Something Queer

Gay teens on television have for a long time been either a fleeting dream or a blatant stereotype. Television has put gay characters in a neat little box. They are estranged outcasts or charming sidekicks.

But with the emergence of bold new gay characters (“90210’s” burly Teddy, “Pretty Little Liars” popular and beautiful Emily, and “Skins” punk cheerleader Tea, to name a few), Hollywood has been redefining they way we see gay teens on TV and creating a space for well rounded characters, who just happen to be gay.

The new hot ticket in the Gay community is up-and-coming teen cutie Chris Colfer, the charming and troubled crooner on Fox’s overnight hit “Glee.” The inclusion of his character has made waves amongst the LGBT crowd not only in Hollywood, but across the country as well.

At first glance, Kurt seemed like another typical “token gay,” what with the sweater vests, high vibrato and sleek hair-do. But what is revolutionary about Kurt is the way his sexuality defines him. Watching him interact with those around him makes it clear that he is neither sidekick nor outcast.

These new characters, like Kurt, are dealing with teenage issues that aren’t necessarily attached to their sexuality. They are portrayed as real people with normal problems.

Kurt is a young man who seems to have known he was gay from the very beginning. After coming out to his John Mellencamp/football father after just a few episodes, “Glee” moves on from the typical gay issues fairly quickly (coming out, acceptance, etc.). Kurt suffers from teen angst and unrequited love, much like his friends. He struggles with the death of his mother and his father’s remarriage and even questions his faith after his father’s heart attack.

Teenagers are often the main characters in classic coming of age stories and lessons about growing up. As teenagers, we go through challenges and tests that build character and teach us how to be adults. Young gay characters are now showing up as protagonists in their own stories, with their sexualities not always being the focal point.

And when “Glee” chose to focus on Kurt’s sexuality, they made it count. His conflict with a homophobic bully has lit a fire under anti-bullying and harassment campaigns in schools. His apprehension to spend time with the other men in Glee club highlights the way the boys identify with one another, and when stepbrother Finn let the F-word slip, the consequences were made very clear.

More recently, and perhaps most important of all, Kurt met Blaine – fellow show choir enthusiast with the same neat hair-do.

What makes the relationship between Kurt and Blaine so groundbreaking is not that they are openly gay teenagers living amongst peers who accept them (for the most part) and see them for who they are, but because they are willing to see their sexuality for what it is: purely sexual. Blaine makes the realization that perhaps being gay isn’t just about being in show choir and dressing nicely. Only after kissing a girl for the first time in the latest episode, is he able to truly know his sexuality.

Young men are constantly being called gay because they sing, dance, dress nicely, show emotion (etc.). The discovery that Blaine makes is that his gay identity does not have to be attached to any of his other characteristics. Look at Kurt’s maybe-gay football bully: a confused young man who probably thought playing football and beating people up would “cure” him.

Whether or not being homosexual is fate or choice or accident, it only needs to be one aspect of a person’s calling card.

A major key to the acceptance of gays is seeing them portrayed on screen as they are in real life. They are Doctors, lawyers, teachers and students. Whether it’s the confused jock or show choir geek. The gay characters in “Glee” not only raise acceptance and awareness amongst viewers, but hope for every scared kid who doesn’t know where else to turn.

When Colfer took home the Golden Globe for his performance this year, he said it perfectly.

“But most importantly, to all the amazing kids who watch our show and the kids that our show celebrates, who are constantly told ‘no’ by the people in their environments, by bullies at school. That they can’t be who they are, or have what they want, because of who they are. Well, screw that kids.”