Deflate my ego!

[Killjoy]

Keep in mind that Sara hates labels, and that for many people "gay" is still a giant rainbow or pink label.

[JerrBear]

I wonder why she thinks it's so horrible. I was always so okay with my own sexuality that I can't empathise with her, since she doesn't really strike me as a homophobic character. So I wonder why it's a big deal for her.

It could be that she's half-asian. From my own experiences being half-asian, it's not that accepted in the community

Also, as someone who wasn't always OK being gay, considering the amount of anti-gay people out there (add on to that that some of those people can be, or in my case, are, family and friends), it's not easy being comfortable with one's homosexuality as a teenager. When you got people in your life saying it's wrong, it's hard not to believe them. Especially if you feel like you're the only one in you're community who is gay.

[JerrBear]

I like today's strip but I'm disappointed to see that Marshall would think that Penny would set him up this way. Sure Penny isn't a saint but I just don't see her siccing someone after Karen's boyfriend, no matter how much she dislikes her.

Do you recall how Marshall and Penny met? Penny was taking pictures of him and Aggie so she could simultaneously shoot down both Aggie and Karen?

And then there's this:

http://www.pennyandaggie.com/index.php?p=460

Didn't they meet way back at Karen's birthday party? Besides, I'm sure his impressions of Penny were influenced by Karen beforehand, and I doubt she was entirely honest. It's not like she hasn't lied to him before.

Though props to Marshall, I think he figured it out rather quickly (Sara's intent, that is).

Just to play Devil's advocate here, he didn't say she told him that she made herself all by herself. Marshall could just be assuming she did. It would be natural considering when he met her she was at the gym by herself.

[Songbirdsara]

I really wish truly "it's a choice to be gay" proponents could see this side of coming out. My best friend went through so much pain when he realized he wasn't what society deemed normal that I knew at the age of 13 that there was no way it was a choice. Why would you choose to do something if you knew your straight laced family (such as Sara's family could be) would ostracize you for it?
*sigh*
Poor Sara, I can imagine she's scared and freaking out right now, especially since she doesn't seem the bold adventurous "I'm okay with my own sexuality" type

[JerrBear]

I really wish truly "it's a choice to be gay" proponents could see this side of coming out. My best friend went through so much pain when he realized he wasn't what society deemed normal that I knew at the age of 13 that there was no way it was a choice. Why would you choose to do something if you knew your straight laced family (such as Sara's family could be) would ostracize you for it?
*sigh*
Poor Sara, I can imagine she's scared and freaking out right now, especially since she doesn't seem the bold adventurous "I'm okay with my own sexuality" type

Also why would one risk getting kicked out of their home? Aren't 40% of the homeless teenagers out there gay?

[Davidj]

Keep in mind that Sara hates labels, and that for many people "gay" is still a giant rainbow or pink label.

While she may have been annoyed by being "labelled" by the search engine, she was primarily annoyed that label was "gay" in the first place. No, I'd just say that Sara is one of those people who is terribly afraid of being alone. And even if her gayness doesn't preclude her from being part of the Bad Pennies, she'd still be alone in that she's the only gay person she personally knows. Assuming that the school en masse would be fine with her being gay that would still be the case. If one of her "outings" turned out to be true, if Riches two buddies started quoting bareback at each other, or if Penny and Aggie's mutual conflict was rooted in suppressed passion...Sara would be much more comfortable with being gay. Which of course was why she kept doing it.

[Songbirdsara]

I really wish truly "it's a choice to be gay" proponents could see this side of coming out. My best friend went through so much pain when he realized he wasn't what society deemed normal that I knew at the age of 13 that there was no way it was a choice. Why would you choose to do something if you knew your straight laced family (such as Sara's family could be) would ostracize you for it?
*sigh*
Poor Sara, I can imagine she's scared and freaking out right now, especially since she doesn't seem the bold adventurous "I'm okay with my own sexuality" type

Also why would one risk getting kicked out of their home? Aren't 40% of the homeless teenagers out there gay?

Good point, yeah, it's a crappy world out there sometimes But hopefully we'll see things drift in a brighter direction. I truly think "young America" has a chance to really change things. Most of us in the 18-25 bracket have grown up in a slightly less homophobic atmosphere, and hopefully that will have an influence.

