did not see this, as we don't have television. BUT, it gets tiresome to have to dodge sex at every juncture. i don't want to have to have a discussion about sex with my girls every time we are at a movie, see a television show, listen to the radio, etc. and for those of you who are thinking "gay isn't about sex" okay, then what is it about? i don't want to have man/woman sexual things come either, keep it PG in the earlier hours.

and here we go AGAIN with the "if you don't fully support my cause then you are discriminating against me": it's called a different point of view, everyone has their own. he's a judge, but he still gets to have one. if the show doesn't like his POV they should replace him next season.

i saw the dance and it was somewhat uncomfortable!

i mean i don't feel, and don't think nigel feels there is anything wrong with gay men, just they don't need to dance together (there have been gay men on the show in past seasons who dance with females/solo and they do wonderfully).

the problem is the dance they chose clearly needed a feminine and masculine partner, which was what made it uncomfortable with two men. you would have to watch it to see--but I wouldn't enjoy seeing that every week! (I think the same would go for two women trying to perform a similar dance). you have to see it to understand--but i knew nigel would come under fire for this.

I saw it and thought "oh - this is interesting" but didn't think anything else of it until the judges started critiquing the dancers. The judge's comments made me feel uncomfortable. However, watching this a second time, it wasn't as bad as I had originally thought. I agree the dances call for a male and female role so it's expected that the dancers play those roles - anything different could be confusing to those that know/understand the dances.
Also, I'm sure they wanted the media attention that would ensue. More media = better ratings

i was deeply offended by the judge's comments and will no longer be watching the show. maybe two men dancing together will "alienate" some viewers, but it is certain that the judges' homophobia has alienated their gay viewers, of which there are many. i know ballroom dancing can be very conservative and is all about heterosexual gender roles, and if same-sex couples want to participate in it they are going to come up against that tradition, but the disdain shown for these men was simply unnecessary and frankly deeply hurtful.

I thought the judges were going to be a lot more accepting. I was surprised by their comments.

What's weird to me is watching obviously gay men ballroom dance with women. It's such a charade.

Generally speaking, I lose interest when movies and TV shows don't have women in them. So, obviously I like for women to dance with men. But, diversity is very important to me as a woman too, and that includes gay rights.

It's not all about me, you know?

Bri

Hmm...I watched the entire clip. The only thing that maybe was out of line for Nigel was the "alienate a lot of our audience" bit, because he can't know that for certain. I think people might have enjoyed seeing it for a while.

But I do agree - the dance styles they were using were built to have distinct masculine/feminine roles. Both guys ARE strong dancers [and they're VERY good, I have to say], and switching those roles constantly is confusing to a lot of people. I personally don't think they needed to do the dance together, as in a couples dance, but they could have danced separately and been fine. The South African judge from that International Stars of Dance reality show a while back was saying this EXACT same thing, especially about males not having strong enough roles in their dances [and that was male/female couples!].

From what I can see, this doesn't have ANYTHING to do with sexuality or homophobia. It just looks awkward. If they had been doing a sexual dance, whether it was male/female, male/male or female/female, I wouldn't want to see it on TV.

I don't see anything wrong with men dancing. Gay men have dominated dance as long as I can remember. Men dance together in different cultures, we Americans are foolish in our man-woman thing.

When I see something like this, it reminds me of the olden days when men dominated just about everything having to do with the arts. The men dressed as women in all plays because women were barred from the stage. Are we going back to those days, with 'you're a homophobe if you don't like it' as a backdrop?

I thought the dance just looked weird. I don't think I have anything against two guys ballroom dancing together, but these two just didn't do it for me.

And...some of the men/woman couples won't do it for you either.

I saw the show and was a bit surprised how honest he was. BUT If he didn't like it, then he didn't like it. He was just being honest. Big whoop.

I guess if people don't absolutely love it, there's something wrong with them?

No, I think this show is just using peoples emotions to get viewers. Overall, this show is not that good.

I didn't watch because I just don't want to watch that show LOL. But I don't have a problem men/men dance, or women/women pairing. It's all good for me, as long as the 'leader' and the 'follower' role is clearly defined and both are good dancers (regardless gender) and step up well to the 'roles' of the pairing.

