'Glee' 'Raised the Bar' For TV Inclusiveness With Gay Kiss

By John Mitchell Posted Mar 16th 2011 10:50PM

On last night's 'Glee,' the New Directions won regionals after hitting the stage with a pair of original songs -- a first for the series -- but that isn't what anyone is talking about this morning. After months of hints and winks, fans of FOX's hit musical finally got what they've been waiting for: The characters of Kurt (Chris Colfer) and Blaine (Darren Criss) kissed for the first time. And it wasn't a peck. It also wasn't overtly sexual or desperate, it wasn't rushed or clouded with turmoil, and it certainly wasn't played for laughs, the way many kisses between men are on TV. It was perfect.

"It's hard to overstate the significance of the kiss between Kurt and Blaine on 'Glee' last night," Michael Jensen, editor of Logo's AfterElton.com tells PopEater. "Even better, it wasn't the sort of kiss we saw back in the 1990s where the guys pecked each other on the lips -- or worse, the camera cutaway -- but this was a real kiss that hinted there is much more to come in this relationship. If we still needed proof how far gay characters have come on network TV, 'Glee' just gave it to us."

"'Glee' has raised the bar of what it means to be inclusive on TV, and viewers are tuning in by the millions, sending a clear message to networks that Americans not only accept gay and lesbian characters, but they are beginning to expect them," GLAAD President Jarrett Barrios tells PopEater. "It's stories like Kurt and Blaine's that continue to remind gay youth everywhere that there's nothing wrong with being who you are."

The characters portrayed by Colfer and Criss, who is nominated for Logo's annual NewNowNext Awards 2011, which honors what is up-and-coming in popular culture, in the Brink of Fame: Actor category, are arguably the highest-profile gay characters on television right now, and, as the LGBT community continues to recover from the wave of bullying-related suicides late last year, it is especially important that Kurt and Blaine represent a pair of openly gay teenagers comfortable with who they are and seemingly on the verge of a real romantic relationship grounded in mutual respect.

"The two most recent episodes have represented queer youth and coming of age in a way I've never seen on broadcast television before, let alone one of the most popular shows in the country, with a mostly young audience," AfterElton's Christie Keith wrote in her recap of 'Original Song.' Keith is also referring to last week's 'Sexy,' in which Santana (played by Naya Rivera) confessed her love for Heather Morris' character, Brittany. Also on last week's episode, Kurt's father Burt (Mike O'Malley) sat his son down for a straightforward discussion about sex, providing him pamphlets and telling him, "This is gonna suck for both of us, but we're going to get through it together, and we will both be better men because of it. ... Kurt, when you're ready, I want you to be able to do everything, but when you're ready I want you to use it as a way to connect to another person, don't throw yourself around like you don't matter."

Since its debut, 'Glee' has been lauded for its inclusiveness, with characters representing myriad ethnicities, religions and sexual orientations. Last year, GLAAD honored 'Glee' with the GLAAD Media Award in the Outstanding Comedy Series, and the show is again a nominee this year. Colfer is set to attend this year's GLAAD Media Awards in Los Angeles on April 10.

For how often the show delights in being over-the-top, these recent storylines have been grounded in a way that can only benefit 'Glee's' millions of young LGBT viewers, who rarely get to see themselves represented as fully formed, multi-dimensional characters and not stereotypes on prime-time network television. The show has been dealing with the issues they deal with daily directly and with great care, and it's heartening to know that in FOX's 'Glee,' a generation of young gay teens has been given something no generation of LGBT persons has had before them -- a group of peers to relate to.

Watch 'Original Song' here (kissing scene begins at 17:30):

Tags: chris colfer, glaad, Glee, logo

Comments

(164)

Wednesday 16 March

By mahrmach

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Why do such a tiny precentage of the general population get to force their agenda on the NORMAL people. Yes I said normal. Being gay is a choice, It is not Normal. If it were the human race would have died out ages ago. If you want to be gay knock yourselves out. Just stop pretending your behaviour is NORMAL. It is not!

By jogo

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Normal is such a poor word choice. Normal people kill, they hate, they are intolerant...not that special. Gay is not a choice...if it were, I doubt so many people would want to lead a life surrounded by so much difficulty..and that difficulty is made by other people...not the gay person. I wonder why you feel that you are normal and they are not...strange!!!! We are all created equal, no matter how you want to feel about it.

By Dave

Wow, I can tell you are normal. Especially if normal means hateful and narrow-minded. Being gay is a blessing and God loves gay people. The right-wing's agenda of hate has got to STOP. It's not healthy to tell gay kids that they aren't normal and that they are making bad "choices" when there's no way in hell they can change how they were born. Support and love them, and let them have their tv role models, like Kurt and Blaine! And, don't forget, Jesus had 2 fathers and he turned out okay!

By PC

It is not a choice and it shows a lot of ignorance on your part to insist that it is.

By Britt

How old were you when you chose to be straight?

Thursday 17 March

By Johnny

mahrmach, you're showing your ignorance.

Being gay is entirely normal and it has existed since the beginning of time. The reason the population hasn't died out is because homosexuality only affects a small percentage of people.

We could actually use more homosexuals bc the world is overpopulating as it is.

Saturday 19 March

By lani

There is no such thing as the "gay agenda" to which you are speaking of. All people deserve to be treated humanely and equally. "If it were the human race would have died out ages ago"

Saturday 26 March

By jbrantow

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"Normal people" aren't hateful bigots like yourself. You missed your calling in 1938 Germany.

By stu

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ur trash paul.

By Paul

That the best you can do, grow up

By Joey

So did you ever think that every time one of the STR8 couples on TV kisses or has sex that seems like its in your face to the gays? Your sexuality is what it is...NO ONE should have to surpress what they feel...

By Ninja Lurk

I thought it was beautiful and very well executed. We need more openness and to show the world that being who you are is alright, no matter if you're straight, gay, or bisexual, or anything in between. Bravo, Glee!

Friday 18 March

By karli

DEB, You are so right. It is not appropriate! Thank you!

By Kym

THANK YOU!!! SO SO TRUE!!!

By Katie

Forget what anyone says, I'm proud of the characters for their relationship development. I'm proud of the producers and writers for adding this scene, and I'm proud to say that I support it in full. :)

By tbwest

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Aunt B is rolling over in her grave.

By nov2rememberout

THE WRITER BRAIN MURPHY IS GAY BOO BOO!

u stink Kresno. the bible preaches luv & not judge ur fellow man. i hope u never have kids!

By Wizard

Raise the bar? More like lower your standards. Sick. And to all you little teenagers that watch this trash, get a life.

By RB

The writer of this article has got to be gay to call this kiss "perfect." I don't want to see gay TV. It is against my beliefs and I find it offensive. I will not be tolerant and I will always oppose it regardless of what this "going to hell" nation says. Cheers to me and my narrow minded Christian ways! It is what made this country great at one time....

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