Revisg the first-ever gay episo of The Simpsons • GCN

Contents:

• 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
• THREE GAYS OF THE CONDO
• HOMER THE GAY
• AFTER DES, THE SIMPSONS REVEALED SMHERS WAS GAY - HERE'S HOW

REVISG THE FIRST-EVER GAY EPISO OF THE SIMPSONS

Cult in John Waters was the first openly gay character on The Simpsons, and the show's treatment of him signaled a tidal shift Amerin TV. When a character was referred to as gay, the figure qutn almost always played as tragic or, more often, herently il. The Simpsons mocked almost everythg (except Scientology) s Goln Age, but unlike most ss of the time, the seri didn’t treat s first openly gay character as a walkg joke.

Beg gay was, and of self, seen as a punchle even for progrsive televisn of the ‘80s and early ‘90s, and few shows were terted challengg this. However, the show was still subject to work censorship and, although the star of Ellen me out as a lbian two months later, “Homer’s Phobia” was one of the first attempts to break down the visible barrier faced by gay characters.

While no one explicly stated that any characters were to be stereotyped, was all-but-unheard of for a character like John, who was picted as charmg, lm, and genial, to be gay.

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

The Simpsons rarely ma small-town Sprgfielrs the villas of the story, but this stance, turng Homer to the bad guy led Amerin dienc to intify wh a sweet, likable character who happened to be gay over the regnizable s dad they were ually expected to love and see as herently harmls spe his prejudice. However, “Homer’s Phobia” picked Waters not bee of his fame but bee his public image reprented the perfect tersectn between all-Amerin manners and the more outre, unfaiar aspects of queer culture, mp, and the gay experience. Castg Waters as a level-head, kd, and unrstandg face of the LGBTQ+ muny allowed The Simpsons to celebrate mp, queer culture, and outsir art whout makg the character himself a stereotype or offensive riture of what was perceived as “gay.

In ntrast, anyone unfaiar wh the director’s ovre got a funny, self-pretg look to LGBTQ+ culture a story where beg gay was neher a joke to lghed at, or an odd spectacle to be leered and jeered at. Waters had a sense of humor about John and ma him a funny figure whout treatg his gayns self as a joke.

THREE GAYS OF THE CONDO

The fact that his character The Simpsons was both mp and ol pared to Homer and pany’s “normal” and nrotic reactn to him was one of televisn’s first attempts to see homophobia as the exceptn and not the norm. A number of people have been intified as (or implied to be) lbian, gay, bisexual or transgenr (monly abbreviated LGBT). Patty Bouvier - Formerly closeted, as she appeared (enclosed) on a float a gay pri para, chantg "We're gay!

Billie Jean Kg, San Sontag and Sappho of Lbos - Lisa ced the three of them as hero of hers who are or were gay.

HOMER THE GAY

Peppermt Patty - Lisa ced her as beg among hero of hers who are or were gay, but qualified her statement by addg that she only spected that Peppermt Patty was gay. The show has treated Smhers as openly gay sce then, for example, wh Marge referrg to him as her "gay bt iend".

Largo revealed himself as gay when he ran off wh his soul mate, a man he met at Mo's, also named Dewey.

Comic Book Gay - Patron of Mo's and of Comic Book Guy, to whom he bears a strong enough remblance that Homer mistook him for Comic Book Guy. Gay Lato man - When he saw Homer's graffi tag of "El Homo"(parodyg "El Barto"), he terpreted as Homer clarg himself to be homosexual, and said, "If only I had your urage, Señor. However, should be noted that Karl is implied to be of German orig, and men kissg men don't necsarily equate to homosexualy as much as jt rpect some European untri.

AFTER DES, THE SIMPSONS REVEALED SMHERS WAS GAY - HERE'S HOW

[32] A stronger ht at Karl's possible orientatn is dropped when Karl is seen supportg Moe's mpaigng as gay while nng for cy uncil, but there's still no overt ditn of his stat. [33] Addnally, when he buys pornography and claims that won't be enough to stop his crew om rortg to homosexualy the long n, one of his crew members repli, "Look who's talkg.

[35] It is important to note, however, that tennci toward paedophilia (even same-sex paedophilia) don't tomatilly equate to homosexualy. Rod Flanrs and Todd Flanrs - Shown to be gay the future; Ned feels that he ow Bart a favor (and agre to lend Bart money) bee Bart hasn't outed them. The chart is lled the "Chubby Chaser", which the gay muny is a term for a man who is attracted to overweight men.

[50] However, Bart mentns that Duffman is supposedly a long-term gay relatnship after seeg him dg wh Booberella. Capta McCallister - Apu livers pornographic magaz to keep Capta McCallister's crew om rortg to suatnal homosexualy for about ten mut, at least.

[58] It is unknown whether his sire for others to have gay feelgs for him om gay feelgs or simply om a general sire to be liked. Barry • Blky* • Tom Colls • Comic Book Gay • Contractor • Michael Graaf • Dewey • Jul Fran • Gay Lato man* • Geofey • Philip Heffl • Huckleberry Hound* • John • Kg Jul of Spa • Kissg ps • Dewey Largo • Grady Ltle • The Rich Texan's grandson • Rose • Grizzly Shawn • Waylon Smhers • Streetr man 1 • Streetr man 2 • Stuart • Gee Takei • Thad. 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 John Waters-The Simpsons-My Wet DreamThis is my favore Simpsons episo bee 's the two thgs that me asm the most, John Waters and The Simpsons.

The groundbreakg episo featured a character played by queer filmmaker John Waters and an famo scene set a gay steel l. 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). 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. I recently learned that the show’s staff asked John Waters if the gay muny would fd The Simpsons episo offensive.

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.

"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.

Two later episos that explored LGBT issu were "Three Gays of the Condo" and "There's Somethg About Marryg". " 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. " 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.