[admiralshazbot]

I remember my own orientation crisis. It was more like Aggie's, when she wondered why she wasn't attracted to guys, but I was absolutely terrified that I was a lesbian. The idea of other people being gay wasn't scary, but the idea of me being homosexual was inexplicably terrifying. I think it was fear, not of the actual mechanics of sexuality, but of being different and of the unknown--in most locations, we see a lot more heterosexual couples at all stages of relationships than we do homosexual couples. Heterosexuality has obvious rules, it's what we're taught about and socialized to understand growing up(usually subtlely, but still).

[Killjoy]

Keep in mind that Sara hates labels, and that for many people "gay" is still a giant rainbow or pink label.

While she may have been annoyed by being "labelled" by the search engine, she was primarily annoyed that label was "gay" in the first place. No, I'd just say that Sara is one of those people who is terribly afraid of being alone. And even if her gayness doesn't preclude her from being part of the Bad Pennies, she'd still be alone in that she's the only gay person she personally knows. Assuming that the school en masse would be fine with her being gay that would still be the case. If one of her "outings" turned out to be true, if Riches two buddies started quoting bareback at each other, or if Penny and Aggie's mutual conflict was rooted in suppressed passion...Sara would be much more comfortable with being gay. Which of course was why she kept doing it.

Personally, I think she was more upset about someone assigning a label to her, than about any particular label.

http://www.pennyandaggie.com/index.php?p=294
http://www.pennyandaggie.com/index.php?p=299

[isobel]

On a slightly different note, I'm happy that Marshall seems to have improved in his personal-contact skills. He didn't wig out and walk away, and he explained what he was thinking right off the bat. He did better by Sara than he did by Karen-- probably because he loves Karen and had all the emotional baggage that implies, but still. No more running away and being all cryptic and weird, even in a very weird situation. Sure, he's probably not all better now and he'll be shaking off the Charisma damage for years to come, but this is a good step in the right direction.

[Maritza Campos]

Being different in any way is hard. Standing out is hard. It doesn't matter if you're too tall or in a wheelchair or have a lisp. Being gay is hard, and I Sarah realizes this.

[Killjoy]

Being different in any way is hard. Standing out is hard. It doesn't matter if you're too tall or in a wheelchair or have a lisp. Being gay is hard, and I Sarah realizes this.

There's that, too.

[Davidj]

Keep in mind that Sara hates labels, and that for many people "gay" is still a giant rainbow or pink label.

While she may have been annoyed by being "labelled" by the search engine, she was primarily annoyed that label was "gay" in the first place. No, I'd just say that Sara is one of those people who is terribly afraid of being alone. And even if her gayness doesn't preclude her from being part of the Bad Pennies, she'd still be alone in that she's the only gay person she personally knows. Assuming that the school en masse would be fine with her being gay that would still be the case. If one of her "outings" turned out to be true, if Riches two buddies started quoting bareback at each other, or if Penny and Aggie's mutual conflict was rooted in suppressed passion...Sara would be much more comfortable with being gay. Which of course was why she kept doing it.

Personally, I think she was more upset about someone assigning a label to her, than about any particular label.

http://www.pennyandaggie.com/index.php?p=294
http://www.pennyandaggie.com/index.php?p=299

Do you think she would have been so agitated if the marketing maching hadn't suggested "Hot Blondes Doing Trix With Pennies"?

[InkMonkey]

Sara's actions always seem confusing to me, but her reaction to situations is completely understandable, especially this one. I feel sorry for her, and hope she'll fully except her sexuality soon and bounce back.

[sopdet]

I find it interesting, actually that no one has stepped forward with the idea that Marshall comes to an understanding of Sara's motivations so quickly and easily because he's found himself in the same sort of position before. How many times have people here said they believe Marshall to be gay? Heck, even Marshall has addressed the fact that people often think he's gay. It could be quite likely that he did a similar kind of "test" on himself as Sara just did -- whether he kissed a girl (probably someone before Karen) or tried to kiss a guy, the important part was that his conclusion was then the opposite of Sara's, with Marshall declaring himself straight.

(I actually almost feel a plot bunny nibbling at my ankles now. I really want to kinda explore that idea. Why does fanfic hit me at the weirdest times?)