Glee Equality Project

Hello all. I wanted to let you guys know about the Glee Equality Project. (if you haven’t heard about it yet) It’s a group of fans that are protesting the inequality of the way the gay and straight characters on Glee are treated.

I know I haven’t been posting here, but I think I can safely assume you all couldn’t have been happy with this season or the way it ended. Now I know you aren’t shippers here so I want to explain this campaign. The campaign is focusing on the inequality in the gay vs straight pda. Now, the people involved are upset about a lot more than just pda issues and this is not about shipping certain pairings. It was just decided that the campaign needed to not be too broad because there are so many issues and it could get muddled really quickly. The discrepancy between gay and straight pda is glaringly obvious in its disparity and it’s easy to show (in videos and graphics) and it’s easy to come up with data and numbers. Trying to make it more broad was too problematic (it’s hard to make data out of Kurt saying he had nowhere to go after Karofskys suicide attempt and not being shown to receive any comfort or support from any of his loved ones for instance)

There are a wide variety of people involved. Some people ship Klaine or Brittanna, some don’t ship anyone at all. It’s not about who you want together. It’s the principle of the thing. If Kurt goes to NY next season and he and Blaine decide the long distance thing doesn’t work for them, then Kurt needs to be able to have the same freedoms with a new love interest that Rachel will have with any potential love interest she gets. The way things are now, we know that will not happen. What’s the point of shipping Kurt with anybody at this point since he has been completely de-sexualized?

The people involved are very impartial, well connected and are working on a plan for Comic-con. I think this is going to be noticed by the people who need to notice it, the media, RIB and Fox.

Here’s a link to the Tumblr if anyone is interested! It's ok if your not, I just wanted to make sure that anyone who would be interested would have the choice. Thanks for your time.

Glee Equality Project mission statement

Why focus on pda

Coolbeans3131 wrote:Hello all. I wanted to let you guys know about the Glee Equality Project. (if you haven’t heard about it yet) It’s a group of fans that are protesting the inequality of the way the gay and straight characters on Glee are treated.

I know I haven’t been posting here, but I think I can safely assume you all couldn’t have been happy with this season or the way it ended. Now I know you aren’t shippers here so I want to explain this campaign. The campaign is focusing on the inequality in the gay vs straight pda. Now, the people involved are upset about a lot more than just pda issues and this is not about shipping certain pairings. It was just decided that the campaign needed to not be too broad because there are so many issues and it could get muddled really quickly. The discrepancy between gay and straight pda is glaringly obvious in its disparity and it’s easy to show (in videos and graphics) and it’s easy to come up with data and numbers. Trying to make it more broad was too problematic (it’s hard to make data out of Kurt saying he had nowhere to go after Karofskys suicide attempt and not being shown to receive any comfort or support from any of his loved ones for instance)

There are a wide variety of people involved. Some people ship Klaine or Brittanna, some don’t ship anyone at all. It’s not about who you want together. It’s the principle of the thing. If Kurt goes to NY next season and he and Blaine decide the long distance thing doesn’t work for them, then Kurt needs to be able to have the same freedoms with a new love interest that Rachel will have with any potential love interest she gets. The way things are now, we know that will not happen. What’s the point of shipping Kurt with anybody at this point since he has been completely de-sexualized?

The people involved are very impartial, well connected and are working on a plan for Comic-con. I think this is going to be noticed by the people who need to notice it, the media, RIB and Fox.

Here’s a link to the Tumblr if anyone is interested! It's ok if your not, I just wanted to make sure that anyone who would be interested would have the choice. Thanks for your time.

Glee Equality Project mission statement

Why focus on pda

I agree with all this. I would like Kurt to be treated equally.

I don't care about shipping. Only because of the writers. I don't want Kurt as a prop for anyone anymore.

I am all for this.

ColferInspired wrote:

I agree with all this. I would like Kurt to be treated equally.

I don't care about shipping. Only because of the writers. I don't want Kurt as a prop for anyone anymore.

