Glee has always been a pretty gay show. A bunch of high school kids from different cliques find common ground when they are recruited to join the Glee Club. They break out into song on the fly. One minute they’re in the rehearsal room in jeans and hoodies, the next they’re on stage with costumes and props. And no genre is neglected. We’ve seen Gleeful covers of top 40 hits both past and present, classic rock gems, Broadway legends, even full episodes dedicated to Madonna, Britney Spears, and The Rocky Horror Picture Show. There’s even been mash-up versions of songs. All of this equals gay to the highest power. Adding to the gayness, there is of course the gay character, Kurt (Chris Colfer) With his perfectly coiffed hair, impeccable clothes, and heart breaking story lines, Kurt has served as the main gay character on the show. Until now.
Brittany (Heather Morris) and Santana (Naya Rivera) have long been fan favorites since the show started. Brittany with her clueless random quips such as “did you know dolphins are really just gay sharks?” is the perfect contradiction to Santana’s edgy, bitch persona. Yet they are best friends. Best friends…and then some. According to Wikipedia’s episode guide, the first indication of their physical relationship was the “Sectionals” episode in season one:
- A physical relationship between the two was first alluded to in the season one episode “Sectionals”.[6] Rivera sought clarification on the nature of their relationship from “Sectionals” director Brad Falchuk, who informed her that the two characters had been intimate in the past. Series creator Ryan Murphy told Morris that as Glee is a primetime series, he did not want to show them making out.[7] Interviewed by Brett Berk of Vanity Fair in May 2010, Morris stated that Brittany and Santana were simply best friends, and the show would not be taking them in a “friends with benefits” direction.[8] However, at the Television Critics Association Summer Press Tour in August 2010, Murphy stated that the characters would in fact kiss on screen in an upcoming episode. -
During season one, Brittany and Santana were mostly one liners in the background as Sue Sylvester’s (Jane Lynch) cheerleader minions. Or Cheerios, in Gleespeak. But as season two kicked in, all the characters started to gain more depth and plots were built around each of them little by little. And then the “Duets” episode happened. Our TV screens were graced with the image of Santana and Brittany in a very compromising, more than friends position. As if that wasn’t “OMG” inducing enough, the dialogue that followed made it clear that they’ve been getting their “sweet lady kisses” on for quite some time. However, it seemed like the excitement quickly dissipated when Santana states that she’s only hooking up with Brittany because Puck was in Juvie Hall and she “needs a warm body underneath her”. At first I was annoyed with this development because it seemed to feed the straight male fantasy that women just hook up with each other when they’re not around. But I understood it’s just a TV show and the characters are still kind of coming into their own, so I let it go. It just seemed like they were trying to not overstep too many lines and keep everyone happy. Obviously from the wiki blurb above, there seemed to be some flip-flopping going on.
But if there is one thing lesbians are good at, it’s fan loyalty. Hell hath no fury like a lesbian who’s fave onscreen couple doesn’t happen. So they did what every respectable lesbian in the 21st century would do, they took it to the internet. They posted comments and blogs on all the appropriate sites stating that they wanted Britanna (that is, the pairing of Brittany + Santana) to happen. And even more surprising, both Naya Rivera and Heather Morris wanted it too. (A clip from the PaleyFest 2011: Naya talks about the storyline) As the season went on, there were lots of sweet, though brief, moments between Brittany and Santana. From adoring glances toward each other to pinkie holding, everyone had to know something was up with these two. But we’re reminded that Brittany is dating Artie (Kevin McHale), and Santana has taken up with Sam (Chord Overstreet). So the fans were never sure exactly what was going to happen.
Which brings us to the recent episode “Sexy”. Brittany tells Santana that she’s confused about their relationship and wants to talk about feelings, like she does with Artie. Santana isn’t having any of that, and says she prefers it better when no feelings are involved. Hello, denial alert. But they do have a talk with Holly Holiday (Gwenyth Paltrow), the substitute Health teacher. Holly suggests they find a song that expresses what they feel, and Santana, apparently having had a revelation, is all for it. The three of them perform “Landslide” with a tearful Santana singing harmony and looking over at Brittany with enough heart wrenching emotion to soften even the most bitter person. Brittany is awed by the words of her best friend, and they hug. 
Later on, Santana pours her whole heart out to Brittany. She says finally understands where her anger comes from, it’s because she has feelings for Brittany. Feelings that she has denied out of fear of being made fun of and bullied, just like Kurt was. Brittany assures her that it wouldn’t matter because Santana would just kick their ass. But Santana is obviously still afraid of what she feels. This all fits the denial factor mentioned above too. Many of us have been there, and everyone deals with fear differently. Santana tells Brittany she loves her, and begs “please tell me you love me too”. Brittany says of course she loves her, however, she also loves Artie, and cannot break his heart. Ouch. I mean, OUCH. Santana is a wreck now, rightfully so, and Brittany tries to console her, but Santana is beyond hurt. I know for a fact that these scenes had to have hit close to home for so many people out there. Who hasn’t at least one time put their feelings out there, only to be shot down? It’s not fun. Now add to that the fact that you’re also admitting these same feelings to YOURSELF, and you’re not sure you are okay with that. Doubly not fun. This is exactly what thousands of kids go through every day. There are so many levels of stages of fear that goes along with being gay. This is why we fight for equality and against bullying. Because it should not be like that, no one should be ashamed of what they feel for another person, period. Yet you see it on the news on a daily basis, bullies, gay beatings, suicides. This is why the storyline is so important to play, no matter how many times it has been done before. It will never be enough until the hate is erased. Naya has said that she was so moved by Twitter comments after the “Sexy” episode aired and that she is honored to play this role. She wants to make a difference, and judging by what we’ve seen so far, I have no doubt that she will.
In newest developments, we learned today that Ryan Murphy confirms that Santana is in fact, a lesbian. Thank you, AfterEllen!
So that puts the questions of is she bi or just in love with her best friend to rest. As it says above, Santana is out “internally” but probably not ready to completely deal with it all. Again, this is something that many kids go through. Yes, we have seen this on TV before. But this is Glee and it has its own blend of uniqueness. I think when it comes to gay characters on TV, lesbians tend to be more pliable than their gay male counterparts. Gay males on TV are often just that, gay males. In fact, I can’t think of any time a gay male character was considered bi, or just questioning. But they tend to do it often with women [Disclaimer: I’m not going to pretend that I’m that well versed on every gay character male and female on every show since Ellen first knocked down that wall. So this is just my opinion, as I see it. Moving on…] So I am glad they have decided to make Santana a lesbian and take us on her journey of self discovery. Naya did such an amazing job on the “Sexy” episode, I can only imagine how great the rest will be. I know that it will be written and played equally well. Seeing Santana go from superficial bitch cheerleader to bearing her soul the way she did was the human condition at its best. We all have many layers that get exposed as we go through life. I also know it will make me laugh and cry, probably at the same time. Because at the end of the day, that’s what Glee does best. It brings out the silly, the serious, and the sentiment all in one happy, gay, Gleeful hour.
