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
 
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Kathleen Fitzpatrick
Department of English
New York University
[log in to unmask]
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