I am all for this.

Great! The best thing to do now is just spread the word. If you have a Tumblr or twitter just reblog or retweet.

Coolbeans3131 wrote:

ColferInspired wrote:

I agree with all this. I would like Kurt to be treated equally.

I don't care about shipping. Only because of the writers. I don't want Kurt as a prop for anyone anymore.

I am all for this.

Great! The best thing to do now is just spread the word. If you have a Tumblr or twitter just reblog or retweet.

I was doing that after the finale - tweeting that is.

And will be reblogging.

I will start tweeting again tommorrow.

I'm all for this but I don't have a Twitter or Tumblr.

Kurtsie4ever wrote:I'm all for this but I don't have a Twitter or Tumblr.

That's no problem, there will be things to do soon besides Twitter and Tumblr. They have only been up and running two days. Here is an e-mail or Facebook if you want to contact them in the mean-time. gleeequalityproject@gmail.com www.facebook.com/GleeEqualityProject

Also, I wanted to make sure you guys knew it isn't all about kisses, that's just the initial hook to get attention. Then the other inequalities will be brought up. From the FAQ

Why are you focusing on kisses when there are so many other issues and problematic ways LGBT characters are treated on the show?


The displays of affection are an obvious double standard that is very likely being imposed on the show by standards and practices at FOX. The writing and creative issues apply to the show across the board. They’re also very hard to address in fan campaigns. Everything is subjective. We could argue that LGBT characters lack agency, for example, but be met with just as many examples of straight characters similarly deprived. But for the issue of PDA, we can call attention to the double standard, we can provide quantifiable evidence, and there’s hope we can get FOX to loosen the restrictions. The move to Glee’s new 9pm timeslot, out of the “family hour,” should aid that.

We’re fighting the battles we think we can win.

While we’re using the striking imagery and issue of the kisses as a focus point, an attention-grabber, it’s the start of a conversation with the wider world, not the end of it. We’ve stated upfront that it doesn’t seem like the girls are allowed to have a conversation, and certainly haven’t had the chance to discuss the serious issues affecting them. Meanwhile the boys have had to contend with lesbian bed death and the like. We want to advocate equally for both couples and be sensitive to the issues faced by each.

We will be inviting supporters of the campaign to post about themselves on the Glee Equality Project Facebook. That can be a conversation about our diversity and our inclusiveness, about the things that drew us to Glee’s LGBT characters and pairings and the issues surrounding them that concern us. That will be the place to talk about those difficult, subjective writing and creative issues.

I blogged about this at http://recappersdelight.blogspot.com/2012/06/and-blaine-roommates-there-are-number.html

but I will repost the meat of my argument here:
1. Brittana, as a couple, has a unique problem. Brittany is an exceptionally stupid character played by a really flat, dull actress. If Santana is to have a really interesting, engaging lesbian love story, they are going to have to break this couple up and get Santana a better screen partner. Brittany is not capable, as a lesbian character, to be the standard-bearer her fans would like her to be. I submit that is at least partly because of Brittany's limitations as a character that this couple does not have a deeper storyline.

2. Klaine is a little better; Blaine's not depicted as being unintelligent, and while I don't think Darren is as strong an actor as Chris is, he does well enough to make this work. Unfortunately, there is a stronger mainstream revulsion to the depiction of affection between two men than there is between two women, and that may be what is causing the network to write them such a stale, cold, passionless relationship. Of course, Glee is in a unique position to help create an environment that is more accepting of love affairs between two men, and for whatever reason, they seem to be shying away from the opportunity lately.

3. Glee is on FOX, an exceptionally conservative network. Gay marriage is a very volatile issue, and this is an election year. I don't have a high opinion of Murphy's integrity, but I suspect he's caught between a rock and a hard place. This may indeed be all he's allowed to show us - but they certainly wouldn't let him tell us that. Also, Glee's ratings have fallen dramatically since the gay characters became more prominent. I do not believe this is cause and effect, per se... I think the ratings have fallen because the writing in general is getting weaker, and the rise of gay characters was only a coincidence. However, Murphy may feel he needs to play it a little safer to stay on the air.