I thought the dance look strange, not because of 2 men, but because they kept breaking role and switching leads. It was very hard to follow. I think it would have been better if they had a definite lead and a definite follow. I could tell they were not very well trained and it became more apparent in the choreography. I was not surprised because every season Nigel has stated he doesn't like effeminate male dancers because it limits what they can do. He also has apologized for the "Brokeback" twitter, which I found most offensive, not anything stated on the show. I just think these guys weren't good dancers and I think all these attacks on people who do not agree with homosexuality is going to hurt the cause. We are a long way from 1919 but there are still Americans who have issues with Women's rights and despite the 13, 14, & 15 amendments some Americans still have issues with African American rights. Equality isn't an overnight battle but one worth fighting.

I didn't like it. I think it had less to do with political views and more to do with the fact that I think the woman dancer is just more fun to watch. I feel jilted.

lickety split- i do take offense to being told my sexuality is solely about sex. there's an entire lgbt culture with a long history including poetry, books, music, aids activism, and even a discipline of study called queer theory which many people don't get to see, much less even fathom because there is hardly any imagery of lgbt people in the media at all. why is a homosexual couple automatically SO MUCH MORE salacious and sexually suggestive to you then the multitude of heterosexual couples who are constantly on that show at that time of day? i don't think you can really come with a REASONABLE answer for that, except for ignorance and discrimination. this is exactly the kind of thinking that had books like "heather has two mommies" de-rank on amazon.com along with truly porographic material.http://www.queerty.com/the-gay-books-amazon-doesnt-want-you-to-read-20090413/

as for this nigel jackass, i think what he meant to say was somebody should be in the lead and somebody should be following. because i saw the dance, i didn't have a problem with it being two men, i had a problem with the dance being confusing because they kept switching roles, and i think ballroom dancing is a bit more regimented then that. i don't think there are any particular roles for men or for women, so i didn't appreciate that ignorant comment from him, as well as the alienating the audience crack when a sizeable majority of male dancers are gay, and i sure many lgbts and their ally's (used to) watch that show. he's an idiot.

Gays can do whatever they want and I don't give a crap! just don't bring it into my living room! This is my favorite summer show and I don't need to be watching this. This is not the show for same sex nothing! and if they would have allowed it "I" wouldn't be watching! gay rights? fine. gay marriage? fine. gay parades? fine. Do whatever they want, IN THEIR OWN SPACE. If I'm not seeking it out I would much appreciate it if it wasn't brought to me. Thank God for people who speak out their thoughts and don't sugar coat it for the sake of not offending! I thought that was the whole reason gays were fighting! to have their own thoughts and rights and now they want to attack the ones who don't agree! ARE YOU KIDDING ME?! Nigel had thoughts and they were spoken, good for him. I've dealt with a lot of gay people and they are decent and fun but i just don't want to see sexy dancing, or intimate moments, then having to talk to my girls about it.

@lickety split- and one man was straight and the other was gaym so it REALLY wasn't about sex. i mean, wtf?

being guy is one thing...Anonymous(E), not.

I'm sorry, what ? I have to be gay in my own space ? Who said this space was yours to be straight in ?

And being gay isn't just about sex any more than being straight is just about sex. That's the most ridiculous argument I've ever heard.

I'm sorry, what ? I need to be gay in my own space ? How about you be straight in your own space ! And while we're at it, who said that everything outside of a queer's living room is straight-space ?

And gay is way more than just sex (just like straight is more than just sex.) Two men were dancing WHO WEREN'T EVEN SLEEPING TOGETHER. How can you possibly tell me that it's about sex ? That doesn't even remotely make sense.

You are lake to the conversation, "Gay" was in regard to the bashing of the anonymous person's post. It's easy to say hateful thing with a mask on.

Now you want to attack the ones who don't agree! ARE YOU KIIDING ME? you want to fight for gay rights and shut the rights to free speech of the ones who don't agree? again, are you kidding me? I DON'T CARE WHAT YOU DO! DON'T PUT IT IN MY FACE!!! " oh he doesn't agree, they're idiots, ignorant, stupid, jackasses.... but please stop calling us names" give me a break! this mask has a billion face!

