Network: 
After Elton has a great find: A new horribly offensive advertising and viral video campaign from American Eagle clothing that features a pathetic desperate lisping swishing gay stereotype who on top of everything else fawns and drools over an obviously straight boy. The post has opened up a lively debate: is the gay stereotype laughing at us or with us?
Either way, considering American Eagle's demographic (12-25 year olds), this pathetic gay caricature feeds just about prejudice harbored by straight teen boys. But that's not the worst of it. The worst of it is that it's our fault. We have given America our enthusiastic permission to portray us as jokes. And the second largest and most influential clothing brand (after Old Navy) reaching teen boys is happy to do so, delivering every straight teen boy's worst nightmare of "soooooooooo gay."
GLAAD endorses Chuck & Larry which is a veritable cornucopia of offensive gay stereotypes. We've allowed the world to think that an avalanche of gay stereotype TV programming represents "progress" so rather than gay detectives, physicians and super heroes, America sees fashion designers, interior decorators, hair dressers and skin care experts. And we applaud. We're the flamers who make things pretty--not leaders, not thinkers, not serious players; rather we're superficial caricatures of real men. Our community--with our wholehearted support--is represented by the likes of Carson Kressley, William Sledd and Perez Hilton. Amongst ourselves, these guys are funny and fun, but as our face to the mainstream, it's self-destructive and fuel for the fires of homophobia.
In the name of some misguided sense of diversity, we''ve embraced our own stereotypes. And then we're outraged when the straight world joins in?
We've given companies like American Eagle permission to make fun of us. We don't even get angry; at best we shoot off some polite letter. Big-nosed bankers and nappy haired mammies have been sent to the rubbish heap of history, but the gay version of the coon character remains a staple of American entertainment and advertising.
The discussion over at After Elton misses the point by a mile. This is not about what's wrong with American Eagle, this is about what's wrong with us. Stereotypes are destructive, demeaning and dangerous. Every minority in American history has recognized this, done battle with it and mostly triumphed. Native Americans are no longer scalping savages, African Americans are no longer shiftless cotton pickers, Jews are no longer money grubbing usurers and women are no longer barefoot and pregnant so why are we still the "girls" who make things pretty? We have no right to be angry over American Eagle's stereotype rather we should be disgusted with the way we celebrate and nourish our own homophobia.
Comments:
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Tuesday 11 September
By Patrick
Absolutely spot on. Witness our gay pride parade, with mile after mile reinforcing those same stereotypes. We are the butt of our own jokes, feeding the media with images that are burnt into the minds of the American public. Not so easy to earn respect when constantly being portrayed as the fool. Ask George W about that.
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Tuesday 11 September
By jam
As someone who is represented as short haired but hairy, man hating, flannel & birkenstock wearing when not in my power short skirted suit flipping my long hair as I flip str8 girls showing off my lesbian thigh for the str8 guy, I understand your pain at the limitations of stereotypes. They present those who are othered as a monolith.
I think what is really at question is the fragility of str8 masculinity. Boys want to belong. See Dowd's column in Sunday's NYT to see it played out among politicians.
ciao,
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Tuesday 11 September
By Sanford
Richard, your post raises both interesting and thought-provoking points, as always. But that video is laughing AT us in a way that's mean-spirited and, frankly, it's completely offensive. There's no winking or nudging there, just jabbing. American Eagle (who should know better) should be ashamed. From now on, I'll be taking my business elsewhere.
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Tuesday 11 September
By shortnails
American Vulture gets my boycott along with their ad agency and whoever else was also responsible. I'd like to see a gay company portray heteros as the dirty ignorant low-morals, selfish low IQ dullards they are as payback.
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Tuesday 11 September
By Joe Lagana
Why don't we petition GLAAD to create a national TV commercial exploiting all of the so-called 'dead' stereotypes that you so brilliantly recall in your post, along with the gay stereotypes which are current in our culture, with a really clever and dead-on tag line about discrimination and equality... Run that on FOX, CNN and the major networks, and see what happens...I believe we need to stir some major shit...
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Tuesday 11 September
By Andrew
Do we, as human beings, in order to understand need to classify things?
It's funny to me because with all the goddamn new 'pinks' and new 'blacks' with fashion every year, this world still continues to live in black & white. Walk into any Gap, Old Navy & American Eagle and you will see the colors bursting just remember when you leave the store to turn your gray scale back on.
I might be missing the point here--but I still believe we are a benefactor of our society. The US is materialistic, to say the least.
Enter: "The United States of Diversity"
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Tuesday 11 September
By BeeDee
I certainly didn't give American Eagle permission. And I don't think they're laughing with me, because I didn't laugh.
Come to think of it, I don't recall voting for GLAAD either. GLAAD is really irrelevant and absolutely useless anymore. Based on their past performance, I would expect GLAAD to be giving American Eagle a Vanguard award.
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Tuesday 11 September
By Greg
Richard, if you pledge to picket outside MTV (since they broadcast this commercial) or any specific American Eagle over this Rosh Hashanna break, I'll make sure to show up. I can always spot the message in your postings, both between the lines and within them, compelling queers to quit rolling over in submission and bite the hand that mocks us, and I believe we have no choice but to do exactly that. What better way is there to start off the new year and give God a reason to want us around after we die?
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Wednesday 12 September
By George
Well, it's about time, I've been saying this for years. I am so discusted at what I see at pride parades I don't even go. We will never get true respect if "we" keep acting like silly little sissies in drag or leather clad showing parts of our body only our lovers should see. So many straight people ask me "why does he/she have to act or look like that" or "why can't they just be thereselves" and all I can say is I agree....
