When South Park first

premiered on Comedy Central on August 13th, 1997, those tuning in received,

what was for some, the shock of their lives. This "cartoon show"

was smutty, filthy, politically incorrect, and gross. In other words,

South Park was a breath of fresh air in a stale television landscape.

That first episode was called "Cartman Gets an Anal Probe" and while the show was definitely

something ground-breaking, that title didn't necessarily bode well

for a gay audience looking for a few laughs that weren't at their

expense.

South Park was, and

still is, unapologetically rude, crude and not afraid to offend. But

it also turned out to be something else: one of the most gay-friendly shows ever seen on TV. Not in a sappy, mawkish,

"give a gay person a hug today" kind of way. But in a way

that cuts right through the hypocrisy and nonsense that enemies of gay

rights embrace. With every episode now available online,

AfterElton.com thought this a good time to look back at how the show

has handled its gay content.

The question that's hard to

answer about Cartman and his friends is "does the gay acceptance

message in the show — sometimes hidden very deeply — reach its core

demographic of adolescent straight boys?" It's hard to say. Certainly

they enjoy the gay stereotypes and love being appalled by the gay sexuality,

but whether the part about tolerance gets through is another matter.

Whether or not straight teen

boys get it, at the center of South Park is an undeniable decency

displayed in characters like Big Gay Al, and a message of pro-gay acceptance

that comes through loud and clear. Here are ten episodes from the series

that exemplify that message. Oh, and they're pretty damn funny, too.

And please keep in mind that we're talking about South Park here so some of these clips

are NSFW and might offend some readers, especially the one about Lemmiwinks the gerbil.

SEASON ONE

Episode #4: "Big

Gay Al's Big Gay Boat Ride"

Original air date: 9/03/97

Synopsis: "When

Stan discovers his new dog Sparky is gay, he becomes so confused he

loses his will to play in the big Homecoming Football game against Middle

Park."

In a nutshell: "That

dog is a gay homosexual!"

This is the episode that introduced

us to the iconic Big Gay Al. Even though Al is one of the kindest, most

good-hearted gay characters ever seen on television, he somehow missed

making our list of the Top 25 Gay TV Characters, although Waylon Smithers

did make the list (which boggles the mind).

The episode revolves around

Stan's realization that his dog Sparky (voiced by none other than George

Clooney) is gay. In desperation, Stan turns for advice to his teacher,

Mr. Garrison, who issues this helpful Clarence Darrow inspired warning:

"Gay people are evil. Evil right down to their cold black hearts,

which pump, not blood like yours or mine, but rather a thick vomitous

oil that oozes through their rotten veins and clots in their pea-sized

brains which becomes the cause of their Nazi-esque violent behavior."

Stan is crestfallen by the

news, and in a fit of rage, declares he "doesn't want a gay dog!"

Sparky overhears, and in a scene that I'm not embarrassed to say still

gets to me, decides to run away. Stan starts searching for Sparky, and

in the middle of the woods comes across "Big Gay Al's Big Gay Animal

Sanctuary," which is like the "Island of Misfit

Toys," but without the little gay dentist. Al explains

that the sanctuary is a place where gay animals can "be themselves."

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Al decides it's time for Stan

to learn a lesson in gay history, and they both board Big Gay Al's Big

Gay Boat Ride, which turns out to be the gayest cruise we've seen on

television since Ethel Merman and Charles Nelson Reilly set sail on

the same episode of The Love Boat. During the cruise, we 're

treated to images of gays throughout history, culminating in the ultimate

gay acceptance song, which I recite to myself every morning as a mantra.

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Stan now fully accepts Sparky,

and makes an announcement that it's "okay to be gay."

The gay animals are reunited with their now accepting owners, and Al

declares that his work is done, and disappears into his magic suitcase.

It's true that Big Gay Al is

a Big Gay Stereotype, but he's not the butt of the joke, and is in fact,

the hero of the story. As strange as it may sound, even with the "homo"

references and the jokes about Sparky the dog "pounding ass,"

this is one of the greatest episodes about gay acceptance that's ever

been shown on television.

Ratings (on a scale of 1 to

10 Cartmans and 1 to 10 Big Gay Als):

Funny rating: 7 Cartmans

Gay rating: 10 Big Gay

Als

SEASON TWO

Episode #9: "Chef's

Salty Chocolate Balls"

Original air date: 8/19/98

Synopsis: A film festival

comes to South Park.

In a nutshell: Lots,

and I mean lots, of poop jokes, plus one classic line.

A film festival has arrived

in South Park, and the kids are instructed to watch at least one independent

film. Cartman is less than thrilled, because according to him, all independent

films are about . . . well, see for yourself.

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The film festival starts, and

sure enough, Cartman is right. If you get really drunk and squint your

eyes while you watch, you'd swear it was a scene from a certain other

movie.

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Even though there's nothing

especially gay positive about this episode, I'm including it because

of its iconic status. When Brokeback Mountain (2005) came out,

there were endless references to this episode, and I have to admit,

the only thing that could have made that movie even more special would

have been if Jack and Ennis had shared a pudding cup.

