As My Bt Friend’s Weddg turns 25, Ey Maskell looks at the problematic legacy, fluential gear shifts and evolvg future of rom- cema’s Gay Bt Friend.
Contents:
- CAN YOUR GAY BT FRIEND BE YOUR BRISMAID?
- ALWAYS THE BRISMAID: IS THERE A FUTURE FOR CEMA’S GAY BT IEND?
- IN ‘MY BT FRIEND’S WEDDG,’ I FOUND MY GAY ROLE MOL: JULIA ROBERTS
- IT’S BEEN 20 YEARS SCE MY BT FRIEND’S WEDDG — AND THE RISE OF THE ‘GAY BT FRIEND’ TROPE
CAN YOUR GAY BT FRIEND BE YOUR BRISMAID?
When pickg brismaids, most bris choose their bt iends for this role as they are the people clost to them. But, what if your bt iend is gay? * gay best friend bridesmaid *
Sendary to the ‘ma character energy’ most of are endlsly strivg for, relegated to the bleachers, or out of foc the back of the shot is where the gay bt iend n often be found.
It is fair to say that while the gay bt iend is alive and well (some of them anyway—more on that, soon), their portrayal has been bolstered wh a newfound self-awarens of late. But the stereotype remas a paltry offerg of queer reprentatn that is plited and often ntradictory, beggg the ultimate qutn: is time to shelve the trope of the gay bt iend, or n the GBF be succsfully reimaged?
ALWAYS THE BRISMAID: IS THERE A FUTURE FOR CEMA’S GAY BT IEND?
* gay best friend bridesmaid *
Jt as June is the month which LGBTQ+ folks are briefly given ma character stat—cludg by brands who sist on wavg the rabow flag—the gay bt iend on film exists a siar ntext: brief flash of celebratn an ocean of straight-domant cematic narrativ. Like any other rom- bt iend, what ltle we learn about the gay bt iend is ually direct relatn to the central character to whom they are service. Not emed valuable enough to take the res of the story, yet important enough to be by the lead’s si—how much of an vtment the gay experience do portrayals of the gay bt iend really monstrate?
IN ‘MY BT FRIEND’S WEDDG,’ I FOUND MY GAY ROLE MOL: JULIA ROBERTS
Even though Buddy do not state he is gay until later the plot, he remas on the margs of the narrative and is saddled wh the classic gay bt iend rponsibili—dispensg supportive advice and leadg a makeover sequence to help Teddy get his act together.
IT’S BEEN 20 YEARS SCE MY BT FRIEND’S WEDDG — AND THE RISE OF THE ‘GAY BT FRIEND’ TROPE
It may be hearteng to see openly gay characters on screen, but Buddy lacks any real pth or terr life a male-centric edy that has aged awfully.