Magical Queer: Difference between revisions

In much the same way that people of African descent are made [[Closer to Earth]] with the [[Magical Negro]], LGBT individuals (but [[Always Male|most commonly gay men]], except in gay male fiction, in which they are most commonly lesbians) are made [[Closer to Earth]] by being a [['''Magical Queer]]'''.

The [['''Magical Queer]]''' has all of the wisdom in the world because s/he is gay, and has been persecuted because of it. If male, he is most often a [[Camp Gay]] or a Drag Queen, and can thusly bring culture to his heterosexual brothers and sisters. The male Magical Gay tends to be an expert on heterosexual relationships, even though he's never been in any kind of romantic or sexual relationship with a woman, and even gay romance seems [[Have I Mentioned I Am Gay?|suspiciously absent]] from his life.

The [['''Magical Queer]]''', by virtue of his/her status as both [[Closer to Earth]] and [[Too Good for This Sinful Earth|too good for it]], tends to succumb to [[Bury Your Gays]], even if it is to teach the straight characters or audience [[Gay Aesop|an aesop about homosexuality]].

This trope runs into the same problems as [[Magical Negro]], and [[Manic Pixie Dream Girl]], because it can come off as more patronizing than honoring. Also, it depends on the validity of [[Men Are Uncultured|certain stereotypes]] which can be considered offensive to ''both'' heterosexuals and homosexuals. However, on the bright side, it's arguably a less negative portrayal of homosexuals than [[Depraved Homosexual|certain other tropes]].

* Neatly averted in ''[[Scott Pilgrim]]'', with Scott's gay roommate, Wallace Wells. While on one occasion he responsibly ushered Scott in a healthy romantic direction, he did so through a verbal threat, and apparently only out of a responsibility to Scott's wrongfully betrayed younger girlfriend. Wallace himself is a flirtatious, often drunk, [[StraightInvisible Gayto Gaydar]] and not beleaguered for his sexuality in the slightest (Scott once describes him as "boy crazy" and his response is "I'd take offense at that if it weren't so true"). Rather than being a magical pillar of emotional support and romantic advice for the flawed-but-lovable straight white lead, Wallace is just a guy.

** The movie subverts "Magical Queer Pep Talk" moment -- Wallacemoment—Wallace doesn't make the dramatic "Tell her you love her" speech, but instead the [https://web.archive.org/web/20100805184400/http://www.hulu.com/watch/167529/movie-trailers-scott-pilgrim-vs-the-world---clip---break-out-the-l-word "Tell her you love her (and shack up with her)... because I just signed the apartment lease with my boyfriend and I need you to move out"] speech.

* [[Drag Queen|Drag Queens]]s Noxeema, Vida, and Chi-Chi from ''[[To Wong Foo, Thanks for Everything! Julie Newmar]]''. They find themselves stranded in a midwestern hick town and proceed to glam it up.

** It, actually, [[Double Subversion|Double Subverts]] this trope because they are the main characters, not just supporters, but then again they do act as [[Blithe Spirit|Blithe Spirits]]s to whole town.

* In ''[[William Shakespeare's Romeo+Juliet|William Shakespeares Romeo and Juliet]]'', Mercutio's sexuality is not made explicit, but he dresses up as a drag queen.

* Lampshaded in ''[[Modern Family]]'', where Cam has an irresistible urge to help everyone around him.

* Lampshaded in an episode of ''[[The Big Bang Theory]]'' in which Wolowitz is visited by the spirits of George Takei and Katee Sackhoff (playing themselves), offering him relationship advice. Takei's advice actually works, but not before he gets grief for it:

* Parodied in an ''Onion'' news article about the President appointing a gay man to the office of National Homosexual, whose sole function is to give heterosexuals relationship advice. See [https://web.archive.org/web/20100308043335/http://www.theonion.com/content/news/supportive_gay_friend_to_counsel Supportive Gay Friend here.]