Pink Power
21/07/09 15:05 Filed in: Personal
We were talking at work about the empowerment of gay characters since Russell T. Davis brought “Captain Jack Harkness” to the screen. Initially via Doctor Who and then as the (initially at least) adult Torchwood spin off.
Jack is a gay character that strangely I think we can all recognise. OK, I’m not really talking about the dynamic actions and useful immortality. What I’m actually saying that for once, in a long while, there was a gay character in a popular TV show that isn’t some kind of inane, picture postcard camp characteur of a gay man. No “Oh; listen to her!” (except as a joke), no amusing walk and definitely no pink costumes. He’s the anti-Mr Humfries (from Are you being served). An action hero who just so happens to also be gay, but also happens to be immortal, from the future, several hundred years old and totally over played by smiling, singing entertainer John Barrowman.
It started me thinking... is Jack Harkness the first heroic gay character in television. And then it him me! Not literally, obviously. Freddie from Scooby Doo.
It’s so obvious. This is a chap who ignores the attractive female members of the ‘team’. Never seems terribly interested in girls, dresses immaculately, never has a hair out of place and wears a neckerchief. Plus, correct me if I’m wrong, but isn’t he wearing something similar to a sailor outfit?
So R.T.D.... Hannah Barbara beat you but 30 years+
he he he
Jack is a gay character that strangely I think we can all recognise. OK, I’m not really talking about the dynamic actions and useful immortality. What I’m actually saying that for once, in a long while, there was a gay character in a popular TV show that isn’t some kind of inane, picture postcard camp characteur of a gay man. No “Oh; listen to her!” (except as a joke), no amusing walk and definitely no pink costumes. He’s the anti-Mr Humfries (from Are you being served). An action hero who just so happens to also be gay, but also happens to be immortal, from the future, several hundred years old and totally over played by smiling, singing entertainer John Barrowman.
It started me thinking... is Jack Harkness the first heroic gay character in television. And then it him me! Not literally, obviously. Freddie from Scooby Doo.
It’s so obvious. This is a chap who ignores the attractive female members of the ‘team’. Never seems terribly interested in girls, dresses immaculately, never has a hair out of place and wears a neckerchief. Plus, correct me if I’m wrong, but isn’t he wearing something similar to a sailor outfit?
So R.T.D.... Hannah Barbara beat you but 30 years+
he he he