Funny rating: 5 Cartmans

(depending on your tolerance for scatological humor)

Gay rating: 7 Big Gay

Als (only two very brief scenes, but they will live forever in infamy)

SEASON 3

Episode #8: "Two

Guys Naked in a Hot Tub"

Original air date: 7/21/99

Synopsis: Mr. Mackey

throws a party, and Kyle's and Stan's Dads "experiment" in

the hot tub.

In a nutshell: "Just

because two men watch each other masturbate doesn't mean they're gay

. . . does it?"

Relaxing together in the hot

tub, the two dads start talking about experimentation, and what would

be considered "gay." They both decide that

masturbating in front of each other is not.

Stan's dad is filled with shame

and regret, until he blurts out the truth about what happened, and all

the other men at the party make their own startling confessions.

What could have been a lame

gay panic and shame episode (and would have been, in lesser hands) actually

ends with a simple message, "we're all a little gay."

Funny rating: 4 Cartmans

Gay rating: 8 Big Gay

Als

SEASON 4

Episode #12: "Fourth

Grade"

Original air date: 11/8/2000

Synopsis: Mr. Garrison

confronts the gay within.

In a nutshell: "I'm

gayer than a gymnast on shore leave."

Mr. Garrison enters the "tree

of insight," and comes face to face with his gay

side.

He returns to the school, newly

enlightened, and announces to his fellow teachers that he's a proud

gay man.

Another gay positive episode

with a South Park twist. Mr. Garrison is living like the Unabomber,

and on the verge of insanity, but accepting the truth about himself

sets him free, and he's able to function normally again. Of course,

his colleagues are happy for him, but cheerfully remind him that as

an out gay man, they couldn't possibly rehire him.

Funny rating: 4 Cartmans

Gay rating: 4 Big Gay

Als

SEASON 5

Episode #3: "Cripple

Fight"

Original air date: 6/27/2001

Synopsis: Big Gay Al

returns to South Park, only to be thrown out as Scoutmaster to the boys

for being gay.

In a nutshell: "What

if I promise not to be gay anymore? Pinky swear!"

The boys arrive at their Scout

meeting to find that their new Scout leader is their old friend Big

Gay Al!

After complaints from parents,

the scout organization informs the heartbroken Al that he can no longer

be a Scout Leader.

The scouts appoint a new scoutmaster,

a married heterosexual man. That means he must be safe, right?

Al is depressed about being

dumped by the scouts and Marc Shaiman playing sad songs on the piano

isn't helping!

The boys visit a despondent

Al, and urge him to "get his big gay ass off the couch,"

but he informs them that the Scouts don't allow gays, so

they decide to protest on his behalf.

Al and the boys take it to

the Supreme Court and win, but Al has a shocking announcement to make.

Probably the greatest gay acceptance

episode of South Park, it successfully skewers Scout hypocrisy

and Gloria Allred, but also has Al give an impassioned speech as to

why the Scouts should be allowed to deny who they want. It also features

a hilarious cameo for Marc Shaiman, Trey and Matt's out songwriter pal.

It's South Park at its best taking on stupid, homophobic practices

while acknowledging everyone has the right to how they feel.

Funny rating: 8 Cartmans

Gay rating: 10 Big Gay

Als

SEASON 6

Episode #14: "The

Death Camp of Tolerance"

Original air date:

11/20/2002

Synopsis: Mr. Garrison

returns to teaching, but he has an "agenda."

In a nutshell: Poor

Lemmiwinks.

Mr. Garrison, who had been

demoted to teaching kindergarten after he came out, is offered a new

job teaching the fourth grade. At first, he's ecstatic and grateful,

until he learns that if he's fired again for being gay, he can sue

. . . for millions of dollars.

Mr. Garrison decides to do

everything he can to get fired for being gay, so he enlists the aid

of a new . . . teacher's assistant.

After the boys tell their parents

of their discomfort, their parents decide a trip to the "museum

of tolerance" is in order.

Mr. Garrison decides it's time

to up the ante in his quest to get fired, so he uses Mr. Slave and Lemmiwinks,

the gerbil, to . . . well, you know how this ends.

Refusing to go back to class,

the kids are sentenced to spend time at the dreaded "tolerance

camp."

Mr. Garrison is incensed

to find out that not only is he not getting fired, but he's getting

an award at the Museum, and hatches a plan. Meanwhile, Lemmiwinks begins

his magical journey.

Elsewhere, the boys are being

forced to do hideous things at tolerance camp . . . like

finger-paint.

Mr. Garrison shows up at the

awards show, and finally, the parents of the boys realize why they were

upset.

The boys leave the tolerance

camp as someone else arrives, and Lemmiwinks is at the end of his adventure.

