239: Community’s Gay Dean Is Not Actually Gay

“Queer Studies and Advanced Waxing” (March 31, 2015)

In its sixth and final season, Community decided to explore the series-long running joke about Dean Pelton’s mysterious, complex sexuality. Henry Gilbert once again joins us to discuss how the dean is not actually gay — he may be a pansexual imp, after all — but in forcing him to pick a tidy label, this show does a good job showing how many queer people end up pigeonholing themselves in a way that doesn’t fully express who they are.

Listen to Henry’s podcast, Talking Simpsons.

Listen to his episode about Pride Nite at Disneyland on Podcast: The Ride.

The Community “this better not awaken anything in me” clip.

The trailer for Portuguese Gremlins, which is not only the best thing Community ever did but also a justification for the medium of TV in general.

Episode artwork by Ian O’Phelan.