOW BART, MAYBE ’S JT THE NCSN TALKG, BUT ANY WAY YOU CHOOSE TO LIVE YOUR LIFE IS OK WH ME.” (HOMER){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;}LOUIS PEZMAN IS A EELANCE WRER LOS ANGEL, SPENDG MOST OF HIS TIME AS THE WEEKEND EDOR AT GAWKER AND A NTRIBUTOR TO WSTREAM AND HE’S A LTLE B DOROTHY, A LTLE B BLANCHE. YOU N FOLLOW HIM ON {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;}RELATED: CLASSIC GAY TV: THE GOLN GIRLS, 'ISN'T IT ROMANTIC?'{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
• GAYT EPISO EVER: HOW JOHN WATERS HELPED ‘THE SIMPSONS’ GET LGBT REPRENTATN RIGHT

THREE GAYS OF THE CONDO

The SimpsonsCast & crewUser reviewsTriviaEpiso aired Feb 16, 1997TV-1423mAfter Marge beiends John, a gay store owner, Homer worri that his prence will have a negative effect on Bart's Marge beiends John, a gay store owner, Homer worri that his prence will have a negative effect on Bart's Marge beiends John, a gay store owner, Homer worri that his prence will have a negative effect on Bart's productn, box office & pany PhotosReview Good, but datedHomer's Phobia should be nsired a groundbreakg and fluential episo of Simpsons tacklg homophobia back when was still nsired a b of a taboo to be gay supportive. But, he's also obssed wh fashn and talkg and actg like a stereotypil fashn-obssed gay fact, Marge never even got to know John WAS gay before tellg Homer he's gay. Marge thought he ACTED gay and ma an assumptn, and then jt so happened to be right about that, there's nothg wrong wh beg a feme gay guy.

It's jt that by today's standards, some of 's aspects n e across a b distasteful by implyg you need to act certa ways orr to be gay. While walkg home Homer se a newspaper benr and tak one which featur a classified advertisement for an open apartment the Gay District of Sprgfield.

REVISG THE FIRST-EVER GAY EPISO OF THE SIMPSONS

In the new apartment Homer mov wh two gay men named Grady and Jul and Homer starts the learn about gay culture and even tak the kids to his new home. Homer then fets while havg Margaras wh the "Velvet Mafia" and asks Grady and Jul if they own a gay time mache (Grady's shoe closet) and tell Homer no but he is missg his date wh Marge. The character Grady is voiced by the openly gay edian/actor Stt Thompson, most famo for beg a member of the Canadian sketch edy troupe The Kids In The Hall.

I was remd recently that was the anniversary of the first-ever gay episo of The Simpsons, ‘Homer’s Phobia’ (Season 8, Episo 15, se you want to revis ) airg Ameri. Not admtg that he is homophobic, he ratnalis his reactn by sayg wasn’t bee John was gay, but bee he was a sneak about , statg, “I like my beer ld, my TV loud, and my homosexuals fuh-lamg”.

His paranoia leads to him spectg that Bart might be gay, then embarkg on a missn to “fix” him, which clus a hilar scene a gay steel l. Before this, a Roseanne episo wh a gay weddg was moved to a later start time, and Friends featured a gay weddg but whout the ceremonial kiss. It is full of mp referenc, cludg the song ‘I Like The Nightlife’, which had famoly been featured Priscilla, Queen of the Dert, as well as the aforementned gay steel l that is full of obvly queer men who work hard but play hard too (my favoure scene).

