Batgirl Is a Little Gay Boy’s Fantasy
Added 2021-05-06 22:16:59 +0000 UTC“Enter Batgirl, Exit Penguin” (September 14, 1967)
The final season of the 1966 live-action Batman series saw the debut of Batgirl, a twirling, high-kicking female hero created to get more girls invested in the series — and more dads to keep paying attention. But Batgirl’s creators didn’t count on the fact that they were creating the exact kind of character that little gay boys would become obsessed with. Thanks in part to Yvonne Craig’s spot-on performance, Barbara Gordon (a.k.a. Batgirl) became one of the most queer-friendly aspects to an already queer series, and joining us discuss her big debut is Glen Weldon, co-host of NPR’s Pop Culture Happy Hour and author of The Caped Crusade: Batman and the Rise of Nerd Culture.
Buy Glen’s book on Batman, nerds and pop culture.
Watch Yvonne Craig, Adam West and Burt Ward re-team for a 1974 PSA about equal pay for female employees.
Watch Lesley Gore rock a taupe turtleneck while performing “Sunshine, Lollipops and Rainbows” in the Yvonne Craig film Ski Party.
Enjoy Burgess Meredith’s performance as Golobulus in G.I. Joe: The Movie.
Watch Drew’s video compilation of every LGBT joke ever on the history of The Simpsons.
Buy Glen’s movie, Being Frank.
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Comments
I’m glad you got the shirt! Abs thank you, but we have already found or Kate & Allie ringer
Drew Mackie
2021-05-16 23:15:45 +0000 UTCFinally listening to and loving this episode. My MS in Library Science and I appreciate the representation. I also FINALLY ordered my Alf Says Gay Rights shirt! If you're still looking for a queer lady for your Kate and Allie show, lmk, and I'll post it on this fb librarian group where we've been having a debate about 80s tv credits for over 5 years.
Lea Susan Engle
2021-05-16 23:14:56 +0000 UTCwe're re watching classic batman atm. next series is the batgirl episodes, to 'looking forward' to them!
David Paul Morgan
2021-05-11 08:47:57 +0000 UTCI got to watch batman in reruns one summer and I loved it. Yes, in some ways it isn't a "faithful" version of batman, but I don't care. If we can have incredibly grim versions of batman, why can't we celebrate the lighter versions? Batgirl is my favorite character of the show. Eartha kitt catwoman is my favorite.
Caitlin Pring
2021-05-08 00:32:29 +0000 UTCHilarious episode. And once again, a knockout guest. You have by far the best track record for guests of any podcast I listen to.
Robyn Pavlakovich
2021-05-07 23:13:49 +0000 UTCI must have been an evil little gay boy because Catwoman was EVERYTHING to me! All three actresses are great, but Julie Newmar is my favorite. Catwoman’s costume was made of a material called lurex, so I assume Batgirl’s was as well.
Ryan Cores
2021-05-07 22:48:28 +0000 UTCThe movie they made between first and second seasons was my introduction to Batman, and to comics/superhero culture in general. I was in kindergarten so when I told my friends at school I'd watched Batman, I got "but you're a girl! Batman is for boys!" I tried to draw Batman during art time and the boys teased me for it not looking right. So I got mad, flipped the paper over, and smashed a red marker against it. The ink bled through and gave Batman spots all over his body. My dad framed it, called it "Batman with the Measles", and hung it up in his office to tell people his little girl was a Batman fan and fuck off if you think that's just for boys!
Claire Marinello
2021-05-07 19:44:44 +0000 UTC
