Wednesday, February 19, 2020

A Sesame Street Too Far

I did not grow up with Sesame Street, I was a Captain Kangaroo kid. I also liked Shari Lewis and Lamb Chop. When I was raising kids, I didn't let them watch Sesame Street because I felt that the show was attempting to further PBS's liberal agenda. I never trusted Big Bird, but I did not buy the argument that Sesame Street was passively communicating that Bert and Ernie were homosexuals because they shared a bedroom.

But now, Sesame Street has come out of the closet with the revelation that a cross dressing homosexual man is going to appear in drag on the children's show.

From the HuffPo,

"Billy Porter dusted off his now-iconic velvet tuxedo dress for a forthcoming appearance on 'Sesame Street.'
The popular children’s program confirmed the news on social media Thursday, and posted photos of Porter on set. Some of the images showed the 'Pose' and 'Kinky Boots' star in the Christian Siriano-designed ensemble he wore to the 2019 Academy Awards. Others showed him grinning happily alongside Elmo and other characters...
Given Porter’s status as a gender-fluid fashion icon, response to the 'Sesame Street' news was sharply divided..."
"Porter told Allure magazine earlier this month that he felt 'silenced' throughout his adolescence by the 'heteronormative construct that masculinity is.'” 
"The star, who made history as the first man to ever be featured on Allure’s cover, went on to explain his now-fearless approach with regard to his career."
"'I’m a part of the first generation of gay men, ever, who gets to be out loud and proud in the world,' he said. 'My generation is the first. Bitches are scared. And they should be.'”
Parents should be scared enough to place a parental block on Sesame Street.

The only thing on T.V. that my parents wanted to block was "The Song That Doesn't End"! We sang it until they chased us out of the house.


Today, the only song that doesn't end seems to be "Somewhere Over the LGBT Rainbow". 

1 comment:

  1. Katherine8:05 PM

    I didn't let my children watch a lot of Sesame Street. Too many fast scene changes. I really enjoyed the half-hour of Mr. Rogers, though. It was quiet and soothing, and I could work on preparing supper while they watched.

    Putting gay/lesbian/transgender content in material aimed at preschoolers is completely unacceptable.

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