Wednesday, May 30, 2007

Gimme a “G!” Gimme an “A!” Gimme a “Y!”

What’s that spell? GAY! GAY! GAY! Somehow I don’t remember this cheer from high school. But, if you believe TV and movies, gay cheerleaders are all the rage. According to new “Heroes” spoilers, the show will add a gay cheerleader named April in its second season. Ooooh, I hope she has some really kick-ass superpower. Like, say, the ability to leap a U-Haul in a single bound. I kid, I kid.

But seriously, what is up with all the gay cheerleaders? “But I’m a Cheerleader,” “Veronica Mars,” “Bring It On” (OK, that last one wasn’t gay per se, but come on -- look at Eliza. I mean, really). I guess it started as a clever way to tweak the stereotype. What could be further from the flannel-wearing, buzz-cut sporting, Indigo Girls-singing lesbian of lore than a perky, peppy, platinum-blonde pom-pom queen who is into real-life pom-poms, so to speak? Now, however, it is fast becoming its own cliché. Not that I’m complaining. You can’t beat the outfits. Go team!

8 comments:

Anonymous said...

Pleeez let me rub dat budda Eliza

Anonymous Lesbian said...

Let's not forget that Natashy Lyonne's character in "But I'm a Cheerleader" was a classic, stereotypical dyke in other respects. Remember the intervention? There was the tofu, the Melissa Etheridge poster... :)

I loves the gay cheerleaders! Not the straight ones so much... yeah, i discriminate like that sometimes.

Tricia said...

I just feel like all these lesbian cheerleaders are being written by straight men. Cheerleader on cheerleader is right up there with the ultimate male fantasy. Im tired of only femme, lipstick type getting any attention.

Anonymous said...

I don't know about the Veronica Mars episode but Bring it on was written by a woman and But I'm a cheerleader was directed by an out lesbian so I don't think that theory holds up...

Amanda said...

In a similar movie, Stick It (by the makers of Bring It On) has an "obvi-dyke" (as my friends would call her) as a main character. Missy Peregrym takes on a role similar to Eliza's as a rebelious teen breaking the sterotype of the girly gymnast/cheerleader. Not to mention they're both really hot.

Anonymous said...

Well, I have to agree with the comment about the male gaze - although bring it on was written by a woman it was directed by a man as was But I'm a cheerleader. Neither of those films, however was entirely negative - the first was simply a tool for laughter, the latter a film where lesbians can poke fun at themsleves and just have a laugh

xxx

Anonymous said...

Nu uh, "Cheerleader" was directed by Jamie Babbit, an out woman who most recently made feminist funfest "Itty Bitty Titty Comittee".

Anonymous said...

I'm a Straight male......but if i was a female id'e be BENT man..... bent...more bent chickas go go go!