Kilt to prom on Glee tonight in prime time!

[saxandpipes]

Everybody is entitled to have strong opinions. These statements you list do not attack homosexuality. They do express some dismay as to how the kilt was portrayed on a tv show, in that of all the characters wearing it--it was the homosexual. When heterosexual men wear a kilt, they do not want to be identified as homosexual, particularly because they are wearing their ancestral attire. For instance, before Glee was ever even a concept, I was asked by a Nigerian woman if I felt like wearing the kilt "made me lose my masculinity?" This was pretty shocking to hear, but I appreciated her honesty (we were at an International Heritage celebration after all, so it was appropriate to learn about other cultures). The thing is, while I understand your frustration with dealing with prejudices and distaste for who people presume you to be. Any kiltie deals with insults and prejudices as to whether or not they're a cross-dresser, or homosexual, etc.
I remember the long-standing rumor in junior high that I was gay because I played the clarinet. When the fact of the matter was that I played it so I could sit surrounded by pretty girls. That rumor persisted into high school, and it was hurtful--but I got over it. Thing is that heterosexual men do often get offended when someone presumes they're homosexual. Many I think, have perceived that Kurt's wearing of the kilt solo has reinforced that erroneous stereotype of "kilt=skirt" or "kilt=feminine", even though we all know better. It's not a judgment against homosexuality in this instance, but portrayal and perception and image. Like I said, heterosexual men don't typically like being confused for homosexual. If you want a reason why, it has to do directly with being attractive and appealing to the opposite sex, our own inherent ideas of masculinity, and being attractive and appealing to the opposite sex.
Please take this with the intent in which it was meant--as a way to make peace and help understanding.

True, but it's one thing to consider being thought of as gay (when you're not) as simply an insult. It's another to know that something you are is generally considered to be an insult.

When someone asks a straight kilt-wearing man if he's gay, he can simply say no, and inform the protagonist that they are being rude (in what ever manner they feel is deserving). A gay kilt-wearing man dealing with the same question... "well, yes, aah er, no, well, that has nothing to do with it..."

All I want is for people to stop thinking that gay people are so different...

[saxandpipes]

The character Kurt is just as entitled to mutilate "TCHD" as any other celeb (surely I don't need to give examples)/TV character or any of us for that matter.

The fact that he is gay has absolutely nothing to do with it. That is my point! That is what is upsetting about the comments I quoted.

[saxandpipes]

The character Kurt is just as entitled to mutilate "TCHD" as any other celeb (surely I don't need to give examples).....

Of course I do...!



EEEeeek! and White socks! And Ghillie-Brogues! The horror!!!



Umm... stockings! Well, at least he's hunky!



Where do I start?!



Where's ye sporran?!



Socks! But ok, hunky....



Donald wheres ye troosers!?



and the flashes...?!



Ye Gads!?!@!?!@?!?!#@$?!


Do you want more....? I have more...!

Oh yeah...



Thats not a proper shirt for highland wear...well, unless you're William Wallace or Rob Roy or Robert the Bruce or Ewan McGregor!

[ohiopiper]

I'll open with the statement that I don't care one way or the other if someone is gay, straight, bi, whatever. I'm married and happen to want to stay that way, so I'm not chasing after anyone else, man or woman. It has no personal effect on me. I have an opinion, but I also have an opinion on what brand of socks I like best. I once worked and lived in a barracks with a man who I later found out was gay. It was never an issue because he was a professional and did his job well and kept his personal life to himself, as we all did. And yes, I still keep in contact with him, you can't spend two years of your life in close proximity to someone and not form some sort of friendship. Smitty and I actually got along quite well. Long story short, it doesn't matter to me what another adult does.

I think the issue isn't that they chose a gay character to wear the kilt, it's that they chose ONLY a gay character to wear the kilt, thus reinforcing the notion to some that the kilt is an item of clothing designed for men who'd rather be wearing lace and bangles. If there had been a small group wearing the kilt, no issue. If there had been only a straight character, it MAY have sent a message that the kilt is a garment designed specifically for men to the uneducated (about kilts anyway) masses.

The bottom line is that "the masses", by definition, have no knowlege, interest or stake in what anyone thinks of a kilt, other than a gag to get viewership. Same reason most fathers on the television are portrayed as bumbling fools who ride on the apron strings of their wives. They are concerned about getting a laugh and ratings, not the cumulative effect of the stereotype on young minds who watch it day in and day out.

[saxandpipes]

...
I think the issue isn't that they chose a gay character to wear the kilt, it's that they chose ONLY a gay character to wear the kilt, thus reinforcing the notion to some that the kilt is an item of clothing designed for men who'd rather be wearing lace and bangles. If there had been a small group wearing the kilt, no issue. If there had been only a straight character, it MAY have sent a message that the kilt is a garment designed specifically for men to the uneducated (about kilts anyway) masses.

(emphasis added to make it clear why I have a problem with this...!)

Do you really care what someone who think all gay people would "rather wear lace and bangles" thinks?

[saxandpipes]

If it had been one of the manly men, or a group of them, just think how much worse it would have been- they would have screwed it up equally as bad, and then you would have people trying to emulate their "style" all over the world!

We should consider ourselves lucky!

[Morris at Heathfield]

Meh. The kilt is fairly well established as something worn by men of no particular sexual orientation. This forum, at 2005 threads so far (albeit some of them duplicates), is testament to that. As long as the audience for Glee intersects nicely with the audience for last year's Alice in Wonderland movie, this year's Smurf movie, and/or whatever else may be coming down the pike, I don't think there's much to be concerned about from this one episode.

Except that maybe more men will try to get away with wearing the kilt without baring their manly knees.

EEEeeek! and White socks! And Ghillie-Brogues! The horror!!!

He also appears to be wearing his kilt a bit low.

[Semiomniscient]

True, but it's one thing to consider being thought of as gay (when you're not) as simply an insult. It's another to know that something you are is generally considered to be an insult.

When someone asks a straight kilt-wearing man if he's gay, he can simply say no, and inform the protagonist that they are being rude (in what ever manner they feel is deserving). A gay kilt-wearing man dealing with the same question... "well, yes, aah er, no, well, that has nothing to do with it..."

All I want is for people to stop thinking that gay people are so different...

I'm sorry that you have to suffer that. Not all gay people act a certain way. However, there are many gay people portrayed in media as hyper-emotional, effeminate, "flamboyant", etc. This is done through Glee, reality TV shows, the old Will and Grace show, etc. etc. That is the popular image of the "gay man" in most people's minds. If someone asks a man if they're gay, then their mind often goes to the "what am I doing to project that image?", "What is keeping me from exuding masculinity?" Which, while I understand the fact that this sort of thinking is the case bothers and upsets you, I think it's nevertheless accurate. When I guy has to answer his internal questions with the kilt, he has to also ask if it's just because the kilt is akin to a skirt, or if it's because of something else--in this case media portrayal.
Now really, I doubt that Kurt wearing a kilt on Glee is going to do this single-handedly. But kilties will still wonder.

So really, if I'm asked if I'm gay, it's not as simple as just responding "no". Besides, how many people really come up and ask people questions like that?

[saxandpipes]

...
So really, if I'm asked if I'm gay, it's not as simple as just responding "no". Besides, how many people really come up and ask people questions like that?

If that doesn't really happen, then why are people so concerned about a gay guy in the media wearing a kilt?