Key and Peele on Gay Marriage Advice - Video Review

Assignment One- Analyzing Critique

The following is a video by Key and Peele on Gay Marriage Advice.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rtgY1q0J_TQ

The brilliant award-winning duo, Keegan-Michael Key and Jordan Peele, takes on the challenge breaking down the Dos and Don’ts of gay wedding ceremonies to a straight family in preparation of one; clearing up any perplexing, awkward queries along with erroneous presumptions. The sketch deploys a parody, satirical and hilarious impersonation in critique of Gay Marriage.

At first look, the outrageous stereotypes of what the straights expect in a gay wedding is absolutely hysterical to crack you up into a silly pool of laughter. The concept of gay marriage was portrayed to be so foreign to the present family members due to a lack of understanding with an overdose of stereotypes.

In today’s society, the world has come to be more accepting towards the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender (LGBT) community with a surge of support in LGBT rights such as legalizing same-sex marriage, anti-discrimination laws and other rights. However, many still believe in the labels and stereotypes given to the homosexual community, endorsing the othering homophobic mentality against them.

The common stereotypes being gays are typically effeminate, into fashion, theatrical, overly dramatic, do sex and drugs together and more likely to be sexual predators and pedophiles. Homophobes tend to marginalize the gay community, rooted to the belief that sexual orientation is a choice and that the homosexuals’ nature are deviant, impure, unhealthy and un-natural.

The parody is an excellent portrayal of the homophobic attitude some of us have towards these homosexual individuals. The ‘us’ and ‘them’ attitude underlined the entire exchange as the straights expected the traditional wedding customs to be different since it is a gay wedding.  

Larry’s family gave the ceremony a makeover in their mind, putting ‘gay labels’ on the usual customs starting with the gay sections, cross-dressing, gay presents, gay hymns etc. They exhibited homophobic behavior throughout the video such as avoiding eye contact with Gary, feeling uneasy and strange with the whole concept of two men getting married in the family, disgusted by a kiss between the gay couple etc. Also, the ‘straight’ family identifies symbols to be gay like rainbow, pony show, anal sex and fake priest for example.

The homosexual community is often reduced and misunderstood as seemed in the ridiculous questions raised in the exchange: “gay and straight sections”, “singing gay hymns”, and “throwing cous cous/skittles instead of rice at the wedding “,” buying gay presents”, “is it okay to gasp when they kiss to seal the vow?”

While Gary tried his very best to answer these excruciating questions, explaining that a gay wedding is no different from a straight wedding with repetitive emphasis on the word ‘straight’ to no avail. Similar to that of the juxtaposition of a gay couple and a straight couple, all attributes the same except for their sexual orientation.