CLASSIC GAY TV: THE SIMPSONS, 'HOMER'S PHOBIA'{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;}NEWSBY LOUIS PEZMANSEPTEMBER 19, 2012/11:36 AMBY LOUIS PEZMANSEPTEMBER 19, 2012 / 11:36 AM{"@NTEXT":","@TYPE":"NEWSARTICLE","HEADLE":"CLASSIC GAY TV: THE SIMPSONS, 'HOMER'S PHOBIA'","DATEPUBLISHED":"2012-09-19T15:36:23.000+0000","DATEMODIFIED":"2012-09-19T15:36:23.000+0000","IMAGE":{"@NTEXT":","@TYPE":"IMAGEOBJECT","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":"LOUIS PEZMAN","ARTICLESECTN":"NEWS"}{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;}IN CLASSIC GAY TV, LOUIS PEZMAN LOOKS AT CLASSIC AND NEW-CLASSIC GAY-THEMED EPISOS OF TELEVISN. WAS THIS A MAJOR STEP FORWARD LGBT REPRENTATN OR A CRGEWORTHY RELIC OF THE PAST?{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;}{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;}SERI: 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;}EPISO: “HOMER’S PHOBIA” (SEASON 8, EPISO 15){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;}ORIGAL AIR DATE: FEBARY 16, {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;}PLOT POTS: BART STROYS THE DRYER, BUT THE FAY N’T AFFORD TO REPLACE . MARGE CIS TO SELL HER GRANDMA’S PREC CIVIL WAR FIGURE. THE SIMPSONS GO TO COCKAMAMIE’S, A STORE THAT SPECIALIZ MP – “THE TRAGILLY LUDICRO, THE LUDICROLY TRAGIC” – AND MEET THE FLAMBOYANT OWNER, JOHN (VOICED BY JOHN WATERS). HOMER AND JOHN H OFF STANTLY, AND HOMER V JOHN OVER. THEY DANCE TO “I LOVE THE NIGHTLIFE,” WHICH IS MAYBE THE GAYT THG YOU N DO OUTSI OF MAN-ON-MAN {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;}TURNS OUT HOMER HAS THE WORST GAYDAR EVER, BEE HE EAKS OUT WHEN MARGE TELLS HIM THAT JOHN IS GAY. (“OH MY GOD, OH MY GOD, OH MY GOD, I DANCED WH A GAY. MARGE, LISA, PROMISE ME YOU WON’T TELL ANYONE.”) HOMER ROLV TO SHUN JOHN, EVEN AS THE RT OF THE SIMPSON FAY EMBRAC HIM. AS BART BEGS TO ACT GAYER – WEARG A HAWAIIAN SHIRT, CHOOSG A PK SNOWBALL OVER A HOSTS CUPKE – HOMER BE TERMED TO STRAIGHTEN HIM {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;}IT’S A TOTAL DISASTER, AS THE WHOLE WORLD HAS APPARENTLY GONE GAY. HOMER TAK BART TO A STEEL L THAT TURNS TO A BIG GAY DIS. WHEN HE CIS TO TAKE HIS SON HUNTG – ALONG WH STUNNG EXAMPL OF MASCULY MOE AND BARNEY – THEY END UP HUNTG DOMTITED REER STEAD OF ER. THE REER GET THE UPPER HAND, AND ’S UP TO JOHN TO SAVE HOMER’S LIFE WH A MISSILE-FIRG ROBOT SANTA. HOMER FALLY ACCEPTS JOHN, LEADG JOHN TO NCLU THAT WE ULD END HOMOPHOBIA IF ALL GAY MEN WOULD JT SAVE A STRAIGHT MAN’S {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;} .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;}{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 MAK IT GAY: PREV EPISO OF THE SIMPSONS HAD SOME GAY THEM: SEASON 2’S SIMPSON AND DELILAH” EVEN SHOWED KARL (VOICED BY HARVEY FIERSTE) KISSG HOMER. BUT “HOMER’S PHOBIA” WAS THE FIRST EPISO TO TRODUCE AN OPENLY GAY CHARACTER. (IT ALSO NTU THE LONG PROCS OF OUTG SMHERS, WHO SEEMS TO HAVE A THG WH JOHN.) AND HAS THE GLAAD SEAL OF APPROVAL, EARNG THE GLAAD MEDIA AWARD FOR OUTSTANDG TV – INDIVIDUAL EPISO. ALSO: JOHN {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;}HOW DO IT HOLD UP: WHAT’S TERTG ABOUT “HOMER’S PHOBIA” IS THAT ’S VERY RELEVANT BUT ALSO A PRODUCT OF S TIME – CURRENT SS MAY MAKE THE OCSNAL GAY JOKE, BUT ’S RARE FOR A MA CHARACTER TO EXPRS SUCH SEVERE PREJUDICE. ON THE OTHER HAND, ’S SO OVER-THE-TOP THAT MAK HOMER OUT TO BE AN IDT, NOT A BIGOT. THAT’S WHY REMAS ONE OF THE GREAT TV EPISOS ABOUT HOMOPHOBIA: RATHER THAN GET PREACHY, SHOWS EXACTLY HOW STUPID HOMOPHOB {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;} .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;}{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;}KEY L:{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 LIKE MY BEER LD, MY TV LOUD, AND MY HOMOSEXUALS FLAAAAMG.” (HOMER){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;}JOHN: “HOMER, WHAT HAVE YOU GOT AGAST GAYS?”{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;}HOMER: “YOU KNOW, 'S NOT UAL. IF THERE WAS A LAW, WOULD BE AGAST .”{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;}MARGE: “HOMER, PLEASE, YOU’RE EMBARRASSG YOURSELF.”{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;}HOMER: “NO, I’M NOT, MARGE. THEY’RE EMBARRASSG ME. THEY’RE EMBARRASSG AMERI. THEY TURNED THE NAVY TO A FLOATG JOKE. THEY ED ALL OUR BT NAM LIKE BCE AND LANCE AND JULIAN. THOSE WERE THE TOUGHT NAM WE HAD. NOW THEY’RE JT—”{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;}JOHN: “QUEER?”{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;}HOMER: “YEAH, AND THAT’S ANOTHER THG! I RENT YOU PEOPLE G THAT WORD. THAT’S OUR WORD FOR MAKG FUN OF YOU. WE NEED !”{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;}“WHERE YOU BEEN, HOMER? ENTIRE STEEL DTRY’S GAY. YEAH, AEROSPACE, TOO. AND THE RAILROADS. AND YOU KNOW WHAT ELSE? BROADWAY.” (MOE){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;}“YOU KNOW BART, MAYBE ’S JT THE NCSN TALKG, BUT ANY WAY YOU CHOOSE TO LIVE YOUR LIFE IS OK WH ME.” (HOMER){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;}LOUIS PEZMAN IS A EELANCE WRER LOS ANGEL, SPENDG MOST OF HIS TIME AS THE WEEKEND EDOR AT GAWKER AND A NTRIBUTOR TO WSTREAM AND HE’S A LTLE B DOROTHY, A LTLE B BLANCHE. YOU N FOLLOW HIM ON {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;}RELATED: CLASSIC GAY TV: THE GOLN GIRLS, 'ISN'T IT ROMANTIC?'{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

