United States of Tara

After watching an episode of Six Feet Under in english class, and analyzing the closeted-homosexual character of David, it left us wondering: are there character on every television show who a homosexual can identify with? I chose to analyze the new showtime series, United States of Tara...

Meet Tara: one woman with multiple personalities that she calls ‘alters.’ Toni
Collette stars in the new showtime twisted comedy, “United
States of Tara” as a suburban housewife who suffers from
multiple personalities. Her loving dysfunctional family supports it’s
mother/wife, and endures all the madness Tara entails. The question
that lingers is: can a homosexual identify with this new hilarious TV
show.

Keir Gilchrist, who plays Tara’s son, Marshall, is a 14-year-old
homosexual. To catch you up to speed on Marshall’s character:
Marshall is crushing hard on a boy at school who is a Christian jock.
Though it seems they are exchanging flirtatious gestures while
working on an edgy theater project at a church featuring homosexual
AIDS patients suffering in pain “in hell,” it is
difficult to determine weather Marshall’s innocent flirting
will evolve into something more. While not portrayed through any
clichés whatsoever, but through the sidesplitting realistic
plot and character of the openly gay Marshall, many adolescent gay
boys can comfortably relate to this television show. Marshall’s
character is so intriguing because none of the other characters
mention his sexuality unless it is integral to the plot. Despite the
occasional playful and loving insults Marshall’s family throws
at him, his family passes no judgment on his sexuality. It is
refreshing for homosexuals to see one of their kind portrayed in a
comical tone and in an accepting environment.

In the episode I am analyzing Marshall in, the family finds out about
Marshall’s involvement in the conservative Hell House Halloween
production at the church. Kate, Marshall’s older sister assumes
that Marshall is only participating to impress Jason, the Christian
jock and son of the pastor. Max, the dad, keeps Marshall out of
school that day to help him at work that day to help aerate a lawn.
While helping his father, the allergic Marhsall drives into a bees
nest and is stung multiple times. Worried about the ugly appearance
of his face all covered with bee stings, Marshall asks Tara is he can
skip school, but Tara looks deeper into the situation and
supportively says that if Marshall is interested in Jason he must be
a great kid and the only way to know if Jason cares is to show up and
see his reaction. At school while a girl is pointing out the bee
stings on Marshall’s face, Jason comes to his rescue calling
him, “so cute.” Later on at their homosexuals burning in
hell rehearsal, Jason and Marshall continue flirting.

All of the scenes involving Marshall are only a small portion of the
show, but they are tastefully done in a way that really allows for
homosexuals to feel connected to a character. The fact that Marshall
is a main character and his sexuality is portrayed in every episode
sets this show apart from most other shows. “United States of
Tara” really captures the modern day take on homosexuality: it
is gradually becoming more and more accepted. There is no doubt that
this show will encourage some young gay boys to feel more comfortable
with their sexuality.