The Simpsons has historically been open to portrayals of LGBT characters and settings, and it has routinely challenged heteronormativity.[1][2] It was one of several animated television shows in the United States that began introducing characters that were LGBT, both openly and implied, in the 1990s.[1] While early episodes involving LGBT characters primarily included them through the use of stereotypes, The Simpsons developed several prominent LGBT characters over its run.[3] Producers of the show, such as Matt Groening and Al Jean, have expressed their opinion that LGBT representation in media is important, and that they seek to actively include it.[2][4] Some characters, such as Julio, were created with their sexual orientation in mind, with it being central to their character.[5] The show expanded its roster of openly LGBT characters through episodes in which prominent characters Patty Bouvier and Waylon Smithers came out in seasons 16 and 27, respectively.[6][7] Additionally, producer Al Jean has stated that Lisa Simpson is possibly polyamorous.[8]
Supporting characters
editPatty Bouvier
editPatty Bouvier was revealed to be lesbian in the season 16 episode "There's Something About Marrying", which follows Homer Simpson as he is ordained to perform same-sex marriages. Producer Al Jean had announced that a character would come out prior to the episode's airing, prompting widespread speculation.[9][10] Patty was the character that fans most suspected would come out.[11][9] The episode aired in 2005, when same-sex marriage was a major political issue in the United States.[10] The move was controversial, provoking outrage from opponents to same-sex marriage.[12] Entertainment columnist Ray Richmond credited Patty's coming out as a significant milestone for the gay rights movement, as it proved that the movement was prominent enough to feature in an episode of a mainstream sitcom.[6]
Kang and Kodos
editThe gender and sexuality of the extraterrestrial characters Kang and Kodos has been portrayed in different ways throughout the series. They are typically depicted as male, but Kodos was identified as Kang's sister in the season 8 episode "Treehouse of Horror VII", and they were identified as a lesbian couple in the season 26 episode "Simpsorama". Producer Al Jean has described their gender as intentionally vague, with the show sometimes implying that they were androgynous. After the episode "Simpsorama", Jean confirmed that "they're a gay female couple" and that they "seemed to be married".[13]
Waylon Smithers
editWaylon Smithers was widely alluded to as gay in the early years of the show, and he was regularly depicted as being attracted to his boss, Mr. Burns.[14][15] Even before his character came out, he was generally recognized as a portrayal of a gay man on television,[2]: 234 and his character's sexuality was among the earliest examples of a fandom debate on the internet.[16]: 180 This was alluded to in the season 7 episode "The Simpsons 138th Episode Spectacular", in which host Troy McClure reads a fictional fan letter that asks "What is the real deal with Mr. Burns' assistant Smithers? You know what I'm talking about."[17]
Because of the regular jokes about Smithers' sexuality, he was one of the characters speculated to be gay after it was announced that a character would come out in 2005. Producer Al Jean described Smithers' sexual orientation for much of the show as "Burns-osexual", explaining that his devotion to Burns outweighs attraction to any particular gender.[14] Allusions to Smithers' sexuality became more direct over the show's run, with Burns explicitly being recognized as a romantic interest for Smithers as early as the season 4 episode "Marge Gets a Job". It is implied more heavily in the season 6 episode "Sideshow Bob Roberts" when Smithers describes conservatism as incompatible with his "choice of lifestyle".[2]: 239 In the season 9 episode "Lisa the Skeptic", Smithers kisses Burns.[18] The character came out in the season 27 episode "The Burns Cage" in 2016.[7][19] His romantic life was explored again in the season 33 episode "Portrait of a Lackey on Fire". The son of writer Rob LaZebnik was heavily involved in writing Smithers' romantic storyline, drawing from his own experiences as a gay man.[20]
Minor characters
edit
- Michael De Graaf – A fashion designer who began a romantic relationship with Waylon Smithers in the season 33 episode "Portrait of a Lackey on Fire". De Graaf is voiced by Victor Garber.[20]
- Dewey Largo – The music teacher at Springfield Elementary School. He was implied to be gay for much of the show's run. Rather than a formal coming out, the character gradually came to be recognized as an openly gay character.[21] His sexual orientation was confirmed after he found a partner at Moe's Tavern while it was converted into a gay bar in the season 22 episode "Flaming Moe".[22]
- Evelyn – Patty's girlfriend in the season 31 episode "Livin La Pura Vida". She befriends Homer after she and Patty get into an argument, which mends the relationship between her and Patty.[23]
- Grady – A gay man who Homer lived with in the season 14 episode "Three Gays of the Condo". Grady sees Homer as a romantic interest and kisses him, causing Homer to leave.[3]
- John – An openly gay man who features in the season 8 episode "Homer's Phobia" in 1997. The episode follows Homer as he comes to accept John as a gay man, and as he allows his son Bart to deviate from traditionally masculine ideas.[1][14] John is voiced by John Waters.[1]
- Julio – A prominent figure within the show's LGBT community.[5] The character was originally voiced by Hank Azaria, but the role was recast to Tony Rodriguez in 2021 in an effort to increase the diversity of the cast to better reflect the characters. Like the character of Julio, Rodriguez is an openly gay Cuban man.[5][24] Julio was briefly a romantic interest of Waylon Smithers.[5]
- Grizzly Shawn – A bear, who debuted in the episode season 22 episode "Flaming Moe" as part of the new LGBT customers arriving at Moe's bar.