Usually, The Simpsons scripts would receive small censorship not, but ‘Homer’s Phobia‘ rulted three pag worth, and many of them were about thgs beg gay or the very e of the word. However, when Marge tells Homer that John is a homosexual, Homer eaks out and, fearg that his son will emulate John, tak Bart on a misguid journey to make his son heterosexual.

Bart starts wearg Hawaiian shirts, dancg women's wigs and eatg cupk wh strawberry icg stead of cholate icg; which mak Homer worry that Bart might be gay.

Homer tak Bart to a steel l to revel a manly environment; however, the entire workforce is gay, which Homer learns when the steel l turns to a gay dis durg breaks.

GAYT EPISO EVER: HOW JOHN WATERS HELPED ‘THE SIMPSONS’ GET LGBT REPRENTATN RIGHT

"Homer's Phobia" was the show's first episo to revolve entirely around gay them and received a posive cril rponse both for s humor and anti-homophobia msage. Very good ed." In the book Leavg Sprgfield, Matthew Henry praised the episo's criqug of "the most mon misnceptn about homosexualy: namely that gayns is somehow ntag", as well as s other them.

Cathare Lumby of the Universy of Sydney ced the episo as an example of good satire as "managed to explore a lot of [homosexual] issu que a ep way [...] whout beg overtly polil", which she claimed, along wh the episo's humor, ma s anti-homophobia msage more succsful than that of other gay-themed shows like Queer as Folk.

The pair nclud by sayg "this is a si of the show we'd not seen before, nor particularly wanted to see." There are also viewers today who, while appldg the show for s posive msag about homosexualy and acceptance (as well as lampoong toxic masculy), still hate the episo for g male homosexual stereotyp jt to prove their pot. In June 2003, Igor Smykov sued the Rsian televisn channel REN TV on claims that The Simpsons, along wh Fay Guy, were "morally generate and promoted dgs, vlence and homosexualy". As evince, "Homer's Phobia" was shown to the judge to prove that The Simpsons promoted homosexualy and should not be aired aga on the channel.

In July 2021, Cathal Gunng of Screen Rant argued that the episo ma a huge ntributn to "normalizg LGBTQ+ characters," notg that they were a rary at the time the episo aired, and didn't "treat s first openly gay character as a walkg joke." Gunng also argued that the episo was "groundbreakg" bee Homer's fear of a gay man, voiced by John Waters, was mocked, rather than Waters' character, and herald the episo for beg "one of the first attempts to break down the visible barrier faced by gay characters" while notg lampooned the hypermasculy of Homer's iends. Origal air date: 2/16/1997 (produced 1996)Productn : 4F11Homer beiends John, an eccentric antiqu aler, only to ll the iendship off upon learng that he's a homosexual.

Homer tak a likg to him and v him over to their hoe, where John is entertaed by the mp value of their posssns, although Homer seems unaware of what John's mpy meanor followg morng, Homer is told by Marge, no uncerta terms, that John is gay, a revelatn that tly shocks him, as he thought he didn't act flamboyant enough. While Marge and the kids ntue to socialize wh John, Homer ref to associate wh him and begs to fear that Bart might be turng to a homosexual after seeg him sportg a Hawaiian shirt, dancg to "The Shoop-Shoop Song" wearg a bouffant wig and preferrg pk Sno-Balls for ssert stead of Hosts cholate cupk. They then go to a steel l expectg to see manly men actn, but turns out the brawny-lookg steelworkers are very much flamboyant, and that the place also doubl as "The Anvil", a gay the tavern, Moe and Barney nvce Homer that the world is turng gay, and that the only way to keep Bart straight is to take him huntg.

While Moe and Barney are dismayed at the thought of beg rcued by a homosexual, Homer thanks John for savg his life and tells Bart he will love him regardls of his choic. John is gay and the mpit person ever (and fact was played by John Waters), but Homer fails to realize, and he even acc John of havg "fooled" him by not makg his sexualy (even more) I like my beer ld, my TV loud, and my homosexuals flamg! The steel l workers are another example, as they even turn their workplace to a gay dis durg their eetime much to Homer's further horror.

Comilly Missg the Pot: As ual for him, Homer don't realise John is gay until 's spelled out for him as blatantly as We gotta have [John] and his wife over for drks sometime.