Ask the Flying Monkey: Do Victoria Jackson and Sarah Palin Really Have Gay Friends?

Today: Do Victoria Jackson and Sarah Palin really have gay friends? Plus, has the dating show Baggage done a gay episode – and what’s up with Gideon Glick?

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Q: I am a gay fellow in my early 30s who lives with, and takes care of his elderly grandfather who is about 87 years old. Due to my grandfather’s condition, one of the many quirks that he has developed is that he tends to stick to one thing on television. Recently he has decided that he will watch nothing but the Game Show Network, which has those of us who take care of him pretty excited, as he used to watch only sports channels all the time, often the same game over and over.

I will often sit with my grandfather and watch television with him to keep him company. One of the shows is a dating game show called Baggage, hosted by Jerry Springer. A male/female is given the choice of three people to date, but before they make their choice, they find out some of those three's peoples secrets that they wouldn't normally tell somebody before the first date. Things like "I shower once a week,” "I only date rich women,” or" I make my boyfriend buy me gifts all the time." These secrets are hidden actual luggage before being revealed, giving the show its name.

Given this show is on the same network as the Newlywed Game which I know has done at least two episodes with gay contestants, I was wondering if the show Baggage has done any gay themed episodes, or if they plan to do any in the future? -- Mike, Cottage Grove, MN

A: As I was researching this show, which I admit is a hell of a lot of fun, I was starting to grow annoyed, mostly because a lot of the “baggage” involved gay “scandals,” like a past in porn or go-go dancing. I have no problem with showing these so-called “warts” of gay life being seen on television – but it was really pissing me off that it seemed like the GLBT folk were always the “baggage,” never the main contestant or the suitors vying for him or her.

What’s the message here? That’s we’re just baggage, never a love story? It didn’t help that the audience always seemed to get particularly upset by any gay-related scandal.

But what do you know? They actually have done at least one gay episode where a guy named Clay has to pick between three potential suitors who all have various secrets (some of which are funny and some are weird, but almost all of which are not necessarily what you would expect).

It’s impossible to overstate how incredibly normalizing I think this is for us gay folks (although I confess the bi-phobia bothered me):

For the record, there’s another episode where a man’s “baggage” turns out to be that he had a college fling with another man.

Oh, and check out the episode with Danny Lopes, whose “baggage” turned out be a Playgirl spread that’s now all over the internet. They weren’t kidding – it’s out there! (Trust me: you want to Google this.)

P.S. I can relate to your experience as your grandfather's caretaker. My partner and I helped take care of my mother who had Alzheimer’s. Isn’t it terrible how we gay folks are destroying the family?

Next page! Do Sarah Palin and Victoria Jackson have gay friends? Plus, the adorable Gideon Glick.