I For One, Am Not!
Jay Horsley
The subtitle to an article in this week's Newsweek “Arts & Entertainment” section asks the following question, “Is America ready for a gay `Sex in the City'? (a show about promiscuous women – wjh) HBO's rival Showtime is banking on it.” (Marc Peyser, “Gay All the Way,” Newsweek, Nov. 27, 2000, pg. 78,79; also available at www.msnbc.com/news/491844.asp.) I am not ready for this show for a whole variety of reasons.
I am not ready for a show about promiscuous gay men. This is not the television I, or my family, need to see. “Television has finally created a man who can go toe-to-naked-toe with the bed-hopping ladies of “Sex and the City.” His name is Brian (Gale Harold), a Pittsburgh advertising executive with a sexy grin, smoldering brown eyes and pheromones that never miss. Brian goes home with a different person every night, even when he's seduced a client into an office tryst earlier in the day. With that kind of irresistible charm, perhaps it's not surprising that his lesbian friends ask him to father their baby...Sex, wicked humor, complicated friendships—that's not all Brian's show has in common with the “Sex and the City” galpals. The men on Showtime's “Queer As Folk” all sleep with men, too.” (Peyser) This quote alone should give us all sufficient reason to not be subscribed to premium television shows such as HBO and Showtime. I cannot imagine any Christian mother or father allowing this
I am not ready for this even if it is becoming common and accepted. “It's been a huge year for gays on television, and we mean that literally. John Goodman is in a sitcom about a large gay man in Ohio. Richard Hatch took off his clothes, survived “Survivor” and became the most overexposed celebrity in America. The skinny actors on “Will & Grace” did their part, too, by winning the Emmy for best comedy. But none of those shows has prepared the TV audience for the...debut of `Queer As Folk.'” (Peyser) To show how acceptable this type of thing has become consider that fact that show is even advertised on mainstream country music radio stations here in Houston.
I am not ready for this no matter how good the writing, character development, and plot lines are. “`Queer' is not just the first TV series where all the major characters are gay. It's the first to treat gay people simply as people. Michael is in love with Brian. Brian can't handle commitment. Justin's mother doesn't understand him. Ted is... Emmett sells... If they were straight and had a laugh track, they'd be “Friends.” Instead, they're simply gay men in Pittsburgh living their lives—sex included. The sex is not insignificant... `Queer' is also honest, engaging—and maybe important. `It's the first time that gay men are not apologizing for who they are by making themselves eunuchs or victims or clowns,” says Peter Paige, who plays Emmett. `It's the first time that gay men are not apologizing for who they are by making themselves eunuchs or victims or clowns.'” (Peyser) So these are well presented, fully developed portrayals of sinful lives. Still at the basis of this is a sinful life that is being glorified. It may be done in a very artistic way, but it is sin that they are dressing up and glamorizing.
I am not ready for this even if it is not considered to be “X-rated” by the world. “Showtime did submit an early version of the pilot to the Motion Picture Association of America to get a sense of how it might be rated if it were a movie. Blank says they've taken some of the board's suggestions to heart, but not to the point of gutting the show. `There's a chance some of our episodes would get an NC-17 rating strictly because of the homosexual nature of the sex,' Blank says. `If these were heterosexual portrayals, there wouldn't be any problem getting an R rating.'” (Peyser) Even by their own admittance some of these things might not get into your local movie theater (and think of all that is portrayed there). So it's not blatantly pornographic - only suggestively so. That doe not help recommend it to me.
I am not ready for this because its wrong – and even members of the cast seem to know it. “As wonderful as `Queer' is, it can be a bit of a hard sell. Scott Lowell, who plays Ted, says his Pentecostal parents aren't sure what to think. `They ask about the show, but I don't give specifics. When a magazine story comes out, I cut out the article and just send the pictures.' Try as they might, some of the straight actors can't get used to making out with men... “What do you do?' says Chris Potter, who plays Dr. David. `Soon as they say cut, you spit... You feel dirty. It's a tough job,' he says.” (Peyser) When you can't tell your parents what exactly you do for a living - you probably shouldn't be doing it. When you job makes you “feel dirty” - and obviously he means morally - you really do know that you shouldn't be doing it. But I'm sure the money is good. Which is exactly what the people in all illegal and immoral business will tell you. The actor asks, “What can you do?” This is obviously not asked seriously. I can think of any number of responses to that one, but to answer without being tacky (even if his question screams at us to do otherwise), I'd simply answer, “just find a more wholesome line of work.”
I'm not ready for this because of what the Bible says about homosexuality, and also what the Bible says about those who look on approvingly at such sin. “...God gave them over to degrading passions; for their women exchanged the natural function for that which is unnatural, and in the same way also the men abandoned the natural function of the woman and burned in their desire toward one another, men with men committing indecent acts...God gave them over to a depraved mind, to do those things which are not proper, being filled with all unrighteousness...and, although they know the ordinance of God, that those who practice such things are worthy of death, they not only do the same, but also give hearty approval to those who practice them.” (Rom. 1:26-29,32)
No, I'm not ready for any of it and so won't watch it, subscribe to the service that produces and airs it, or give approval to it in any way. And I implore you to do the same.