Holy Bullies and Headless Monsters: Sep 25, 2009

Friday, September 25, 2009

Know your lgbt history - Taxi (Elaine's Strange Triangle)

Taxi (1978 to 1982) was a highly successful ensemble situation comedy that looked at the goings on with cab company.

It set a standard in situation comedies, winning 18 Emmy Awards, including Best Comedy, Best Actor in a Comedy Series, Best Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series and Best Supporting Actor in Comedy Series at one one time or another.

And it launched a few careers, including that of Danny DeVito (who played the sleazy dispatcher Louie DePalma), Tony Danza (who played the not too bright boxer Tony), and Judd Hirsch (who played the unofficial leader of the group Alex).

The episode I am focusing on today, Elaine's Strange Triangle won Emmys in 1980-81 for Best Direction and Best Editing. (Hirsch and DeVito later won Emmys for Best Actor in a Comedy Series and Best Supporting Actor in a Comedy, respectively).

Elaine's Strange Triangle involved the female of the group, Elaine (Marilu Henner). When she and the dimwitted Tony are approached in a bar by a stranger, Kirk, she makes a play for him. She and Kirk goes out a few times but as turns out, he was interested in Tony and not her.

Through the twists and turns of the plot, Alex tries to defuse the situation, but turns out it is not necessary. But Alex's attempts puts him in an interesting situation involving a gay bar and a dance contest.

The following is the full episode. Go to 20:20 to see the dance contest.

'Gay Exorcism' victim speaks out - claims that he is 'cured'

Two sides: black teen exorcism victim tells Tyra he's no longer gay; gospel singer Tonex comes out - Pam Spaulding breaks the situation down with her usual excellence and candor. Basically my feelings are this - unless the black community comes to grips with the fact that lgbts of color exist and talk with us instead of looking at us as outsiders, expect more nonsense like this.

And for anyone who thinks that the lgbt orientation is an 'affliction,' check out the links on the side of my blog about the lgbts of color who proudly made a difference in the world.

From Bayard Rustin to Barbara Jordan to Paul Winfield to Mandy Carter to Audre Lorde, the list of out and proud lgbts of color making an impact go on and on.

Affliction my ass!

Yet another lesson on the similarities between homophobia and racism

For those who push the whine that there are no similarities between the struggles of the African-American community and the struggles of the lgbt community, I present another lesson.

Submitted for your perusal are two videos; one is anti-gay, the other is racist. Both either distort legitimate studies or rely on junk science (i.e. the discredited work of Paul Cameron) to make their case:

The racist video:

The anti-gay video:

I've said it once and I will say it again. In the long run, it doesn't matter who is forced to sit in the back of the bus, who gets called a derogatory name, or who is left for dead hanging on a fence.

The reasons and the justifications as to why people are treated less than human are just as bad as the treatment itself.

Hat tip to Fritz on Pam's House Blend.