IA. Sad but true.

CloveGlee wrote:I blogged about this at http://recappersdelight.blogspot.com/2012/06/and-blaine-roommates-there-are-number.html

but I will repost the meat of my argument here:

I saw this at your blog. (I miss the Celebrity Apprentice and think Clay was robbed btw)

The problem with trying to figure out what's gone wrong with Glee is that it's so many different things all at once. I agree Heather is limited with her acting capabilities, but she has done some good scenes over the years. They could still have made it work better in spite of that. Instead they give her storylines about cat poop and leprechauns.

The main problem is in the writing and what seems to be a conscious choice made to change the way they were writing for the gay characters. I don't think I need to explain to anyone here how differently Kurt has been written this year as opposed to the past. Even with Brittana, they had the "hurt locker" scene last year. They could have had scenes where Naya did the heavy lifting, but nada.

I still can't figure out for the life of me how they could hand Kurt such a crushing defeat and avoid giving him a crying scene. I thought they totally got off on Chris Colfers tears. Glee boggles the mind.

The GEP Tumblr page has been posting teasers, posts that make points that can be reblogged. Here's the Kurt part of todays teaser.

Agency. Or lack thereof

Lack of agency is a writing trait many of Glee’s characters have in common, and the LGBT members of New Directions were hit hard.

Kurt

“A hard-luck case of the gay-face.” Too much of a lady for West Side Story and not enough of one for Nationals. Kurt has been the target of effeminophobic slurs from different characters all season, yet he’s been forced to take the ‘high road’ and not allowed to defend himself

GEP

[youtube][/youtube]

This is the answer Chris gave today during the live stream of "GoldDerby" about how affection is shown on Glee. I think it belongs to here.



how affection is shown on Glee

i see many fans are mad at him, but he can't bite the hands that feed him and more over, he's being realistic that progress in the national media is progressive. It takes decades and generations to change some long entranched social attitudes. I think people should understand that our society is still not very tolerant (just look at how many states now have constitutional amendments against gay marriage) and that's the main force against showing equal gay PDA on TV. yelling at chris or RM won't change anything. the network excutives must take into account how advertisers feel, and advertisers simply reflect on the general public's sentiments. so pardon me for sound negative about this project but I think it's ill directed toward people who cannot do anything about it. if the show is any more gay the advertisers may withdraw in protest and that will be the end of hte show (of course Fox won't let it reach that point). The only way to change this inequality is by changing the society - it will be slow but changes are coming, and Glee is a positive force in that direction.

fantastica wrote:i see many fans are mad at him, but he can't bite the hands that feed him and more over, he's being realistic that progress in the national media is progressive. It takes decades and generations to change some long entranched social attitudes. I think people should understand that our society is still not very tolerant (just look at how many states now have constitutional amendments against gay marriage) and that's the main force against showing equal gay PDA on TV. yelling at chris or RM won't change anything. the network excutives must take into account how advertisers feel, and advertisers simply reflect on the general public's sentiments. so pardon me for sound negative about this project but I think it's ill directed toward people who cannot do anything about it. if the show is any more gay the advertisers may withdraw in protest and that will be the end of hte show (of course Fox won't let it reach that point). The only way to change this inequality is by changing the society - it will be slow but changes are coming, and Glee is a positive force in that direction.

Well, the people criticizing him are probably the same ones who always criticize him.

I think it's great that this issue was brought up with Ryan and now Chris, and they both acknowledged it and weren't surprised by it. They know. This is going to be an issue for as long as Glee is on the air I think.

it's not just a Glee issue. it's an issue w/ Modern Family and other shows where gay couplings are shown. It's a "social" issue. hopefully in a few decades things will change significantly. It's always easier to spread hatred and narrow mindedness than acceptance and tolerance. I hope the young people who are advocating for gay PDA on screen today will be actively involved in changing the social attitudes of tomorrow, because only then we will be able to expect true equality, on screen and off screen.

