POLL: Should Dancing With The Stars allow same sex couples?

[Anna]

Dancing with the Stars returns in September, and it's rumored that openly gay former boy band singer Lance Bass is slated to compete with a male partner.

Some folks have their doubts, seeing that ABC is owned by Disney; but how does everyone feel about the possibility?

[Shellhead]

Sure, why not?

[Ontir]

Does one of them have to be in drag? Those gowns are a BIG part of the whole deal.

[Black Atom]

Didn't ABC run Ellen's show?

[Ontir]

Disney owned ABC did run the old Ellen sitcom, not to mention Roseanne. They currently run Desperate Housewives and Brothers and Sisters, both of which have gay creators and a good deal of gay content. "Gay" is the new "Sassy black neighbour," and as long as it brings in the money, Disney will keep putting it on the air!

[Jmacq1]

I'll put it this way:

I don't care either way, since I don't watch the show.

But judging from what I've seen of the demographic that does religiously watch the show, putting same-sex couples on it would be a bad idea.

[Ontir]

It's ballroom dancing!

The demographic includes a whole lot of 'mos!

[Jmacq1]

And a whole lot more of middle-aged housewives and seniors.

[Ontir]

Like the middle-aged housewives and seniors who watched Will & Grace and got off watching Queer as Folk!

[Black Atom]

Why put a gay man on the show if that was the concern anyhow? Is there a precedent for same sex ballroom dancing couples?

[Shellhead]

Why put a gay man on the show if that was the concern anyhow? Is there a precedent for same sex ballroom dancing couples?

Does there have to be a precedent? America hasn't had a black president yet, but I'm ready to help elect one.

[FanboyStranger]

I want to see Emmit Smith dance with Jason Taylor. Let's see how far they get then.

[JohnPopa]

Why would he have to dance with a male partner because he's gay? It's a dancing show, not a dating show.

[Tommy]

If it was anyone other than that parasitic opportunist, I'd say let them dance.

[the goddamn batman]

The question asked is "should they allow it?" Do they currently not allow it or is it more a case of just hasn't happened yet?

[Tommy]

Why would he have to dance with a male partner because he's gay? It's a dancing show, not a dating show.

I don't watch Dancing With the Stars, but I do watch (occasionally) So You Think You Can Dance and I know the judges there comment endlessly on partner chemistry. If your dancing one of sultry, sexual dances the gay man/woman combo isn't exactly going to work well.

[howyadoin]

Show me a single non-bigoted reason why not.

[Tommy]

Show me a single non-bigoted reason why not.

Lance Bass is an asshat?

[kalorama]

I don't watch Dancing With the Stars, but I do watch (occasionally) So You Think You Can Dance and I know the judges there comment endlessly on partner chemistry. If your dancing one of sultry, sexual dances the gay man/woman combo isn't exactly going to work well.

Won't work for whom? The audience or the dancers? Because chemistry between two people is usually pretty obvious, whether is opposite or same sex.

[JohnPopa]

I don't watch Dancing With the Stars, but I do watch (occasionally) So You Think You Can Dance and I know the judges there comment endlessly on partner chemistry. If your dancing one of sultry, sexual dances the gay man/woman combo isn't exactly going to work well.

I think it's a safe bet there have already been plenty of examples of gay men dancing with straight women on that show. Suggesting that there can't be chemistry between a gay man and straight woman on a dance floor due to their sexualities is pretty ignorant.

[Shellhead]

Why would he have to dance with a male partner because he's gay? It's a dancing show, not a dating show.

Why can't he dance with another man? It's a dancing show, not a dating show. And even if it was a dating show, why can't he be with another man?

[Black Atom]

Does there have to be a precedent? America hasn't had a black president yet, but I'm ready to help elect one.

In ballroom dance, men and women have specific and differing roles and dance moves, including some that involve one partner being able to lift or carry the other. As far as I know, gay/lesbian ballroom dancers still partner with a member of the opposite sex probably because it's practical and how most of the dances were designed. I was just wondering if there was any precendent for same-sex dancing couples. In a same-sex partnership, it seems like one partner would have to dedicate themself to learning the moves meant for the opposing gender.

[Tommy]

Won't work for whom? The audience or the dancers? Because chemistry between two people is usually pretty obvious, whether is opposite or same sex.

I think it's a safe bet there have already been plenty of examples of gay men dancing with straight women on that show. Suggesting that there can't be chemistry between a gay man and straight woman on a dance floor due to their sexualities is pretty ignorant.

Yes, there have been. Actually many of them are quite obvious. And the judges (at least on SYTYCD) never will comment on it, however they will complain about no passion, no chemistry, that she's so beautiful and you need to feel it, blagh blagh blagh.

Just because some one can have chemistry (or fake it as seems more likely) doesn't mean that they could do much better with someone they have less to fake with.

[kalorama]

Just because some one can have chemistry (or fake it as seems more likely) doesn't mean that they could do much better with someone they have less to fake with.

Not sure I understand what you're getting at here.

[JohnPopa]

Why can't he dance with another man? It's a dancing show, not a dating show. And even if it was a dating show, why can't he be with another man?

I don't have a problem with two men dancing (or dating) at all. I have a problem with asserting that since he's gay he should therefore be paired with another man, as if there can't be interaction between heteros and gays.

[jesse_custer]

Isn't this like asking should the show allow people?

Discussion strikes me as pointless. The studio will ultimately be logical or bigoted. Let's just let it die and stay logical.

[Shellhead]

I don't have a problem with two men dancing (or dating) at all. I have a problem with asserting that since he's gay he should therefore be paired with another man, as if there can't be interaction between heteros and gays.

Ah. Good point.

[kalorama]

I don't have a problem with two men dancing (or dating) at all. I have a problem with asserting that since he's gay he should therefore be paired with another man, as if there can't be interaction between heteros and gays.

I don't think (unless I missed a post) that anyone was asserting he had to be paired with another man. The question is whether he should be given the option (by ABC, presumably) to do so.

[Jared]

Show me a single non-bigoted reason why not.

Fairness. A pair of two men will have physical advantages over male/female pairs. Look at Blades of Glory for proof. :)

There's no problem with a gay man on the show. I'm sure some of the pro dancers have been gay. Judge Bruno is flaming, and head judge Len probably is...but he's British, so it's hard to tell. But there's no reason that because a star is gay, he needs to partnered with a man.


Anyway, I'm more excited that Kim Kardashian is going to be on next season.

[Black Atom]

Wait. This story kinda sounds like bullshit. Doesn't the show choose the partners? If Bass were "slated" to dance with a male partner, wouldn't the people running the show approved the decision well beforehand?

[Jared]

That's right. The celebrities don't know who their partners will be.

IIRC, Steve Gutenberg danced with a man on one of the non-counted dances, because his partner had been hurt so he had to train with her husband.

Yeah, that's right. I watch the show. At first it was only because Stacy Keibler was on, and then I just wanted to see how Emmit Smith did...but by then it was too late. I got hooked.

[Anna]

Why would he have to dance with a male partner because he's gay? It's a dancing show, not a dating show.

Lance has allegedly asked to have a male partner.

[Michael P]

I would guess there's been at least one gay contestant on that show already.