I came home from yoga last night and son was watching the premier of the new show Power of Ten. It's a quiz show where contestants have to guess the percentage of Australians that answered a question a certain way in what was obviously a very dubious poll. One question was "How many Australians had their first pash before the age of 10?" Yes, the questions are of that calibre!!! I can't remember the result, but it was quite high. The presenter, Steve Jacobs, asked the guy who got closest to the right answer when he had his first pash. The guy responded '9 3/4'. Steve Jacobs then said, 'I hope you didn't go to an all boys school!'
Am I being oversensitive in finding this offensive, in thinking that we've got a long way to go before homosexuality is seen as not deviant? What does such a comment say to the kids out there who do have a crush on their same sex friends at school? Is this a form of homophobia?
I'm surprised by the intensity of my response. I might even write a letter to the paper!!
9 comments:
Hi Campbell,
No, I don’t think you’re being oversensitive in finding Steve Jacobs’ remark offensive. I deem it totally inappropriate. “What does it say to the kids out there who do have a crush on their same sex friends at school?”…it probably makes the majority of them believe they should continue to keep their sexual preference in the closet, hidden from their classmates.
A very dear friend of mines 14-year old son committed suicide because he’d finally come to terms with his homosexuality but was being badgered unmercifully by his peers at school. Unfortunately the teachers did nothing to stop the harassment and the young man decided he couldn’t live with what he deemed a “social stigma” and chose to end his life.
Steve Jacobs observation is a blatant form of homophobia and I don’t blame you one iota for being angry. It would be interesting to see what kind of responses you get if indeed you do write a letter to the paper.
Hi Campbell,
Here’s a link to a speech my friend delivered to the local school district after her son’s suicide. Stephanie Reed Perhaps you might find it enlightening, albeit it depressing.
It is homophobic. There are things people would dare not say in public anymore, but this, a bit more subtle stuff, gets under my skin more than brazen outspokenness.
Yeah, i agree, it's those 'casual' remarks which really reinforce homophobia. A blatant comment would make people react negatively towards the perpetrator, but in this instance, people would just laugh and subconsiously accept it.
Hi Campbell
You are not being over sensitive.
It's a completely inappropriate and homophobic comment delivered subtly as humour but the message is clearly that is wrong for boys to kiss boys.
Complain to the station
Cameron
Writing to Channel 9 would be more relevant although they probably wouldn't care. Controversy equals ratings for the networks.
Well I've sent off a letter to 'The Green Guide' - the TV guide attached to 'The Age' , here in Melbourne. I'll start off my activism at a small level!!!
Thanks for the link to that speech Miss L. It is very moving and calls us all to be hyper-vigilant to young people around us.
yes Campbell but it will be a long while [may be never] before the majority accept that it is ok for boys to kiss boys and girls to kiss girls.
I have a depressingly low opinion regarding whether str8s ever really will come to terms with people who are gay.
The problem with a comment like that, is that us gays find it offensive (because it is) but "mainstrain" straight Australia would just giggle and not give it a second though.
Another example of being tolerated but not accepted or embraced.
That said though, friends of mine who know Steve Jacobs claim that he isn't homophobic, so perhaps his comment was just a little misguided.
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