The Chandler thing is probably a good reflection of how some people are
treated. I used to work with guys who claimed that I am gay because I
don't like football and don't have a girlfriend. The football connection
makes no sense, other than as a stereotype. I have gay friends who do
like football. The other is just something that can't be helped, as all
my girl friends have boyfriends. I know of few programs of films in which
a straight character is harassed with claims of homosexaulity and
homosexual epithets, unless only a minor part of his/her harrassment.
Scott
On Wed, 4 Mar 1998, Kathleen Fitzpatrick wrote:
> At 7:25 PM -0500 3/3/98, Helen Kay wrote:
>
> >Yesterday I discussed this topic with a colleague, who drew my attention
> >to characters like Joey in *Friends*--according to his description, Joey
> >does not identify as a gay man, but the other characters have been trying
> >to persuade him to come out. He mentioned a similar situation on another
> >show--posssibly *Veronica's Closet* (which has only recently started
> >screening here).
>
> This is an interesting phenomenon. I think it's Chandler on "Friends" that
> you're thinking of (watch me reveal how much time I *really* spend watching
> television!), and the implication is less that he *is* gay than that
> everyone thinks he gives off a "gay vibe," which makes him periodically
> question his masculinity. Though this is a far cry from
> gayness-as-insanity, it nonetheless keys masculinity to a readable
> heterosexuality in still-disturbing ways.
>
> The joke is carried a bit further on "Veronica's Closet," where everyone is
> actually convinced that Veronica's assistant is gay, but that he just
> doesn't know it yet. This is far deeper than a "vibe," apparently, as the
> joke usually revolves around the character being a gourmet cook, or being
> somehow "sensitive," or not ogling the lingerie models.
>
> Oh -- and the lesbian wedding was on "Friends."
>
> Kathleen
>
> *********************
> Kathleen Fitzpatrick
> Department of English
> New York University
> [log in to unmask]
> *********************
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