Homophobia in The Sopranos
Nov. 4th, 2021 03:21 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
canyonwalkerThroughout the whole series of The Sopranos there have been a variety of scenes showing that the adult characters subscribe to regressive cultural norms as they consider themselves pious Catholics. One of those norms is opposition to homosexuality. "It's a sin!" the characters protest. But it gets worse than that....
The theme of homosexuality and how people deal with it becomes a major element of the series in season 6. One of Tony's gang captains is witnessed participating in homosexual behavior. First he's spotted dancing with a man at a gay club; later he's seen having oral sex with a man. When the other gang members learn of this, most of them call for his murder. Tony, having adopted a new outlook on life after his brush with death late in season 5, recommends tolerance as the gay man isn't hurting anyone and remains a productive earner for the gang. But virtually nobody else shares his opinion. They're all calling for summary execution.
Episodes in season 6 spend a bit of time focusing on the gay character. (Actually, he's likely bisexual since he has a wife and kids.) The man hears that much of the gang want to kill him and flees town to live incognito in another state for a while. While there, in a small town that is remarkably tolerant, he develops a relationship with another man. Ironically, the relationship they enjoy is one of the healthiest portrayed in 70+ episodes. Yeah, one of the men is a career criminal, but he seems to be trying to put that behind him, and the two men show genuine care for each other. Seriously, it's better than pretty much all the heterosexual relationships portrayed in the series.
It's important to note, the show isn't preachy about this gay relationship. It merely shows it. Just like it merely shows all the other gangsters calling for immediate punishment by death. ....Other gangsters who, it must be pointed out, routinely break at least 5 of the 10 commandments. "Let he who is without sin throw the first stone," anyone?
I hope that by showing, not telling, the series gets enough people thinking about this horrible homophobia and saying, "That's not right. That's not okay." But I'm sure that even if a majority see the portrayal of homophobia as unsympathetic, there's still a sizable minority who think the gangsters are right.
The theme of homosexuality and how people deal with it becomes a major element of the series in season 6. One of Tony's gang captains is witnessed participating in homosexual behavior. First he's spotted dancing with a man at a gay club; later he's seen having oral sex with a man. When the other gang members learn of this, most of them call for his murder. Tony, having adopted a new outlook on life after his brush with death late in season 5, recommends tolerance as the gay man isn't hurting anyone and remains a productive earner for the gang. But virtually nobody else shares his opinion. They're all calling for summary execution.
Episodes in season 6 spend a bit of time focusing on the gay character. (Actually, he's likely bisexual since he has a wife and kids.) The man hears that much of the gang want to kill him and flees town to live incognito in another state for a while. While there, in a small town that is remarkably tolerant, he develops a relationship with another man. Ironically, the relationship they enjoy is one of the healthiest portrayed in 70+ episodes. Yeah, one of the men is a career criminal, but he seems to be trying to put that behind him, and the two men show genuine care for each other. Seriously, it's better than pretty much all the heterosexual relationships portrayed in the series.
It's important to note, the show isn't preachy about this gay relationship. It merely shows it. Just like it merely shows all the other gangsters calling for immediate punishment by death. ....Other gangsters who, it must be pointed out, routinely break at least 5 of the 10 commandments. "Let he who is without sin throw the first stone," anyone?
I hope that by showing, not telling, the series gets enough people thinking about this horrible homophobia and saying, "That's not right. That's not okay." But I'm sure that even if a majority see the portrayal of homophobia as unsympathetic, there's still a sizable minority who think the gangsters are right.