Gays can do whatever they want and I don't give a crap! just don't bring it into my living room! This is my favorite summer show and I don't need to be watching this. This is not the show for same sex nothing! and if they would have allowed it "I" wouldn't be watching! gay rights? fine. gay marriage? fine. gay parades? fine. Do whatever they want, IN THEIR OWN SPACE.

Can you imagine if this was about a racial minority instead of a sexual minority? That's simply ridiculous.

I thought that they were both talented dancers, but the constantly changing choreography was confusing as a viewer. I agreed that they needed to try again with new choreography. I knew, though, as soon as Nigel said that there would be hell to pay.

As far as gay material in the living room goes - they're dancing, not performing fellatio. To a five year old it's just two guys dancing. If it still bothers you, I believe that's why they invented the remote.

In the event that your kids do see a homosexual couple and ask about it, it might be time for a discussion. That way, your girls hear your views from you and not from the media. No ones says you have to be any more detailed than saying they're two people who love each other. save the rusty trombone conversation for another time.

I would heartily endorse an end to anonymous comments, for the sole reason that it's frequently used to gay bash.

I don't care what they do, just don't do it in your face, Anonymous? I'll be careful not to put my interracial marriage in your face either. You're a homophobe, end of story.

Um, why are we seeing such homophobia on So You Think You Can Dance? How is the premise of this show not enormously gay?

Stupid. They were really great together, and their dance was good. Get the hell over it if two guys dancing together gives you the creeps.

b1uebunn, I disagree about the dance, but you make a good point - isn't the premise of a dance show kind of more likely to appeal to a homosexual male audience than say, The West Wing? It didn't give me the creeps, I just thought they should have chosen roles - constantly changing who was leading made it hard to follow, as a viewer.

spacekatgal, I'm with you about the comparison. And anonymous comments should be banned on "controversial" topics like this, end of story.

I agree with the above posts...I think what may made it uncomfortable for me was the constant changing of the roles as Jessy and others said (as well as the guest judge from that night on the show)...however I still think other styles MAY be suited for two males dancing better then ballroom? As Nigel pointed out they have the male finalist dance together at the end--just not in that style?

I hate that it has turned into gay bashing (on this post and on the show)--that is just so terrible i feel like the show has supported many openly gay dancers is not homophobic. Again, it was that the DANCE was weird--as others have said one of the guys was straight! And the judges gave them both the opportunity to dance the choreography to see if they did better individually, and judge them separately.

I totally agree with everyone above about anonymous comments btw too!

He said that the same-sex dancers probably "alienate a lot of our audience" and that he's the type of person "who really likes to see guys be guys and girls be girls."

I'm sure it was your intention to leave out the part in that last quote where he ends it with "on stage" because otherwise it doesn't sound nearly as offensive as you want it come off.

I didn't see the show, but it's about time viewers were shot out of the comfort zone. no matter what end of the argument you sit at some group is going to alienated. if the show is 100 heterosexual then the homosexual population will be alienated and not something you can just shrug off by saying they are represented individually. it refreshing to see a shake up in the more traditional dance field. but i can't help but wonder would there be such a strong response if it were two women?

i saw the thing and it made me uncomfortable and my best friend is gay. I think it just made them feel uncomfortable because they are not used to seeing that. its not some anti gay homophobia problem... at least not with me

Well....that was weird. At first I thought it would be interesting because I wanted to see how a man would be able to handle the feminine role , but they just kept changing lead and follow and it was confusing... and I mean they tripped over each other. Do I think Nigel was being a homophobe? I'm not sure I know for certain he was being sexist.

Also saying that being gay isn't about sex is like saying African American isn't about your skin color. I know because I am African American. I am so tired of people avoiding the issue of prejudice by trying to paint a different face on it. The truth is it is just plain ignorant to discriminate against people because of the color of their skin or who they choose to sleep with. We are all people and we should start to focus on what makes us the same instead of what makes us different.

That being said, why can't a person have an opinion without being attacked for it. Isn't that what we're all asking for?

bransugar79 - Hello! Exactly.

Shouldn't the point have been whether the dance was technically correct or not?
Who really cares who dances with whom?