No offense or anything, but are the actors going to be pestered about this? And by that I mean Chris, because I don't see this fandom going after Darren or the others over this, or hating on them when they don't give them an answer they like. I'm with Claire that this is almost certainly a network issue, and the actors have zero control over it.

What I don't want to see is Chris getting torn up, or accused of not supporting Klaine, because he has to watch what he says out of fear of getting in trouble with his bosses.

^I don't think the people of the campaign are going to pester or approach Chris (or the other actors) with this, but individual people who sympathise with the project might. I think it already showed in the GoldDerby interview: there was a question about gay PDA on Glee then. And even though Chris answered that question very well, afterwards there were some comments on tumblr and forum about that answer.

Unfortunately that cannot be avoided, but I think without the equality project these questions still would be presented to Chris. This issue has been going on for quite some time now, the project is just the newest development. But I really believe the people from the project do not want to involve the actors in this: they respect them too much, and even have been defending them (ie. when someone suggested that the actors were uncomfortable themselves with having to kiss an actor of the same sex).

What I find appealing in this project is that they are trying to keep it as civil and respectful as possible. And I like that they are taking this issue beyond the Klaine and Brittana ships: it's about gay PDA in general on tv, not protecting favorite gay couples.

an actor who feels uncomfortable about kissing another person (same sex or not) should not be an actor. It's one thing when the writer/director suddenly asks an actor to bend his/her body like a contortionist because he/she certainly cannot do. It's another thing for an actor to defy the order just because of some personal discomfort. I think in the later case one can easily get fired w/ that kind of attitude. an actor is an actor. he/she will pretend to be someone else. even if chris is uncomfortable doing single ladies or wearing a kilt, he did it anyway, w/o showing any obvious discomfort on the screen. it's his job. i think for fans to accuse of actors not willing to act intimate is totally unfair while lack of gay PDA is clearly dicatated by network policy as well as the script.

Vir Cotto wrote:No offense or anything, but are the actors going to be pestered about this? And by that I mean Chris, because I don't see this fandom going after Darren or the others over this, or hating on them when they don't give them an answer they like. I'm with Claire that this is almost certainly a network issue, and the actors have zero control over it.

What I don't want to see is Chris getting torn up, or accused of not supporting Klaine, because he has to watch what he says out of fear of getting in trouble with his bosses.

I can tell you the answer is definitely not. There is no one involved in running the GEP who would want to see any of the actors bothered about this. They are focusing in on the writers and Fox. They are bending over backwards to try to not offend or disclude any fans. (is disclude a word? )

As far as Chris's Gold Derby interview, I saw very few questions that were tweeted for Chris that had anything to do with the pda issue. However, a couple weeks ago when Ryan was doing his, they were deluged by those kinds of questions and most of them mentioned Klaine or Kurt. So of course this guy was going to ask. I think Chris's response was fine. (and btw, I love how everyone thinks him calling his fans perverts is like a term of endearment instead of being offensive. Chris has such a good relationship with his fans )

I am curious. what kinds of twitter questions were mostly asked by fans for the Gold Derby Interview?

fantastica wrote:I am curious. what kinds of twitter questions were mostly asked by fans for the Gold Derby Interview?

I didn't look at them during the interview (which apparently there were many about his hair, bed and cat ) but the ones I saw tweeted before hand were mostly the same kind of random, silly questions he gets asked on his twitter. I remember thinking to myself that no way was the Gold Derby guy was going to ask any of those kinds of questions. There were some asking about SBL and LoS, and a number asking about season 4 and how much her was going to be on. I was relieved to see he wasn't bombarded with controversial questions about Chris, Kurt or Glee or too many complaints. Pretty harmless stuff.

thanks. i would have asked about his cat too.

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awwww, so cute!!!!!!!!!!!!!! If you don't mind I would "steal" it and place it in the cat thread for permanent worship.

There's a cat thread? Be my guest.