Gay teens on television have become the new go-to trend character for forward thinking show runners. They are the new “token Asian girl.” I, for one, couldn’t be more thrilled. Studies have shown that increased visibility helps gay teenagers come out and realize that there are others like them. It also helps to “normalize” what was for so long something kept in hiding, helping gays and straights alike understand that we’re really all the same.The trend can be seen on Dawson’s Creek, Desperate Housewives, Ugly Betty, Gossip Girl, and as of last night’s ill-advised gay club outing by Teddy, on 90210. Yes, we’ve had Jack McPhee, Justin Suarez, Eric van der Woodsen and Teddy Montgomery. Well, as of the fall of 2009, there’s a new gay character that has everyone talking. I am of course referring to Kurt Hummel on Glee, the contralto diva of the McKinley High School glee club.
As played by Chris Colfer, 20, Kurt has catapulted as one of the two breakout roles on the show—the other being the hilariously dumb Brittany S. Pearce. Colfer, who is openly gay, was nominated for an Emmy Award for Best Supporting Actor against the men of Modern Family, Neil Patrick Harris, and, for reasons that still escape me, Jon Cryer. It’s certainly a talented group of men to be considered amongst, and he holds his own.
But what sets Kurt apart from the rest of the TV gay teens? For one thing, Kurt isn’t merely a recurring character woven in whenever the writers find it convenient. Kurt is a central character in the series, and despite not being one of the two romantic leads, is arguably the heart of the show. Furthermore, he transcends stereotypes. Yes, he’s effeminate and loves fashion. He has a love of bitchy asides.
But he also tried desperately to “butch up” to gain his father’s approval. He’s not the whorey twink from Queer as Folk sneaking into bars and sleeping around with older men. He’s not the rich socialite from Gossip Girl, he’s the son of a single father in a blue collar job in a working class town. He’s not Justin Suarez, who took bullying in stride and in shame. He is slowly learning to stand up for himself, and in an even more touching move, had his new mentor—and hopefully future husband—Blaine reach out to a closeted jock.
Kurt certainly isn’t perfect. His stalker-like obsession with Finn in the first season was a low point for the series. He’s completely self-involved and manipulative. However, doesn’t that just make him more human? The very fact that he’s flawed, just like the rest of the hot messes in Glee, makes him a fully realized character on the show.
Why does this matter? Having a role model—not just a good one, but also a realistic one—is an important character for young teenagers to identify with. Whereas once upon a time, men didn’t come out until they were adults with steady jobs and separate lives from their parents, gay men are coming out younger and younger. And just as the bitchy high school girls have Blair and Serena, and the California bros had Ryan and Seth, the gays now have Kurt. Certainly, Kurt does not embody all gay teenagers, but he’s a pretty damn good start.
In the words of Kurt, “If I may…”, I’d like to share a personal anecdote. I am now a senior at NYU. I graduated high school in 2007. At the time, there were no openly gay students at my high school. I came out during an awkward game of “Never Have I Ever…” at Third North during welcome week after consuming a considerable amount of Georgi’s. Two years later, Glee airs. Two kids from my high school come out before graduation. They both come to NYU (because, I mean, where else did you think this story was going to go?)
Is it the result of Glee? I can’t say. I don’t even know if my baby gays (as I affectionately call them) watch the show. But since I left high school, there’s been a ripple effect. When we, the class of 2011, were freshmen, we had a common trope: the “Gay by May” kids who were still in denial and would take at least six months to finally escape the torment of the high school closet.
I don’t know if this saying still exists in the NYU lexicon. And perhaps Glee isn’t going to be the band-aid that the gay community needs to heal its pain. We may be too close historically to see the show’s lasting impact, it’s definitely a fair assumption to make that Kurt, and characters like him, do make positive influences on younger gay teenagers. Hell, I’m 21 and Kurt still teaches me life lessons in a moving song and dance number. Glee will continue to be what it is semi-controversial, thought provoking, and uneven. But it’s definitely a step in the right direction, and it’s paving the way for not only future gay characters, but for gay teenagers.
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