I'm including this episode

because it's certainly one of the most controversial and misunderstood

episodes of South Park. It's easy to assume, reading the premise

and finding out that the show perpetuates a particularly vile urban

legend, that it goes too far over the top to work, but I think the show

does what it intended to do — show that "tolerance" does

have a limit. Everyone is squarely on Mr. Garrison's side, until he

starts doing things in class that are inappropriate, and would be no

matter what his sexuality was. Now that's treating gay people just

like straight people.

Funny rating:

7 (it earns extra points just for the Lemmiwinks song)

Gay rating: 10 Big Gay Als (it doesn't get much gayer)

SEASON 7

Episode #8: "South

Park is Gay"

Original air date: 10/22/2003

Synopsis: The town of

South Park celebrates the hip new metrosexual craze.

In a nutshell: "When

the girls at school see how gay we are, they're going to be all over

us."

Stan, Cartman and Kenny have

gone metrosexual and want to share their knowledge with Kyle.

Mr. Garrison can't believe

that the straight men of the town have stolen the "gay identity."

Mr. Garrison and Kyle travel

to New York to confront the Queer Eye guys . . .

but they learn that the Fab Five are not what they appear.

The Crab people reveal their

plan for world domination.

The women of South Park succeed

in defeating the Crab people's attempt to use TV to take

over the world.

One of the funniest, and gayest

episodes of the series. From the opening few minutes, which references

"Boy Meets Boy" and pricelessly parodies the opening of

Queer Eye for the Straight Guy (with Cartman filling in for Carson),

to the shocking denouement (c'mon, didn't we ALL believe that the Fab

Five were really aliens?), this episode took on the novelty (at the

time) of gay themed reality shows.

Funny rating: 10 Cartmans

Gay rating: 10 Big Gay

Als

Episode #10: "Follow

That Egg"

Original air date: 11/02/2005

Synopsis: Mrs. Garrison

realizes she still has feelings for Mr. Slave. But, Mr. Slave has moved

on. He plans to marry his new love as soon as the Governor signs the

same-sex marriage bill. Mrs. Garrison leads the charge against gay marriage.

In a nutshell: "Slave

honey . . . is that the pizza?"

When Mrs. Garrison learns that

Mr. Slave and Big Gay Al are together now and planning to get married

on Saturday, she gets angry.

Mrs. Garrison tries to convince

South Park to harm gay people to send a message, but settles on appealing

to the Governor of Colorado to veto the same sex marriage bill.

Mrs. Garrison switches up the

egg parent couples, putting Kyle and Stan together, with the intention

of proving that two boys can't raise an egg.

Stan and Kyle get their baby

egg to the Colorado State House safely, proving gays are capable of

being parents. Naturally, there is then a big gay wedding.

By this time in the series,

Mr. Garrison had become Mrs. Garrison, and was becoming increasingly

deranged, and less funny and insightful. This episode works, though,

for the inclusion of our old pal Big Gay Al, and the message that two

same sex people are just as capable of raising a child as a straight

couple.

Funny rating: 3 Cartmans

Gay rating: 10 Big Gay

Als

Episode #12: "Trapped

in the Closet"

Original air date: 11/16/2005

Synopsis: Religious

leaders recognize Stan as the second coming.

In a nutshell: Trey

and Matt have huge cojones.

In one of South Park's

more infamous episodes, Stone and Parker slyly take on the topic of

Tom Cruise's sexuality.

John Travolta arrives and tries

to get Tom Cruise to come out of the closet, only to wind up going in

himself.

Need I explain? South Park

hit the bullseye again with this episode, which not only had

the gumption to go after Scientology, but its two most vocal supporters

and the rumors of their sexuality. Even though there's nothing exactly

gay positive about it, like the episode "Chef's Salty Chocolate Balls," I'm including it for its iconic

status.

Funny rating: 10 Cartmans

(A television classic)

Gay rating: 5 Big Gay

Als

SEASON 11

Episode #2: "Cartman

Sucks"

Original air date: 03/14/2007

Synopsis: Butters has

to go to a special camp where they "pray the gay away."

In a nutshell: Required

viewing for all Focus on the Family members.

After Butters is caught in

a compromising position with Cartman, his father decides to send him

to an ex-gay camp.

Pastor Phillips gives an unconvincing

sermon about how he is cured of being gay.

Butters and his accountabilibuddy

are confronted about a 1979 Sears men's underwear catalog

found in their room.

Bradley becomes suicidal after

confessing his romantic feelings for Butters.

Butters gets in trouble after

Bradley runs away to commit suicide.

Butters gives an impassioned

speech and convinces Bradley not to jump from the bridge.

Funny rating: 7 Cartmans

Gay rating: 10 Big Gay

Als

This last episode is the perfect

representation of what makes South Park such a milestone in gay

culture. In 22 minutes, it uses biting satire and wit, coupled with

a healthy dose of potty mouth to send a message of gay acceptance while

taking on one (some?) of the more nefarious anti-gay movements out there.

It does more than any heavy-handed drama or sermon could

ever do to further our agenda . . . not a "gay"

agenda . . . but a "human" agenda.