- Karl – Homer's assistant in the season 2 episode "Simpson and Delilah".[25] The character was voiced by openly gay actor Harvey Fierstein and was originally intended to look like him, but Fierstein insisted that the character look more traditionally handsome. The character was intended to return in the season 14 episode "Three Gays of the Condo", but Fierstein was unsatisfied with the script.[16]: 248–250
- Paula – A friend of Patty who becomes Marge's team partner as lumberjill in the season 31 episode "Marge the Lumberjill". Paula is voiced by the non-binary actor Asia Kate Dillon.[26]
See also
editReferences
edit- ^ a b c d Padva, Gilad (July 9, 2008). "Educating The Simpsons: Teaching Queer Representations in Contemporary Visual Media". Journal of LGBT Youth. 5 (3): 57–73. doi:10.1080/19361650802162227. ISSN 1936-1653. S2CID 216116217. Archived from the original on May 4, 2022. Retrieved April 14, 2023.
- ^ a b c d Henry, Matthew (2004). "Looking for Amanda Hugginkiss: Gay Life on The Simpsons". In Alberti, John (ed.). Leaving Springfield: The Simpsons and the Possibility of Oppositional Culture. Wayne State University Press. pp. 225–243. ISBN 9780814328491.
- ^ a b Keough, Yasmine Evelyn (February 24, 2021). "LGBTQ History Through The Eyes Of The Simpsons". Game Rant. Archived from the original on July 7, 2022. Retrieved April 14, 2023.
- ^ "Is Lisa Simpson queer? It's complicated". Digital Spy. November 8, 2020. Archived from the original on February 10, 2023. Retrieved April 14, 2023.
- ^ a b c d Lavin, Will (April 23, 2021). "'The Simpsons' recasts gay character with gay actor Tony Rodriguez". NME. Archived from the original on August 14, 2022. Retrieved April 14, 2023.
- ^ a b Waxman, Sharon (February 21, 2005). "'Simpsons' Animates Gay Nuptials, and a Debate". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Archived from the original on May 12, 2022. Retrieved April 14, 2023.
- ^ a b Perkins, Dennis (April 3, 2016). "The Simpsons handles Smithers' coming out with surprising subtlety". The A.V. Club. Archived from the original on April 10, 2023. Retrieved April 14, 2023.
- ^ "The Simpsons Showrunner Says Lisa Is "Possibly Polyamorous"". IN Magazine. April 8, 2019. Archived from the original on April 3, 2023. Retrieved April 14, 2023.
- ^ a b "Simpsons to reveal gay character". BBC News. July 28, 2004. Archived from the original on May 12, 2022. Retrieved April 14, 2023.
- ^ a b "Simpsons' gay character is Patty". BBC News. February 21, 2005. Archived from the original on July 3, 2022. Retrieved April 14, 2023.
- ^ Waxman, Sharon (February 21, 2005). "'Simpsons' Animates Gay Nuptials, and a Debate". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Archived from the original on May 12, 2022. Retrieved April 14, 2023.
- ^ Keslowitz, Steven (2006). The World According to the Simpsons: What Our Favorite TV Family Says about Life, Love, and the Pursuit of the Perfect Donut. Sourcebooks. p. 25. ISBN 978-1-4022-0655-9.
- ^ Snierson, Dan (November 10, 2014). "'Simpsons' producer on the surprising Kang and Kodos revelation, 'death' of Ralph Wiggum". Entertainment Weekly. Archived from the original on November 22, 2020. Retrieved April 14, 2023.
- ^ a b c Kiehl, Stephen (January 26, 2005). "'The Simpsons' Prepares for Gay Outing". Baltimore Sun. Archived from the original on June 22, 2021. Retrieved April 14, 2023.
- ^ Owoseje, Toyin (November 12, 2021). "Waylon Smithers finally finds love in 'The Simpsons'". CNN. Archived from the original on June 28, 2022. Retrieved April 14, 2023.
- ^ a b Ortved, John (2009). The Simpsons: An Uncensored, Unauthorized History. Faber & Faber. ISBN 978-0-86547-988-3.
- ^ Turner, Chris (2004). Planet Simpson: How A Cartoon Masterpiece Defined A Generation. Da Capo Press. p. 296. ISBN 978-0-306-81341-2.
- ^ Stroude, Will (March 10, 2022). "The Simpsons' gayest-ever episodes and moments: A timeline". Attitude. Archived from the original on April 14, 2023. Retrieved April 14, 2023.
- ^ McAfee, Melonyce (September 28, 2015). "Smithers comes out on 'The Simpsons'". CNN. Archived from the original on November 27, 2022. Retrieved April 14, 2023.
- ^ a b Schwerdtfeger, Conner (November 24, 2021). "How Simpsons Writer's Gay Son Helped Make Smithers' Love Story Authentic". ScreenRant. Archived from the original on August 5, 2022. Retrieved April 14, 2023.
- ^ Giardina, Henry (March 2, 2021). ""Smithers & Beyond" Traces Every Queer Moment in "The Simpsons"". Logo TV. Archived from the original on October 5, 2022. Retrieved April 15, 2023.
- ^ Hochberger, Eric (January 17, 2011). "The Simpsons Review: "Flaming Moe"". TV Fanatic. Archived from the original on September 8, 2015. Retrieved April 15, 2023.
- ^ Sokol, Tony (November 18, 2019). "The Simpsons Season 31 Episode 7 Review: Livin' la Pura Vida". Den of Geek. Archived from the original on February 5, 2021. Retrieved April 14, 2023.
- ^ Lovejoy, Hannah (April 22, 2021). "The Simpsons recasts a gay character with a gay actor". Digital Spy. Archived from the original on August 8, 2022. Retrieved April 14, 2023.
- ^ Greenwell, Megan (August 21, 2014). "You've Never Watched The Simpsons Before? That's Unpossible!". Slate. Archived from the original on May 5, 2023. Retrieved April 30, 2023.
- ^ Perkins, Dennis (November 10, 2019). "The Simpsons allows Marge some sweetly forgettable self-esteem". The A.V. Club. Retrieved November 22, 2019.