If you haven't heard of Glee you've been living under a rock. This show almost makes me wish I could go back to high school just to join the glee club...almost. It's an interesting mash-up (gleekers will appreciate the reference) of multiple races and includes physically and mentally challenged cast members. But my favorite, hands down, is openly gay Kurt Hummel portrayed by Chris Colfer. His amazing voice aside, I love how the writers are depicting him. He joins the football team but has to do it his way...dancing to Beyonce before kicking the ball. I love that he isn't ashamed of nor does he try to hide who he is. I can't recall a single gay character on television when I was growing up...although I wondered about Felix and just how "Odd" a couple they were. Like it or hate it more and more gay characters are being portrayed on television.
Ruby's Take: This is an issue near and dear to my heart having grown up with a gay sister. Kurt's Fathers response of , yeah I've known since you were six years-old, when Kurt came out to him really rang true. Even as a small child I suspected my sister was gay. Coming out was more difficult for her to say than it was for me to hear. I love, love, love the way they wrote Kurt's Father, Burt, played by Mike O'Malley. He's a mechanic who owns his own garage, loves sports and is a "man's man". Not the kind of man you'd expect to have a gay son or to accept him but he does. It's not what I would have chosen for you but you're my son and I love you. It's touching to watch the interactions between these two characters. My fifteen year-old son and I were watching a recent episode where some football players are menacingly harassing Kurt. It was frankly hard to watch because I hate thinking anyone is treated that way. I turned to my son and asked if that's what its like at his high school. He said "No Mom, not at all!" He says no one at his school cares about sexuality, there are several openly gay kids and they aren't ostracized or tormented. I would like to believe the attitude at my son's school is the norm but I know it isn't. There are many gay teens living in fear of or hiding who they are but I hope characters like Kurt Hummel will help pave the way for change. Kudos to Chris Colfer and Mike O'Malley for doing such a wonderfully poignant job portraying these characters.
Sarah's View: I am aware that there seems to be trends and bandwagons that the masses jump on. Glee is not immune . . . they are spurring excitement for show choirs around the world. . . .(finally, the recognition that they deserve, right?!) . . . they have also touched on the theme of gay teens being bullied. Sadly, this trend of bullying is one we should all be aware of. Too often, we see or hear of someone being bullied or ostracized and we do nothing for fear of outlash against our own individual rights. Gay rights, I realize, can be a very touchy subject. I am a Christian believer, a person who without doubt believes in the Bible and the teachings that are found throughout His word. No matter what I feel or believe about homosexuality, I know that the Bible teaches me to love and to not pass judgement upon others. My heart breaks for teens (and adults) that have found themselves in situations where they are unsafe because of the person that they have become. The subject isn't as personal for me as it is for Ruby. I don't know very many openly gay people. ( I do know Ruby's sister and have always been a bit intimidated by her intelligence.) I'm sure that I know people who have kept quiet because of potential judgement and sadly probably judgement by Christians. For that, I think I have to take a stand. . . the same stand that Jesus preaches throughout the New Testament "and the greatest of these is love". What would our world look like if all Christians promoted the kind of love to stick up for others, to encourage others and to love them. Can you imagine it?! 1 Corinthians 13:8 states "Such Spirit-inspired love never fails but always flourishes." Now, can we just get a show tune about that. . . . ah, do you hear it. . . . "All we need is love, love, all we ever need is love!"
Ruby - I'm glad that your kids go to a school where sexual orientation isn't a cause for bullying. I'm proud of your kids, in general. Your boys in particular lately - I've done enough Facebook stalking of them to see that not only are they not racists or homophobes, but they don't tolerate that well in others. And since that can't be the influence of the town you live in, I have to give the credit to you. Good job. :)
ReplyDeleteI think what we need is more people like you to raise more kids like them everywhere, because unfortunately plenty of schools are still full of bullies and too many kids end up miserable or dead as a result.
And another thing - when I first came out, I didn't know what to expect from my family. I didn't know if you'd ever let me babysit your daughter again, for one thing. I didn't know if Mom would disown me. Or shoot me. It was pretty scary. The fact that it really didn't turn out to be a big deal was in itself a pretty big deal. I'm grateful. We both know people whose families don't accept them (or accept them, but are in complete denial about them). I can't imagine what that would be like.