From "Gaynews.it" of December 2, 2004 by Vladimir Luxuria
No more "gay" on TV
Or gays who fuel the prejudice privileged by the small screen: an intervention by Vladimir Luxuria
Jonathan Kashanian
For those few who still don't know, "gay" is the Anglo-Saxon definition (chosen by the movement itself) to define "homosexuals" (a term that is a bit too scientific and creates intimidation).
It is the word that the American movement wanted to counteract that fate of sadness, shame, and remission to which the political and religious bigots wanted to relegate us. They would have gladly embalmed us and displayed us in their wealthy living rooms to tell their friends, "You see, I have nothing against asses... sorry, faggots... it's just that in my opinion they should stay indoors... and I did!"’
“"Gay" is the translation of "gay," a lofty term from 19th-century English literature that our movement has revived. It's no coincidence that gay pride parades aren't funeral marches, black-shirt marches; on the contrary, they're parades of cheerful, colorful people who, in broad daylight, shout to the city, "I'm here too, look at me!" to paraphrase the title of a Gloria Gaynor song, "I am what I am!".
However, for some time now, "gay" in the sense of "cheerful, proud" has fallen out of fashion on TV. Today, the tiny screen offers the stereotype of "angry," meaning "angry, full of spite." But be careful: this anger isn't directed at those who trample on our rights, our hopes, those who refuse to recognize and formalize our feelings (just look at the difficulty in approving civil unions even in Italy, after all of Europe did so). No... the anger is entirely directed at this or that character recently released from house arrest from some "unreality show," this or that flop star, criticizing the look of a TV showgirl or the latest calendar of a panty-wearing woman who then meets the fate she deserves: hanging on the wall!
Let's start with the star of Rai 1: Cristiano MalgioglioIn the splendor of his pettiness, he's the star of the gossip on "I Raccomandati" with Carlo Conti: the media proof that gays are anything but cultured and sensitive! Gays have trouble expressing themselves in Italian! So much so that I've had a terrible doubt: did he really write Mina's lyrics?
Of course, someone might object, "But Mr. Malgioglio has never openly declared his sexual preferences!" Thank goodness! So after Julius Caesar, Michelangelo, Da Vinci, and Pasolini, no one will have the qualm of having to include Malgioglio alongside us.
Let's move on to Rai 2: the commentator on the Island of the Famous is instead Alfonso Signorini, the gossip guru, the tinderbox, a veritable living library of the resumes of shooting stars and starlets.
But here we are at "Buona Domenica" on Canale 5! The verbal clash between Platinette, Solange And Rocco Casalino of "Big Brother" with insults, low blows, and vitriolic verbal slurs. Platinette is at least someone with a background in radio and political activism with the "Pumitrozzole" (the "Pumitrozzole"), a keen observer and a professional (though I sometimes disapprove of his exaggeration and overreach). Solange is someone who is competent in her field (i.e., someone who reads more hands than books) and at least has never had trouble with the Finance Police... but Rocco Casalino... who is he? Where does he come from? Where is he going? And above all, "Why"?
A few weeks ago I was struck by a report on “Le Iene” in which the alleged bisexual and more certainly homosexual Casalino declared in an interview that non-EU citizens “stink”.
And in fact from the height of his perfumed nothingness he dominates Costanzo's Sunday container spitting venom on everything and everyone... waiting for the next coming of Jonathan of GF5.
I wonder if it's really necessary that television has brought together in such a short time such a gang of hysterics whose sole mission in life is to start fights... but then these gays, if they're harboring all this anger inside, it's not that they're living so well; there's something unresolved, a desire for revenge against the world! And besides, it's much more convenient and financially rewarding not to blame the government, the system, or religious power, but rather the VIPs, VIPs, and vipers!
Paulo Freire says, "It's in the logic of the oppressed to imitate their oppressor and try to free themselves from oppression through similar actions. We must learn to resist this kind of response." Perhaps I'm flying too high, but I think we can talk about gay rights and liveability in a light-hearted way so that neither ratings nor (what's most important to me) our dignity fall.
From "La Stampa" of 03.12.04 by Sergio Trombetta
A RIDICULOUS STEREOTYPE OR A GAY PROTAGONIST?
‘The image of homosexuals on TV. Grillini: We defend the rights of all homosexuals, especially the most visible ones like Jonathan, who are therefore the most harassed.
