Graham Norton given official warning after ‘homophobic’ joke about lesbians
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Graham Norton has been asked by the BBC not to ‘reinforce a potentially offensive stereotype’ when he made a comment about a picture on his show (inset left). On the show, Norton commented that the image looked like a “strange lesbian” and the BBC have been quick to reprimand the comic.
So this begs the obvious question, do gay men make us lesbians the butt of their jokes too often or is it all a bit of fun? On the one hand I usually don’t get annoyed when a gay person makes a gay joke, I usually just let it go or even have a good laugh myself. On the other hand, however, things like this do get between my teeth and make me shake my head. Let’s be honest, Norton doesn’t exactly have the grace of someone like say, Panti, who could pull off a lesbian joke and more to the point, this particular joke does reinforce the stereotype and he should have known better than to have gone there. I for one am sick of LGBTQ stereotypes and it’s frustrating in the extreme when we all work so hard to encourage a sense of diversity within our community to then see one of our own say something like this in such a flippant way.
Actress Ruth Jones (Gavin and Stacey) was one of Norton’s guests on the night and she actually called him on it, round of applaus for Ruth. Jones said
‘She may not be a lesbian, come on now.’
and our Graham decides to dig even deeper by saying
‘You’re right, she could have gone to a very bad hairdresser.’
So Norton had a few chances to change his tactic or to see that perhaps not everyone was laughing but the penny didn’t seem to drop.
Lucy Masoud, a journalist on Love Girls, which describes itself as a fun website for gay girls, says
I have to say that for me Ms Masoud is spot on. There are gay men who say lesbians are all hard and some lesbians who say all gay men are promiscuous, there are members of our community who make jokes at the expense of transgendered people and others who go as far as to say that bisexuality doesn’t even exist.
So are we an LGBTQ community or are we a bunch of people who can’t see past our own letter? Is there a sense of togetherness or are we just kidding ourselves?
You can watch the offending piece of the show here:
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This is why, alongside the pan-queer LGTBQ movement, we need to have separate groups for lesbians — and for bi and transgender folk, who have similar stories to tell about people who should be on their side either ignoring them or treating them with contempt.
There are a lot of people who’d agree with you for sure.
One thing I like about the scene in Ireland is that it is mixed and very inclusive but there is a need for sepatate spaces
I have to say I understand both sides. On the one hand, we should strive to not insult each other -no matter what letter (or minority) you are. On the other… can’t we just lighten up? Speaking as a lesbian, with short hair and who wears men’s clothing; I laughed out loud! Maybe the lipsticks will take offense, since it’s so hard for straight society to believe them… but really, I find Graham hilarious!
Sorry for the double post, but doesn’t Graham ‘reinforce a potentially offensive stereotype’ every day on his show? He flames more than most gay men I know… I don’t hear gay men shouting about that!
I hear ye Denise, I don’t think people can be offended for him being who he is, I mean stereotypes are true – just not true for everyone.
I wonder how gay men would feel if a lesbian went on saying they mince about or something like that? Many wouldn’t care but some would. It’s an interesting debate.
I can see both sides too. I can take gay jokes, I just hate reenforcing stereotypes in general, that’s one that gets up my nose.
LOL sorry ladies but you’re all being so nice and “I understand this but I understand that too”.
It was a joke and I think a “flamer” like Norton, after being the butt of so many homophobic jibes, has earned the right to crack a few. (Yes I did use butt and crack in the same sentence)
I think this is a case of “it’s ok for gays to joke about ourselves between ourselves but don’t let the straights catch you”.
Haha, you definatly have a point HAL, it’s just this particular thing that gets to me
Actually, I disagree with the idea that this is okay. Some gay men – not all, but the “some” make up for it with their bitchiness – love to mercilessly rip into lesbians. And whether it’s a sleb like Norton or some anonymous scene queen, or whoever else, I can’t stand it. It’s usually said in a nasty, misogynistic way, rather than in a light hearted way.
It very much smacks of oppressed beating down and becoming the oppressor.
Not acceptable.
OMG! This was hilarious! I love the line about being able to write checks at the same time! I’m a lesbian, but I really couldn’t stop laughing while watching this. Truth be told, there are many lesbians that adhere to the negative stereotype depicted here–they don’t take care of themselves, they have a hard time dressing themselves and have a preference for bad fashion and really bad hairstyles. That’s how they choose to look and that’s their right. But, it seems that they’re the only ones who find that presentation appealing. If Graham is pandering to a negative stereotype, it’s a stereotype that has some basis in reality.