I’m a big fan of the webcomic Diesel Sweeties by Richard Stevens, but today’s comic made me cringe.
Here’s the final panel of the comic:
I’m not one to decry an artist’s entire collected works over one bad or tasteless moment. (What do I look like? The Vatican?) Diesel Sweeties is usually a very tolerant and progressive—not to mention hilarious—comic, but this comic brought up a serious question:
Does Richard Stevens really think that being bisexual is really, as his character Indie Rock Pete says, “a much better value,” than being gay? I’ve heard some unpleasant dialogue in the South that was much like this, usually along the lines of, “Well, at least he likes pussy too,” or, “It’s only half as bad,” but to see that sentiment echoed in a progressive webcomic as the punch line of a joke is just tacky.
I understand that this joke would be killed if the punch line was replaced with, “It doesn’t necessarily mean you’re gay, Clango, but if you discover that you are gay, bisexual or transgendered, that would be just fine with me!” But sometimes if you can’t change a joke to make it less offensive or divisive, it’s probably best to not do the joke at all.
Also, I’m not going to argue that I was offended by Clango’s subtle fear that he might have had (GASP!) a gay thought about Indie Rock Pete’s exposed nether-regions, but it really doesn’t help people who are struggling to find their sexual identity to see moments like this as something to be feared or ashamed of instead of the start of a journey into honest exploration of one’s self.
I would like to state, for the record, that I’m not easily offended and I usually groan when I hear news stories about some gay group getting up in arms over a tiny gay joke in a TV show… but this was just unexpected and unappreciated.
Richard Stevens, I really want to know if you feel that bisexuals have “a better value” than gay people, and if not, why would you use such a commonly-held and poisonous belief as the punch line (rather than the butt of) a joke? If this was the first comic I ever saw of yours, I wouldn’t read on.
I think you’re kind of overreaching with this one Reed. The better value joke is not a negative view on gay people, it’s the joke that being Bi gets you laid more than anyone else. Even straight people. Actually, the joke used to be that being bi just just plain greedy.
It’s not true sadly (or maybe I’m just really crappy at being bi). And pretty much everyone makes it, most especially my friends that are totally gay.
In summery, chill out dude..
Comment by peter "letsburn00" Hillier — 25 June 2009 @ 3:19 am
Stevens is usually much better with his wording. I thought about that as an explanation, but it just didn’t fit the last line. Although I’m glad to know that “better” in your mind equates to “more sex.” Gives me extra incentive to visit Australia. No… scratch that… that came off creepier than intended.
I stand by my post, if only because it gives me an excuse to make, “How can they possibly be better if they still go for the vagoo,” jokes in the comments. It’s not that gays and bisexuals are equal… it’s that I’m better than you. </sarcasm>
Comment by Rev. J. Reed Braden — 25 June 2009 @ 3:26 am
Sadly Reed, a visit by you to perth wouldn’t be that successful in that dept (well, apart from me taking you out to gay clubs). Ironically, the success stemmed from my best friend deciding last month that she wasn’t entirely gay and wanted a little more value from me, if you get my drift.
Comment by peter "letsburn00" Hillier — 25 June 2009 @ 3:59 am
I’ll cut a bitch. I’ve been known to cut a bitch. Should I cut a bitch?
Note: The official statement of John Reed Braden and Homosecular Gaytheist is that Mr. Braden has never, “Cut a bitch.”
Comment by Rev. J. Reed Braden — 25 June 2009 @ 4:03 am
Nah, she’d totally kick your ass. Former lesbian who can do freaky ballet dancer level stuff with her body. At least until you properly quit smoking she’d be able to kick you ass.
See how helpful I am, one more reason for you to quit.It’ll dramatically increase your own ease of cutting a bitch if you so wish. Though I don’t recommend cuttin anyone as a general rule
Comment by peter "letsburn00" Hillier — 25 June 2009 @ 9:16 am
I’m also confused as to how you consider carnal association with internal genitalia a “success”.
Comment by Rev. J. Reed Braden — 25 June 2009 @ 4:07 am
Technically, the anus is also internal genitalia, especially when you have carnal association with it. And I’m guessing you classify it as success as well. Plus women get the most success from when having association with their external genitalia actually.
Comment by peter "letsburn00" Hillier — 25 June 2009 @ 9:13 am
… The anus is genitalia?
Comment by Rev. J. Reed Braden — 25 June 2009 @ 1:15 pm
I think that it’s definitely what Monty python would refer to as “the naughty bits”. Technically no, but in terms of social perception, it is.
Comment by peter "letsburn00" Hillier — 26 June 2009 @ 9:04 am
You’ve heard “it’s only half as bad”?
I’ve never heard this sentiment expressed anywhere in the US (and I’ve traveled around quite a bit). Let alone in the South.
Granted this is assuming we’re talking about bisexual males. Bisexual females are seen much more positively as those with fewer than 20 brain cells to knock together (sadly a great portion of our society) think of bisexual females simply as possible avenues to threesomes.
In my experience bisexual males are the target of much more ire, if for no other reason than they’re hated by just as many “straight” homophobes, and they’re hated by a decent number in the gay community as well for “not being honest with themselves” or being “queer light” or “undecided” or any number of 1000 other insults.
Comment by Gamble — 25 June 2009 @ 1:24 pm