Gay pride and gay, but slightly straighter, pride
Kurt’s running for class president, and everyone’s favorite dopey cheerleader Brittany wants to be his campaign manager! In her eyes, Kurt’s the biggest unicorn. What does that mean? According to Brittany, “A unicorn is somebody who knows they’re magical and isn’t afraid to show it.” How does Britt plan to highlight Kurt’s unicorn status? Make him the leader of the gay pride parade!
But Kurt wants to expand his image to something other than being gay.
At the same time, he’s trying out for the lead in the school musical—Tony in West Side Story—and the gay isn’t working in his favor. He’s undoubtedly talented enough for a leading role, but he may not have enough masculinity to play a leading man. Indicator number one: His song choice- “I Am the Greatest Star,” a song sung by Barbra Streisand in Funny Girl.
Kurt, we love you, but singing a song by a girl isn’t the best way to show off your masculinity. And the directors aren’t buying him as leading guy. Coach Bieste says she doesn’t believe that Kurt could be an alpha gang member like Tony. Putting it bluntly, she says, “Hummel’s too much of a lady.”
Embracing originality: Unicorns are unique!
Kurt, distraught about being boxed into a gay corner, turns to his ever-knowledgeable father for advice. Kurt explains that he sees his chances of playing all the leading male roles dwindling because of his inability to pass as a straight guy. And Burt, one of my personal favorite characters, tells it straight like usual.
“You’re gay. And you’re not like Rock Hudson gay, you’re really gay. You sing like Diana Ross, and you dress like you own a magic chocolate factory. What is wrong with any of that? It’s who you are.”
Burt reminds Kurt of what Brittany has been saying all along. Kurt’s unique because he’s gay. And uniqueness makes you special. A unicorn without a horn is just a horse. So Kurt may not be cut out for the typical swoon-worthy leading male. But that doesn’t mean he can’t be the lead. He just has to come up with a new type of lead. As Burt says, “Change the rules. Write your own history.”
Problems solved?
Hooray! Kurt’s going to accept himself for the unicorn that he is! Everything’s happy in Glee-land! Nope. Of course not. With all her encouragement for Kurt, Britt ended up inspiring herself. She’s found her inner-unicorn and is running against Kurt for class president! And to top it all off, Kurt’s cutie BF, Blaine is also auditioning for the musical. And Blaine has the swoon-worthy straight-act down. This could (and definitely will) lead to trouble in paradise. As Blaine’s audition song from West Side Story aptly predicts, “Something's Coming.”
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