It is not necessary to agree with the everyone's views but you should be able to speak your mind without attacking another human being. When you say that gays shouldn't be gay in "your space" to what space are your referring. It sounds a lot like the private and public sphere argument used to keep women in the home for centuries. Keep in mind, it is still within recent history that interracial marriage was illegal and ab African American could be killed for speaking in public to a white person. If you think hatred and prejudice of any kind are ok then read the story of Emmitt Till, it will show you what horror can come from discrimination. Just my opinion.

**an African American***

Dance and the arts are probably the most accepting venues for the GLBT community. Nigel also made a comment at one point in the broadcast about how one of the dancers made "Nureyev (who was gay) turn over in his grave..." His comments had nothing to do with sexuality, only their style of dance. Trust me, the man has probably been around men in tiaras his entire life. He was simply making a comment that he didn't believe the world was ready to see two men doing ballroom dance together, and from a technical standpoint I think he and Mary gave a good critique. I mean, there are certain male/female roles and movements...

Why oh why Tres?

I didn't see it but I am sick of it already

@symphonee- what exactly are you sick of?

@anononymous jackassses- I WILL MAKE OUT WITH MY GIRLFRIEND ANYWHERE I WANT TO you can't stop me, because every space is MY SPACE. if you don't like it, turn your head. and for your information, being a lesbian is ONE facet of my identity. i mean wtf is your problem, i don't think about sex all the time. i have family, friends, work, and other activities that also occupy my life, so don't pretend to have some moral superiority over others because my life, my rights, and my ability to see others like myself reflected positively in the media is just as important as yours. you didn't express your "opinion", you expressed ignorant homophobia, and i have no qualms about saying it.

@sloane220- I am sick of the "everything is a bash on the gay community" turn this is taking. I am tired of reading Tres everyday and every other topic has some anonymous buttwad spreading their homophobia. I am tired of the fact that people can not even respectfully disagree on a site geared towards women without getting pissed and prissy. I check in during downtime to get away, get informed , and get entertained. This particular discussion is turning away from discussions to rants, just like I am doing now.

I

Well, that sucks. I guess special characters aren't allowed.

I was trying to say I *heart* symphonee.

Uh...carry on.

I don't see what the big deal is about two men dancing together. Though, all this discussion does remind me of "Blades of Glory", the way people automatically assume that dancing together = GAYSEXTIME!!!1 Which is pretty much what that whole movie was making fun of.

And I don't see how sexuality has EVERYTHING to do with sex. I'm straight. But that's not only because I want to have sex with men, it's a multitude of different things.

And I still don't get the taboo of telling kids about different orientations. If someone's gay, they're gay. Telling them "sometimes men date men and women date women" isn't going to make them gay. Just more accepting of a minority group. And if you don't want to teach your kids about sex, then don't take them to movies with sex in them. It's not that hard. There's a ratings board, a list of reasons for a rating on every box, and a whole host of movie review sites like IMDB, Rotten Tomatoes and even CAP Christian Ministries (which is actually a very good website for just a breakdown of content in movies for concerned parents, even if you aren't Christian). Buck up and time to be a responsible parent.

As for gay space and "your" space. Since when are they separate? I didn't know that gay people weren't allowed on TV anymore lest they invade your living room and make you catch "the gay".

Also: I totally didn't get the homophobe vibe from his comments. I think he was just talking about the terrible choreography and the fact that neither of them had a defined role, and would have liked to have seen the "two masculine energies" that BOTH the dancers were talking about rather than a muddied "masculine-feminine energy" that BOTH dancers were admitting. Not because of homophobic feelings, but because neither of them really seemed to be fulfilling either role and, frankly, danced rather poorly together (while both being very talented dancers).

I didnt have a problem with one of them being gay, I had a problem with them thinking they could ballroom dance and keep switching the roles, it was awkward, messy, and ridiculous.

Dance is as gay as the day is long. Frankly I kinda thought Nigel was gay. I thought the things he said were insensitive and yes, homophobic. I would have respected his opinion if he'd critiqued their form or the actual dance, or just the mechanics of two guys dancing together -- rather than "ew, gay!"