Popular Culture Review Vol. 13, No. 1, January 2002 | Page 33

“The Whole World’s Gone Gay!”

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and conservative ideologies (usually as a means of critiquing the latter). An episode
from the sixth season, '‘Sideshow Bob Roberts,” well illustrates the battle of
ideologies on the show and its engagement with the politics of sexuality. In this
episode, conservative candidate Sideshow Bob runs for mayor of Springfield and,
with the support of Mr. Bums, wins the election over the liberal candidate. Diamond
Joe Quimby. It is clear, however, that Bob did not win the election legitimately.
Lisa’s subsequent investigation leads her to an anonymous source, who provides
her with information to expose the rigged election. After being inadvertently exposed
as the source, Smithers confesses his guilt at betraying Mr. Bums. When Lisa
observantly asks why he does so, Smithers states: "Unfortunately, Side Show Bob’s
ultraconservative views conflict with my choice of, um, lifestyle.” There is no
mistaking what Smithers means here, nor what the show is saying about the
relationship between homosexuality and conservative politics: the two can not
coexist. Moreover, whereas in the past Smithers’ sexual orientation was private
and apolitical, it has now become public and overtly political.
The most recent attempt to directly engage the politics of sexuality on
The Simpsom appears in "Homer’s Phobia,” an episode from the ninth season. In
this episode, the show finally confi-onts the specter of fear that surrounds gay identity
by having the Simpson family befriend a gay man named John, the proprietor of
an antiques and collectibles shop at the Springfield Mall. John makes a living
selling "kitsch” and items with "camp” appeal, such as old issues of TV Guide,
1970s-era toys, and inflatable furniture. Homer is incredulous that anyone would
spend hard-earned money on such "junk,” but in the hopes of turning a quick buck,
he invites John over to the Simpson house because, as he says, "Our place is full of
valuable worthless crap.” Initially, Homer and John bond over their shared affinity
for the "Junk” the Simpsons have amassed, and they quickly become friends. The
two then spend time talking and laughing together and, in a wonderfully ironic
scene, even dancing to Alicia Bridges’ disco classic, "I Love the Nightlife.” Despite
such clear signals, Homer is oblivious to the fact that John is gay. However, Marge
and Lisa both intuit this fact, and when they share this information with Homer,
his homophobia comes to the fore. Initially, Homer is fearful that others will find
out he has befriended a gay man, presumably because this would stigmatize him,
so he refuses to go with John and the family on a tour of the sights of Springfield.
In response, John is nonchalant—he does not react negatively to Homer’s fears,
nor does he make any apologies for being gay— and simply tells Homer "You
don’t even know what you’re afraid of.” What is clear to both John and the viewing
audience is that Homer expects gays to be readily identifiable—he indicates as
much to Marge when she chastises him for his narrow-mindedness; he says: "You
know me. Marge. I like my beer cold, my TV loud, and my homosexuals flaming.”
In short, Homer is upset at having mistaken a gay person for a straight one; in