I finally got around to watching this week's episode of Glee. While it wasn't perfect (Finn annoys me, so I don't really believe him as gay-rights-crusader-guy), it was kind of great. I should first say that I am a huge Marti Noxon fan. When my girlfriend told me that she was joining Glee as a writer/consultant, we both were all like, "hey, maybe she will make it suck less this season!" Not bad, so far.
I am just really happy that Santana has become more than a hot bitch who makes out with chicks sometimes. I'm so sick of random girl-on-girl kissing to boost ratings. It's degrading and cheap and disappointing.
It's disappointing because ever since I can remember, I have craved seeing gay and lesbian couples on TV or in movies or on stage. And when I would see two chicks make out randomly for a few seconds (often for the benefit of a dude), it said to teenaged-Jenna, "I guess you can kiss girls (if they're hot), but it's not hot or normal to be in a relationship with one."
So when, in high school, I finally saw "real" GLBTQ couples, I was floored. Specifically, I remember two things that really opened my eyes up (and they happened right around the same time). Willow and Tara got together on my favorite TV show Buffy the Vampire Slayer and I discovered Rent. I remember being so into these story lines and so excited and telling myself that I was just really into equal rights and I was very open-minded. Because, you see, I had lots of definitely straight friends who liked these things, too. So it totally didn't make me gay.
Obviously, I eventually realized that I had a different connection to these stories than my straight counterparts. And, even though me realizing my non-straightness wasn't quick or totally easy, I bet it would've been even worse without these characters.
Anyway, back to Glee. I have something of a love-hate relationship with the show, but I'm really kind of pleased with Santana's (recent) development so far. I think it might've been something that helped a younger version of me.
