# How did Snagglepuss become gay? **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [August 23, 2009, 10:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-did-snagglepuss-become-gay/507432 "2009-08-23T22:50:13Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![ministryman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/f6c823/32.png) [@ministryman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ministryman)\ **Post date:** [August 24, 2009, 4:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-did-snagglepuss-become-gay/507432/21 "2009-08-24T16:18:22Z")
I promised I wouldn’t do this, but it’s Monday. A recent survey of cartoon archivists revealed the following: 15% believe Snagglepuss became gay as the result of some genetic/psychosexual breakdown. 85% believe he was sucked into it. ---
**Author:** ![kenobi\_65](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kenobi_65/32/13178_2.png) [@kenobi\_65](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kenobi_65)\ **Post date:** [August 24, 2009, 4:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-did-snagglepuss-become-gay/507432/22 "2009-08-24T16:24:17Z")
> [@The\_Second\_Stone](#): > > I missed the gay reference about Snagglepuss when I was a kid. But I also had no idea about Paul Lynde. I knew something was conspicuously different about Charles Nelson Reilly, but I didn’t know what. I’d still miss Paul Lynde being gay if my middle aged self were suddenly back in the 60s. He was just very damn funny. Even more so that I now get his jokes. As a kid, I, too, thought that Paul Lynde was just very funny, while Charles Nelson Reilly struck me, too, as being a little, um, “theatrical”? But, now, I watch Lynde on old episodes of “Bewitched”, and he definitely sets off the gaydar. ---
**Author:** ![CalMeacham](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/calmeacham/32/35_2.png) [@CalMeacham](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CalMeacham)\ **Post date:** [August 24, 2009, 4:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-did-snagglepuss-become-gay/507432/23 "2009-08-24T16:25:51Z")
It’s because he was pink. What orientation do you think a pink mountain lion would have? Cartoon Anatomy is cartoon destiny. ---
**Author:** ![Musicat](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/musicat/32/20189_2.png) [@Musicat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Musicat)\ **Post date:** [August 24, 2009, 4:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-did-snagglepuss-become-gay/507432/24 "2009-08-24T16:49:35Z")
> [@ministryman](#): > > “Kissing” Cousins > > Chip ‘n’ Dale –\> Chippendales (The male strip club)…hello? Except… The cartoons were pre-1970 and the club was post-1980. Then there was the 18th Century English furniture maker, [Thomas Chippendale.](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chip_%27n_Dale) No idea what his sexual orientation or speech pattern was, but most likely the source of the cartoon names was Olde Tom. ---
**Author:** ![silenus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/silenus/32/166_2.png) [@silenus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/silenus)\ **Post date:** [August 24, 2009, 6:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-did-snagglepuss-become-gay/507432/25 "2009-08-24T18:12:18Z")
[This](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:A_Design_for_a_State_Bed_From_Chippendale%27s_Director.jpg) doesn’t scream “gay” to you? 😃 ---
**Author:** ![NicePete](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/ee7513/32.png) [@NicePete](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/NicePete)\ **Post date:** [August 24, 2009, 6:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-did-snagglepuss-become-gay/507432/26 "2009-08-24T18:43:38Z")
He was born that way. ---
**Author:** ![BMax](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bmax/32/4267_2.png) [@BMax](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BMax)\ **Post date:** [August 24, 2009, 6:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-did-snagglepuss-become-gay/507432/27 "2009-08-24T18:57:59Z")
I think he was drawn into it quite early. ---
**Author:** ![Irishman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/b487fb/32.png) [@Irishman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Irishman)\ **Post date:** [August 24, 2009, 7:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-did-snagglepuss-become-gay/507432/28 "2009-08-24T19:19:32Z")
**kunilou** said: > [@](#): > > I’ve never been one to think that stereotypical characters like Snagglepuss, the Cowardly Lion, the various roles Billy DeWolfe played and Uncle Arthur on _Bewitched_ were supposed to be some sort of hideen shout-out to gays. I just thought they were supposed to be comedic countertypes to the All-American Boy hero image. With regards to The Cowardly Lion, it is fairly clear that the movie was using the gay mannerisms for shorthand to demonstrate his “unmanliness”. It was a process of equivocation: coward = unmanly = “gay”. Gay in quotes because we’re never shown the Cowardly Lion fantasizing about men or trying to hump the Tin Man or anything, but the portrayal and mannerisms scream effeminate. Snagglepuss might have been something similar - not so much intended to mean he likes male companionship, but rather just as shorthand to exemplify his non-masculinity. Of course time has affected our expectations and interpretations. ---
**Author:** ![The\_Second\_Stone](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/bbe5ce/32.png) [@The\_Second\_Stone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Second_Stone)\ **Post date:** [August 24, 2009, 8:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-did-snagglepuss-become-gay/507432/29 "2009-08-24T20:08:11Z")
By the time I was in High School, however, I had figured out these guys: [http://www.threestooges.com/](http://www.threestooges.com/) ---
**Author:** ![Musicat](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/musicat/32/20189_2.png) [@Musicat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Musicat)\ **Post date:** [August 24, 2009, 9:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-did-snagglepuss-become-gay/507432/30 "2009-08-24T21:11:48Z")
I used to love to watch Snagglepuss when he first aired. It never occurred to me that he was gay; he just had this theatrical bent, and I had friends & relatives who were “theatrical.” “Exit, stage left!” But a lot of things went over my head in those days. :rolleyes: ---
