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What is up with the gay flight attendant?

posted 21 years ago by Scott-101
13 replies | jump to latest

I think it's awful to portray all male flight attendants as flamboyantly gay men, and this movie is no exception. It just so happens there are a lot of male flight attendants who are straight and enjoy the thrill of flying and being in the service industry. I know flight attendants were originally a women's job but to suggest that in this modern era where jobs aren't limited by gender that only really feminine men are fit to be flight attendants is dumb. I'm not saying i'm against gay people or gay=girly, but the media just doesn't limit portrayal of flight attendants as gay men but flamboyantly gay men (a difference between the two is best exemplified by that show Will and Grace). Comments, anyone?

[–] cozmicchic2113 21 years ago

I agree completely. I suppose this movie recognized that if it was going to be a comedy it HAD to have a token buddy-buddy gay guy. And I hope no one takes offense to that statement. It just seems that in nearly every movie, tv show, what have you - there is the automatic stylish gay best friend custome made. And more often than not, these characters exist only to show off such rapier wit and stunning style to their best-friend-neurotic-straight-girl counterparts.
It irritates me because I happen to believe that sexual identity shouldn't be marketed as the newest trend. But then - I could be just over analyzing everything. I tend to do that...

[–] Nps6724 21 years ago

Every movie has stereotypes. The token black guy who is always cool, the uncool white guy who doesn't understand the token black guy, the good-natured guy who says something stupid to piss off the virginal innocent but they end up together in the end, the slut who always wants the good-natured guy but never gets him, the tough guy with a heart of gold, the dumb jock, the asian who is always a master of martial arts and always calm, and so on and so forth. Most movies aren't masterpieces and even movies that ARE masterpieces have stereotypes. It's nothing new. Now being gay is trendy, so it has become a bigger part of cinema. All it is is a screenwriter who doesn't care enough to write a full 3D character and sticks with his 2D caricature of a real person.

[–] dollvalley 10 years ago

He wasn't particularly flamboyant, and I have yet to meet a straight FA. It's not a stereotype at all in this case. There's even a term for them, trolley dolly.
I'm surprised nobody noticed the token black person in the movie then, courtesy of Stacey Dash, who played Cher in Clueless so wonderfully.

[–] redd4576 17 years ago

What are you talking about. It's like all movies (and even TV) now-a-days with gay men are protrayed as flamboyant. So, it was no surprise to me.

"You can't throw him out, I won him!"
-Joon (Benny and Joon)

[–] 17 years ago

[deleted]

[–] RobinsonSt33 17 years ago

In my Flight Attendant class we had nine guys, seven of which were gay, and all sharp dressers. LOL

[–] redd4576 17 years ago

oh

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[–] star168 17 years ago

Aren't you making the same broad generalizations you are accusing the movie of making? The film has ONE main male flight attendant character who happens to be gay. It is not a portrail of all male flight attendants as gay men.

[–] Scott-101 17 years ago

He's the only male flight attendant in the movie.

Disclaimer: This poster does not place as much importance as others on correct spelling

[–] star168 17 years ago

But that doesn't mean the movie is saying ALL male flight attendants are gay.

[–] thirdrow 17 years ago

Quite honestly, that didn't offend me at all. I thought the actor played the role with sensitivity. He does has a couple of flamboyant moments, but also a few nice thoughtful scenes with Gwyneth.

[–] Chibuyo 17 years ago

No, only men were allowed to work as flight attendants in the 20s. It was a mens' job.

[–] marcos_ho 10 years ago

I deplore your lack of common sense.