Is Justin Gay? - Who Cares!
Since Ugly Betty premiered their has been a lot of speculation about whether or not Betty’s effeminate nephew Justin is gay. The idea of seeing a child portrayed as gay has caused a verbal sparring match and much debate among fans of the show and its critics alike.
Some people have applauded the writers for making such a bold decision and some religious advocated have been up in arms at the perceived threat to traditional family values having a gay child on primetime television could cause. Honestly though I could care less, here’s why I think Justin’s sexuality is a mute point.
Justin is only 12 years old. Why attribute any sexual identity to him as this point? As a society we tend to put way to much pressure on children to act certain ways and to meet certain standards. By saying that any boy who likes musicals and counts calories is gay we stereotype him into that role. Watching Martha Stewart and loving musicals does not make Justin gay. It just makes him a young boy who is unafraid to just be himself.
Justin is well adjusted and has a great family support system. His mother allows him to be himself without fear or consequences. Betty, Ignacio, and even Santos are their to support Justin and allow him to fully be a kid without labeling him. In the warm comfort of the Suarez home Justin is not encouraged to act more “manly” or to tone down his flamboyant behaviors. Through their unspoken support Justin is able to explore his identity without fear of repercussions.
Why do so many people think the character of Justin is gay? Maybe the problem lies in societies need to label everyone. It’s true that Justin is an untraditional male character but what does that even mean? On TV portrayals of children fit nicely into little molds. The pretty little girls who play with dolls and the cute little boys who play with fire trucks. But in real life children fit into many more modes. If Justin is causing a stir for anything it’s for creating an interesting and unique portrayal of a child on television that breaks from the cookie cutter mold we’ve come to expect.
If Justin was a girl and liked to play with cars or tools no one would automatically assume he was gay. Female race car drivers are not assumed to be gay neither are female bodybuilders or young women who want to join the football team. Why? Because we as a society have realized how ignorant it is to label a woman’s sexual orientation based on what her interest and hobbies are.
Yet we don’t offer the same level of protection to males. If anything we as women have been allowed to explore our identities outside the norms of society’s expectations but males are still expected to only act within certain defined roles. If their is any reason we should be debating Justin’s sexuality its this - There is so much this young boy could teach us all about acceptance and being true to ourselves.
What do you think?
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bodybuilders, football, gay, Martha Stewart, musicals, race car drivers, sexual identity, sexuality, society, traditional roles, TV, Ugly Betty
April 19th, 2007 at 5:47 pm
We don’t know if Justin is gay or not. Justin probably knows — most 12- and 13-year-olds have a clue about what sex they are attracted to, even if they don’t necessarily know what it means. I don’t think that’s important in the contect of the show, though.
What I *do* think is important is that Justin is a sissy, and he’s proud of it. His character is revolutionary in that the show celebrates Justin’s love of theater, fashion and lots of things most boys his age are not “allowed” to like.
Justin is an amazing hero on TV for all of us who weren’t jocks, who were more interested in the arts than we were in “guy stuff.”
Justin is sissy-fabu, and for that I love him.
If the story line does veer toward addressing his sexuality, and he turns out gay which, lets face it, he probably is, then that would be another fantastic opportunity to show TV land that there are gay kids and they’re cool. Who knows, Justin could save some sissy kid from suicide just by showing that it’s ok to love Gene Kelly and Martha Stewart and to think that a basketball uniform is a “costume.”
February 5th, 2008 at 3:11 am
I’d love to **** Justin’s little ***
*edited for language*
October 5th, 2008 at 11:35 am
does no one else not think that “Kunta Kints”’s comment is a bit inappropriate ?