Friday, February 16, 2007

THE WAR AT HOME IS VICTORIOUS!
Last night FOX's The War at Home wrapped up Kenny (Rami Malek's) coming out storyline and I have to say it's gold stars all around. Saying TWAH isn't a show known for its subtlety is like saying Tim Hardaway isn't known for his tolerance, kindness, and basic humanity. Nonetheless, the show handled the topic with a grace surprising not just for a sitcom, but especially for this one.

I think my favorite aspect of Kenny's arc was Dave's (Michael Rappaport) determination to treat Kenny just like every other teenager in his house—namely something to be tolerated at best. The truth, of course, is that Dave is a big softie who does care, something that came through loud and clear when he talked with Kenny about having safe gay sex.

That brings me to the other thing I liked almost as much about the show—it's frankness in dealing with the topic. Kenny's arc didn't have any of that well-intentioned, but cloying “very special episode” air about it. When Kenny's parents threw him out, the Gold's were horrified by the behavior and took Kenny in making sure he knew there was nothing wrong with him.

Last night's episode was more of the same with Dave not only reading the riot act to the school for discriminating against Kenny and his boyfriend, but letting Kenny's father know what an intolerant jerk he was. Believe it or not, Dave's little speech at the end was actually touching. (I saw it and even I hardly believe it!) Seems to me the best thing the show could is keep Kenny around with his new higher profile.

LOOKS LIKE CHARLES BARKLEY SPOKE TOO SOON
Just last week when retired NBA star Charles Barkley was about asked John Amaechi's coming out, Barkley was quoted as saying “Hey, nobody cares John Amaechi is gay. I just find it humorous and amazing people think we care if someone is gay or not. It is always fun to hear these reporters say how we'd treat them in the locker room. Trust me, we'd treat reporters a lot worse than we treat a gay guy.”

In that case, I'd really hate to be a reporter. Thanks to Tim I-hate-gay-people Hardaway's comments this week, Barkley looks way out of touch. (Think George Bush level out-of-touch.) Amaechi himself wasn't surprised by Hardaway's bigoted comments, however, and actually appreciates the homophobe's honesty. And I'd agree it's a good thing as well. First, it's hard to fight something that is hidden, and second, it makes it pretty darn hard for anti-gay elements to pretend there isn't virulent anti-gay bigotry out there.

So who is closer to the view of the average NBA player? Given I last attended an NBA basketball game in 1982 (and never played on an NBA team), it's hard for me to say, but I suspect gay players currently in the NBA are the best gauge. Since none of them have come out as of yet, I suspect there are more Hardaways than Barkleys dribbling around out there.

BTW, Hardaway's comments are even worse than originally reported. Yes, the “I hate gay people” stuff is bad enough, but that's just his opinion and he's entitled to it, however reprehensible. What's really disturbing is what Hardaway thinks should be done to a gay player—not just words and thoughts, but actual actions. Says Hardaway, “I'd ask for him to get traded. Something has to give. The majority of the players would ask for him to be traded, or they would want to get traded. Or just buy him out of his contract and let him go.''

Wow, the man can't even exist in the same world as gay people. Now that's scary.

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