Packers, Steelers and ‘Glee’

The D.C. Gay Flag Football League at a recent meet. The 12 local teams play again Sunday. (Photo courtesy of Kevin Majoros)

For decades, Super Bowl Sunday has been one of the most celebrated events in the United States. On the surface it looks like a testosterone-filled, buffalo wing-gnawing, beer-chugging day for heterosexual men.

So how is it that Super Bowl Sunday is a hugely popular day for the LGBT community as well?

With gay and straight cultures moving closer together each year, Super Bowl XLV (45) at the sparkling Cowboys Stadium in Arlington, Texas, is lining up to be the gayest Super Bowl ever. For those who don’t follow sports, it’s good to at least know the basics: the Green Bay Packers are playing the Pittsburgh Steelers for pro football’s top prize.

Doritos has released two Super Bowl commercials, both of which are incredibly homoerotic. The first features two guys in a sauna with one looking longingly at the crotch area of the other. The surprise ending had me laughing out loud. The second commercial includes two guys in Daisy Duke shorts having cocktails by the pool questioning the sexuality of the next door neighbor. You can find both videos on YouTube under 2011DoritosCommercials.

Each year after the Super Bowl, the host network runs a new episode of one of their highest rated shows in hopes that the lead out from the game will result in huge ratings. In past years we have seen shows such as “Alias,” “Grey’s Anatomy” and “The Office.” This year, the Fox Network will be showing a new episode of “Glee,” arguably the gayest show on major network television.

The first scene of the “Glee” episode is intended to hook the heterosexual male audience as it features a song and dance by Sue Sylvester’s Cheerios complete with flaming breasts and a fire whip. Another scene in the show will be presented as a clash between the “Glee” kids and the football team in full zombie gear performing a mash-up of Michael Jackson’s “Thriller” and the Yeah Yeah Yeahs’ “Heads Will Roll.” Add Katie Couric to the mix and you have an episode that appeals to both sides of the fence.

So what will the local LGBT community be doing on Super Bowl Sunday? Everyone I spoke to indicated that they would be attending a party or hitting a local bar for the evening. The D.C. Gay Flag Football League will be kicking off its second season on the morning of the game. The League has grown to 12 teams with 180 players and includes female as well as straight players. After their games that morning at the Carter Barron Fields, they will be taking over the Duplex Diner for a night of football pools, buffalo wing gnawing and beer chugging.  Sound familiar?

Doug Schantz of Nellies Sports Bar is expecting a long day on Sunday. The Washington Capitals will be playing the Pittsburgh Penguins which will be followed by the Super Bowl and then the “Glee” episode. The day will be filled with, you guessed it, football pools, buffalo wing gnawing and beer chugging. Schantz says Super Bowl Sunday draws a 50/50 gay versus straight crowd and he expects much of the same this year.

And so it seems that this great day is celebrated by all of us in similar fashion. Be careful out there, use public transportation and have a “Gleeful” Super Bowl.