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Wednesday 12 September
By YCW
I have to partially disagree with the last paragraph. The only people that seem to have gotten away from the Stereotype is Native Americans.
As an african american I've seen how things haven't really changed that much for us. People think the only way we can succeed is if we play a sport or we are an entertainer. The majority of the movies that we produce are comedies and they usually are not good ones. If we are in a drama we are usually in a supporting role. Instead of education our young people are fed these stupid rappers that teach them its ok to promote violence and degrade women.
You still hear references to Jews being money hungry.they just hide it a little better.
And finally the only two groups that society feels its still OK to openly make fun of are fat people and Homosexuals.
All groups should groups should stand up for themselves and not let these horrible stereotypes live.
You may agree or disagree with me on this one but the first place to start is to get rid of Political correctness and affirmative action. I think it's far better to know who hates/dislikes me than for them to pretend. If people are angry or frustrated that they have to hide their true feelings can you imagine what they do to harm you or a group in secret. the main group of people that benifited from affirmative action where white women but I've heard so many white people complain that it only helps minorities. So it doesn't matter that I worked my butt off to get into college or get a job they think I only got it because of affirmative action.
OK think i've said enough today.
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Friday 14 September
By Natalie
Amen to that last comment.
I'm a single (by choice), childless, grad school educated, professional job having, heterosexual black woman (and a diva, to boot) who is so tired of the stereotypes that we all have to battle on a daily basis. Bravo to you Richard for calling out gays everywhere. Most of the gay men I know are intelligent, beautiful, loving, and professional in every sense of the word. They, like all "minority" groups, constantly have to counter society's ideal of what it means to be in their demographic. That's not to say that there are "those people" that all groups must deal with. You know the ones who are loud and dramatic and "ignant". That goes for every race, whether gay or straight. I live in the south and know first hand that there are many folks (in all parts of the country, I'm sure) who get their "idea" of gay/lesbian from media images. Maury Povich isn't doing anybody any favors, and the gay community as well as the black community (plus those with dual membership) should stand up and call out American Eagle and anybody else who is threatened by sexuality and culture.
You know, in our culture, we desensitize ourselves to what makes us uncomfortable through humor. Think about it.
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Wednesday 12 September
By Steff
At the same time. There are gay men and women who do fit into that stereo-type extremely well. But the thing is part of being gay is choosing who you want to be. There are gay people that dress in tight leather because thats what they want. You dress in whatever clothes because thats what you like to wear. The media only shows on side of the spectrum that is true. Why not show the gay men who wear a suit and tie, or jeans and t-shirt? Or who work manly professions? You have to be fair though in your judgment of other gay people if you want other people to be fair to you don't you think? Just because you don't dress alike is not a reason to hate them. I understand you think they "make you look bad" no one can make you look bad but you. The commercial is something people are using for mockery yes. It is wrong yes. But dont take it out on the gay "stereotype"
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Wednesday 12 September
By Seth
Im boycoting American Eagle now... not just for this eaither, they have been going down hill fast..
other companys like Abercrombie and Fitch, Ruehl, Banana Republic, Holister... and even (recently) Gap do way way better jobs, have way better advertising, and way better quality product...
alot of my AE stuff just falls apart...
its a shame, AE had so much going for them too...heck they even have 'American' in the title... that could have easily been a sucsessful global brand :-/
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Wednesday 12 September
By ryan
well maybe since ur all fags u feel the same way, but all the straight homophobic ppl have every right to make fun of the gay stereo type jst as much as we do all the other ones
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Wednesday 12 September
By Richard
Ryan: We've traced your IP address and will be sending a lesbian gang to your home later this coming weekend.
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Wednesday 12 September
By anne
like... i dont get the video... how is that an advertisement ...
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Wednesday 12 September
By aislin2476
To #6 - That's totally offensive. I mean, I understand if you want to make a commercial making fun of straight people to ACCUSE us of being "dirty ignorant low-morals, selfish low IQ dullards," but then to say in your comment that all straight people really are guilty of those qualities makes you just as ignorant as AE is for portraying gays the way they did. You shouldn't be so straight-hating. Just because we aren't gay doesn't mean we all hate gays.
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Wednesday 12 September
By richard
Have you seen any recent Eddie Murphy movies? Ugg, he is doing no favors for his people.
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Saturday 22 September
By MM
I happened to click onto this while surfing the internet and I thought it was really interesting to read all the comments posted here--even the homophobic one. (I obviously don't agree with it, but, despite its not being a very *intelligent* comment, it was food for thought nonetheless.) As a straight girl, I agree that the negative gay stereotyping really needs to go. I have plenty of gay friends that couldn't care less about the latest fashions, have no interest in being interior designers or makeup artists or hairdressers, and so on. They ARE, however, fun, talented, and caring friends of mine that I am lucky to have.
It's really sad that our society feels the need to, when evaluating a person's character, make the distinction between "gay" and "straight." I don't choose my friends based on their sexual orientation; I choose them based on their personalities. It would be great if the rest of the world could see people as PEOPLE and not as just GAY or STRAIGHT.
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Wednesday 12 September
By Paleo
What the hell!! Does any human being actually look or act like that weird kid in the video!?
OK. I do honestly admit that I shouldn't be annoyed at people for acting like stereotypes because that might be who they really are. But seriously, people who act like stereotypes need to cut it out. You're making an A** out of yourself AND out of us.
Get a UNIQUE personality and live, damn it!!
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