But is Jonathan gay? He's never been asked the question explicitly, and he's never said so. But it's clear that Jonathan is very effeminate, adhering to a specific gay stereotype: his tastes, the things he says and does correspond to a certain type of very obvious homosexual. It was clearly a deliberate choice. Proof of this is the fact that during the casting process, the show's writers were torn until the last moment between Jonathan and Salvatore Inguì, former Mister Gay Italy, a man with "normal" appearance and behavior, who was a worker and a trade unionist. But Canale 5 ultimately went with the stereotype. How did the gay audience react? What does the gay community think?
«Interest in characters with a hint of homosexuality is always very high among our readers, – says Alessio De Giorgi, director of the Gay.it portal – Just as it was for Rocco Casalino, for example, attention for Jonathan was immediately raised. The pages we publish on Big Brother and about him are the most viewed. Our readers' gay radar has gone crazy. The fact that his sexual tastes have not been explicitly revealed until now is typical of this country, where things are done but not said. .
But isn't the choice of a character who can so easily be ridiculed by the general public questionable? Is the image of homosexuality on TV positive? The Democrat MP Franco Grillini, honorary president of Arcigay, responds: "We defend the rights of all homosexuals, especially the most visible ones like Jonathan, who are therefore the most harassed and oppressed. They are chosen for this type of broadcast because they put on a show, adhering to the stereotype of the effeminate gay. Above all, they reassure the popular audience, the Pharisee viewer who says, as in the Gospel parable, 'Lord, I thank you because I am not like him.' It's true that many homosexuals don't identify with Jonathan. But we mustn't forget that there isn't just one homosexuality, but many. That's why Jonathan's rights must be defended. That's why I hope he wins.".
«I like Jonathan, they did well to choose him – he claims Daniele Scalise, journalist for Prima Comunicazione and editor of the "Froci" column in Giuliano Ferrara's "Foglio." "I have a lot of gay friends who are like him. I can't stand this kind of racism among homosexuals toward the more visible gays.".
Fabio Canino, formerly of Jena, host of "The Martian Chronicles," and who will host Jonathan in an upcoming episode, states: "Jonathan says he's not gay, so we just have to wait until he leaves the house and comes out as a person. We have to remember that he's 22 years old, and he's got a lot of confusion going on, and the question I'm asking myself is whether this media exposure will do him good or harm.".
In general, he expressed his opinion on the role of gays on TV Vladimir Luxuria, in an article on the Gaynews portal where he reviews gay personalities on video, from Malgioglio to Casalino to Platinette: "I wonder if it's really necessary that television has brought together in such a short time such a gang of hysterics whose sole mission in life is to provoke fights... but then these gays, if they're harboring all this anger inside, it's not like they're living so well; there's something unresolved, a desire for revenge against the world! And besides, it's much more convenient and financially rewarding not to blame the government, the system, or religious power, but rather the VIPs, VIPs, and vipers.".
From ADN Kronos of 03.12.04
TV, Jonathan: "Flattered that Italy has chosen a supposedly gay Jew.""
Jonathan, winner of GF5
Rome, December 3 (Adnkronos) - "I feel at the top. I'm overjoyed and flattered that this third-millennium Italy has awarded a Jew, an Israeli, and a presumed Ga.".
Jonathan Kashanian, winner of the fifth season of "Big Brother," doesn't mince words when expressing his joy, and even a little astonishment, at being crowned by the television audience. He claims he feels "even more Italian from now on." Jonathan, born in Israel to Iranian parents but living in Milan since the age of 3, says he "never had any problems in Italy, which I've known from north to south," although he "feared prejudice." "But then," he adds, "I relaxed and was myself: I didn't hold back my movements, nor did I give up my religious fast.".
Regarding his alleged homosexuality, Jonathan clarifies that he has never been with a man. "In general, I'm in favor of non-schematic placement. I find it offensive; it's a ghetto. No one is just here or there. I've never had any experience with men, but I'm very open to everything. Up until now, instinctively, it hasn't attracted me. Kisses with Alessandro? Kisses between friends. Nothing ambiguous, and that's also why neither of us have ever been afraid." The fact that "Big Brother" was won by a foreigner, that the runner-up is Welshman Catrina, and that two weeks ago Spaniard Sergio Muniz won "Isola dei Famos," for "Italian-Israeli Jonathan," is a very positive fact that speaks to the growth of this country.
‘"Italy has always been a cultural crossroads," he says. Jonathan is "proud to have managed to build good relationships with all his housemates," and is confident he can share something outside the house with each of them. As for his winnings of approximately €241,000, Jonathan says: "I still haven't realized I've won them. The first gift I'll give myself? I'd like a dinner with my sister and her family at my mother's house, with food cooked by her. And then, a nice pair of shoes..." says the young and very trendy man.
