Ally McBeal and bisexuality
I'm watching Ally McBeal on Netflix, because I was hoping to rewatch the RDJ episodes - alas, they only go up to season 3.
I'd forgotten how clever and funny the writing was, and how many big names guest starred on it.
Just got to an episode in season 3 called "Pursuit of Loneliness" and I am astounded by how they handled the topic of bisexuality. Previous to this, the topic has been touched on as a 'tee hee maybe Ally and Ling are bi..NAAAAAAAAAAAAAH they're just curious, they really like MEN!' In this episode, though, a man Ally is considering dating tells her that he's bisexual, and it freaks her the heck out.
I can't find any free video of the episode, but here's the dialogue:
Ally: "The truth is, I don't actually date, not for the fun of it. I more like audition potential husbands and if I don't see any potential, I don't waste my time."
Hammond: "And you see no potential in me because I'm bisexual."
Ally says that she supposes she associates a lifestyle of promiscuity with bisexuality. "I suppose I'm insecure that a bisexual man has sexual needs that I can't fulfill. I suppose I like to think of my husband taking my son to a ball game and not having to worry about whether daddy is checking out the pitcher's glutes. I suppose I'm nervous about my kids being teased because of their father's sexual…….I suppose I'm worried about diseases. I suppose in the end, I'm far more homophobic than I ever imagined."
Hammond: "When any person gets married, he or she pledges fidelity. For you to assume a bisexual person is less able to be monogamous, that is a prejudice. As for taking my son to a ball game, well, if your straight husband took your daughter to a women's basketball game, and you were concerned about daddy checking out the point guard's glutes, you'd have issues to work out with your husband, straight or not. As for your fears of your kids being teased, that's cowardice. Your fears of disease, ignorance, bias, take your pick. As for your all-too-comfortable resignation to being homophobic, without the will to root out the why or the compulsion to address it, that's as sad as it is inexcusable."
I nearly cheered, y'all.
In the end, Ally realizes she can't get past her prejudice, despite her own kissing of two other female characters on the show.
I wish I could find this clip. And then I wish I could share the heck out of it.
I'd forgotten how clever and funny the writing was, and how many big names guest starred on it.
Just got to an episode in season 3 called "Pursuit of Loneliness" and I am astounded by how they handled the topic of bisexuality. Previous to this, the topic has been touched on as a 'tee hee maybe Ally and Ling are bi..NAAAAAAAAAAAAAH they're just curious, they really like MEN!' In this episode, though, a man Ally is considering dating tells her that he's bisexual, and it freaks her the heck out.
I can't find any free video of the episode, but here's the dialogue:
Ally: "The truth is, I don't actually date, not for the fun of it. I more like audition potential husbands and if I don't see any potential, I don't waste my time."
Hammond: "And you see no potential in me because I'm bisexual."
Ally says that she supposes she associates a lifestyle of promiscuity with bisexuality. "I suppose I'm insecure that a bisexual man has sexual needs that I can't fulfill. I suppose I like to think of my husband taking my son to a ball game and not having to worry about whether daddy is checking out the pitcher's glutes. I suppose I'm nervous about my kids being teased because of their father's sexual…….I suppose I'm worried about diseases. I suppose in the end, I'm far more homophobic than I ever imagined."
Hammond: "When any person gets married, he or she pledges fidelity. For you to assume a bisexual person is less able to be monogamous, that is a prejudice. As for taking my son to a ball game, well, if your straight husband took your daughter to a women's basketball game, and you were concerned about daddy checking out the point guard's glutes, you'd have issues to work out with your husband, straight or not. As for your fears of your kids being teased, that's cowardice. Your fears of disease, ignorance, bias, take your pick. As for your all-too-comfortable resignation to being homophobic, without the will to root out the why or the compulsion to address it, that's as sad as it is inexcusable."
I nearly cheered, y'all.
In the end, Ally realizes she can't get past her prejudice, despite her own kissing of two other female characters on the show.
I wish I could find this clip. And then I wish I could share the heck out of it.