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12/18/2008
Video: The Updated Adventures of 'Old Christine' plot lines
Back in pre-Prop 8 fall, we applauded the CBS sitcom "The New Adventures of Old Christine" for delving into a discussion about marriage equality by hitching up the two lead characters, Christine (Julia Louis-Dreyfus) and Barb (Wanda Sykes). However, rather than pleasing all gay rights activists, the show actually pissed some people off because of the way it inaccurately presented immigration issues, making it sound as if the ladies' marriage would guarantee that the born-in-Bahamas Barb would get to stay in California. Many informed folks accurately pointed out that in DOMA-filled America, this state-level marriage wouldn't count on a federal level when it comes to immigration.
But we, knowing that the show is largely built around the Christine character's well-intentioned but ultimately misguided action, suspected that this was a point that the show would later bring up to further/resolve this marriage plot line. Last night, the show did exactly as we suspected:
Now, it's unclear if this was always the plan, or if the show's writers caught wind of the controversy and corrected their mistakes. Either way, it's good they got it out there.
**NOTE: There was, however, another joke on last night's episode wherein the entire framework revolved around the visual joke that a particularly hands-y masseuse was a trans female. Seriously, sitcom writers: Can we just stop this childish, sophomoric stuff? Is it really that funny to anyone anymore that LGBT people exist? And is it really that much of a knee-slapper that a guy could have gotten some play from a trans female rather than one who was born into their body?
Your thoughts
As a lesbian in a binational relationship I am the 1st to shoot down the whole marriage of convenience when it comes to immigration for same sex couples--because it doesn't exist. Im so glad the show stepped up, whether it was an afterthought or not, to put the truth out there about how binational couples don't have rights because of DOMA. It doesn't begin to expose the hardships but it's a def step in the right direction!
Posted by: Kara | Dec 18, 2008 12:38:34 PM
I, too, am a gay immigrant to the US. Over four years ago, I began a relationship with the guy who would turn out to be the love of my life. But because my company merged with one 2000 miles away, I had to move or go back to my home country.
My favorite argument the anti-gays use is, "gays have the same rights as heterosexuals because they have the right to marry someone of the opposite sex."
Were I to marry someone of the opposite sex, that marriage would be investigated to prove it is not one of convenience. As soon as they discover my oh-so-ill-concealed homosexuality, I'd get shipped to the border.
For my money, this is proof that gays are not granted equal protection under law. My heterosexual friend from the same country as me got his green card automatically when he married an American woman. Had I that option available, I would be with my boyfriend and not 2000 miles away from him.
Posted by: DN | Dec 18, 2008 10:41:08 PM
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