Cartoons, Homosexuality and the Right Wing

Flush with its success in helping to defeat John Kerry's bid for the presidency in the November 2004 elections, the right wing has chosen its next target: Spongebob Squarepants! As Oliver Willis has pointed out, only an "effing idiot" would fail to underestimate the ridicule one would receive from denouncing the alleged homosexuality of the fictional, animated, wildly popular icon of thumb-sucking tykes everwhere.



In other news concerning cartoon homosexuality, speculation is swirling about which Simpsons' character will be revealed as gay this season. Of course, when the plot device was first revealed (in order to raise revenue, Springfield will legalize gay marriage which leads to one of the "recurring character" to finally come out of the closet) the attention of most Simpson-watchers turned to the foppishly servile Smithers, personal assistant to the odious Montgomery Burns. Other obvious contenders are Marge's sister Selma (or Patty). A more controversial pick, the Simpsons' excessively religious neighbor Ned Flanders, has recently been making the rounds.