Gay Today: People

Queer As Reporters:
The Columnists Weigh In

By Scott Miller

As the debut of Showtime's Queer As Folk approaches, more columnists are weighing in.

Hal Sparks plays Michael in the American version of Queer as Folk

I found the Cincinnati Post profile of the show more than a bit annoying. Specifically, I have a problem with the following 2 paragraphs:

"Some gay groups and leaders who have already seen previews of the series have expressed concern over the main characters' promiscuity, saying the portrayal is too over-the-top, and many gays have expressed shock over the explicit sex. Some say most of the characters are unhealthy stereotypes of unhappy, self-loathing gay men.

“Others admit there's some truth here, but are uncomfortable having gay promiscuity revealed to a mass public. Many gays and straights will find the extensive sex scenes gratuitous, doing little to advance the plot."

What I am wondering is who the reporter is referring to when he talks about all these gays who have expressed concern over the promiscuity and the "many gays" who have expressed shock. Who would these gays be, reporter Rick Bird's bridge partners?

I have screened the original British series on Long Island at 2 separate venues, including one showing at our new community center, and have encountered very few people who were especially disturbed over the portrayals. And this was the more shocking British version with a 15-year old protagonist.

I do recognize that there will probably be some gays who undoubtedly will be offended. In the British sequel, reporting on the making of the series, the matter of certain community dissent was addressed. After all, as I have written before, we are homosexuals, not homogenous. The bottom line, if the series offends you, don't watch....rent Too Wong Foo...

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Having seen the first 2 episodes of the Americanized version (which I have been warned was before it was submitted for a rating) the sex was certainly not hardcore.

Despite what I have read, I also think it was considerably milder than the British series. I may have missed something, but I do not recall any full frontal male nudity, though there are certainly butts prominently on display. There are softcore simulations of sex and graphic descriptions, which alone might startle viewers not used to any televised gay sex. But even the controversial 'rimming' sequence is much tamer than the British version.

As for promiscuity, not everyone in the cast is screwing nightly. Some seem to not be having sex at all. The reality is that for many gays, there is promiscuity and drugs and coupling without relationships. And for many other gays, that does not happen, in the same way that it doesn't happen for other members of the cast.

But don't start reporting on this massive reaction from within the gay community that just isn't there yet. Believe me, a right-wing, anti-gay backlash will be there soon enough.