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] > ********************* > > ---- > Screen-L is sponsored by the Telecommunication & Film Dept., the > University of Alabama. > ---- To sign off SCREEN-L, e-mail [log in to unmask] and put SIGNOFF SCREEN-L in the message. Problems? Contact [log in to unmask]