The popular Fox comedy "Glee" is set to air an episode this Tuesday
featuring two couples –
the heterosexual Finn and Rachel, and the homosexual Kurt and Blaine –
losing their virginity. And
even before it's even hit the airwaves, the episode has sparked
controversy. EW's PopWatch describes the episode, titled "The First
Time," as "incredibly moving" and
says the sex scenes are "handled very delicately." But television
watchdog group the Parents
Television Council is outraged by the controversial storyline and what
it says is a "celebration"
of teen sex. "The fact that 'Glee' intends to not only broadcast, but celebrate
children having sex is reprehensible. The gender of the high school
characters involved is irrelevant. Teen sex is now more prevalent on
TV than adult sex and 'Glee' is only playing into that trend," PTC
President Tim Winter told FOX411's Pop Tarts column in a statement.
"Research proves that television is a teen sexual super peer that can,
and likely will, influence a teen's decision to become sexually
active.
Fox knows the show inherently attracts kids; celebrating teen sex
constitutes gross recklessness." New York-based public relations and
media expert Adam Weiss of
Weiss PR says the episode is an example of the envelope being pushed
too far on teen-marketed TV. "Whether straight or gay, such sexually
charged scenes have no
place in prime time, especially in shows watched by teens and
children," he said. "I think the show would have the same success
without resorting to such raw sexuality." Liz Perle, editor-in-chief
of Common Sense Media, counters that both teen sex and homosexuality
are issues very understood by young people today. "Loss of virginity
has been a staple topic on teen-targeted television for years.
Remember Brenda
and Dylan on Beverly Hills 90210 in the '90s? By the time kids are old
enough to watch 'Glee,'
they probably know the facts of life. But that discussion is pretty
different from the very specific
'losing your virginity' talk," she said. "Secondly, homosexuality is a
part of life in our kids'
world — no matter what your family's beliefs are. So when a popular
show with lovable
characters shows two dedicated couples deciding to consummate a sexual
relationship, it's going to raise issues with straight and gay people
and families who approach both premarital sex and
homosexuality from different points of view." Instead of turning off
the television, Perle urges parents to use examples like the
forthcoming
"Glee" episode as vehicles to prompt further discussion on the issue.
"The media can force these tough conversations on you before you're
ready. But in a world of
bullying and stereotyping, you also don't want the media to be making
the call for you on how
your kids should treat one another," she continued. "The goal is to
use media for good, and the
bright side is that it can be a lot easier to have conversations
outside your comfort zone when
you're discussing fictional characters or situations. It's vitally
important that parents insert their
own voices and values into these conversations alongside those kids
hear in the media, so kids can learn from you, too." Los Angeles-based
psychologist Dr. Nancy Irwin added that it is critical that the
episode
underscores consensual and safe sex, and that both parties are
prepared psychologically as well as
physically for taking the relationship to this next level. Irwin also
said that it is an unfortunate
reality that the gay relationship will most likely bring about more
outrage in the community than
the heterosexual one. "Unfortunately, there is still considerable
disapproval of gays in our culture, and this episode will
probably spark controversy. Yet, in the end it will be a victory,"
she said. "The envelope is
already being pushed…young gays are having sex! I am confident that
'Glee' will handle this
issue in an emotionally and psychologically healthy way, so that this
young couple is coming of
age in a positive, loving manner." A rep for the show declined to
comment, but "Glee" star Chris Colfer, who plays Blaine and apparently
gets hot and heavy with on-screen beau Kurt (Darren Criss) in the
highly-anticipated
episode, isn't surprised by the criticism. "I absolutely expect to
hear from (watchdog groups). It's funny, I always go into this instant
panic state whenever they tell me about upcoming episodes, because we
always do so many
delicate situations on the show," Colfer told EW. "But then I get the
script and we shoot it and
it's always handled so well that I never really had any reason to
worry about it."