**Author:** ![jackdavinci](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jackdavinci/32/3259_2.png) [@jackdavinci](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jackdavinci)\ **Post date:** [August 24, 2009, 10:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-did-snagglepuss-become-gay/507432/31 "2009-08-24T22:14:30Z")
While both he and the Cowardly Lion are somewhat effeminate, their voice pattern is very distinct from the modern idea of stereotypical gay speech. It actually reminds me more of things like Samantha from Sex and the City. The kind of affectation certain rich people take on. ---
**Author:** ![Serenata67](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/serenata67/32/10646_2.png) [@Serenata67](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Serenata67)\ **Post date:** [August 25, 2009, 3:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-did-snagglepuss-become-gay/507432/32 "2009-08-25T03:11:09Z")
> [@elfkin477](#): > > Did Snagglepuss become gay? Because I was under the impression that he was always fabulous 🙂 I had missed the outing, too… thought he always was. ---
**Author:** ![Irishman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/b487fb/32.png) [@Irishman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Irishman)\ **Post date:** [August 25, 2009, 3:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-did-snagglepuss-become-gay/507432/33 "2009-08-25T03:27:35Z")
To flesh out more what I was saying about The Cowardly Lion, they were using shorthand of the audience’s expectations to flesh out the idea of him being a coward, using stereotypes of the time. He calls himself a sissy and gets ribbons in his hair, for cryin’ out loud. In the '80s, they would have put him in big rimmed glasses and a pocket protector, and given him a sniveling/honking/preposterous laugh. Audiences would have immediately gotten it. I don’t know nowadays what they would do. Have him argue Star Trek versus Star Gate - with himself? Speak with a French accent? ---
**Author:** ![ministryman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/f6c823/32.png) [@ministryman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ministryman)\ **Post date:** [August 25, 2009, 1:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-did-snagglepuss-become-gay/507432/34 "2009-08-25T13:51:44Z")
> [@Irishman](#): > > To flesh out more what I was saying about The Cowardly Lion, they were using shorthand of the audience’s expectations to flesh out the idea of him being a coward, using stereotypes of the time. He calls himself a sissy and gets ribbons in his hair, for cryin’ out loud. > > In the '80s, they would have put him in big rimmed glasses and a pocket protector, and given him a sniveling/honking/preposterous laugh. Audiences would have immediately gotten it. > > I don’t know nowadays what they would do. Have him argue Star Trek versus Star Gate - with himself? Speak with a French accent? The Cowardly Lion was _gay_, not a nerd. Yeah, it’s sad, believe me, Missy, When you’re born to be a sissy… I’m afraid there’s no denyin’ I’m just a Dandy Lion… Think about Gomer Pyle…wait…never mind… ---
**Author:** ![mobo85](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/b19c9b/32.png) [@mobo85](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mobo85)\ **Post date:** [August 25, 2009, 4:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-did-snagglepuss-become-gay/507432/35 "2009-08-25T16:06:26Z")
> [@silenus](#): > > Psst! Nobody tell her about [Chip & Dale](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chip_'n_Dale). Compared to their counterparts over at Warner Bros. [the Goofy Gophers](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Goofy_Gophers), Chip 'n Dale are straight as an arrow. ---
**Author:** ![Soul\_Brother\_Number\_Two](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/soul_brother_number_two/32/3515_2.png) [@Soul\_Brother\_Number\_Two](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Soul_Brother_Number_Two)\ **Post date:** [August 25, 2009, 4:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-did-snagglepuss-become-gay/507432/36 "2009-08-25T16:18:37Z")
I had no idea that Snagglepuss was pink, as we had black and white TV all throughout my childhood. Didn’t know Gilligan’s shirt was red, neither. ---
**Author:** ![Irishman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/b487fb/32.png) [@Irishman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Irishman)\ **Post date:** [August 25, 2009, 10:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-did-snagglepuss-become-gay/507432/37 "2009-08-25T22:10:09Z")
**ministryman** , they were trying to depict him as a wimp, a scaredy-cat. In the '80s, a skinny guy with big rimmed glasses, buck teeth, and a goofy laugh would have screamed “WIMP”. It is my contention (and not just mine) that they were actively using “sissy” stereotypes to depict “coward”. In the '80s they might have used “nerd” stereotypes to depict “coward”. Now did the movie creators mean to depict The Cowardly Lion as a cock-craver, or did they just want to depict him as a wimp? Effiminacy was shorthand for their intent, not the end result sought. Of course, one might argue they really did mean for him to be after men, that it was a shout out to homosexuals or something. But I think it more likely they were using stereotypes as shorthand, rather than making some social statement about sexual preference. ---
**Author:** ![twickster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/ec9cab/32.png) [@twickster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/twickster)\ **Post date:** [August 25, 2009, 10:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-did-snagglepuss-become-gay/507432/38 "2009-08-25T22:52:05Z")
**Irishman** , your analysis makes a lot of sense to me. Back in 1939, “sissy” didn’t mean “gay” – “gay” (or homo or fruity or whatever) wasn’t a major category in popular culture. I’m thinking of Eric Blore’s characters in the Fred and Ginger films – he played fussy, prissy characters, usually a servant of some sort, but I don’t think there was any intent to show him as gay. ---
**Author:** ![lobotomyboy63](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lobotomyboy63/32/2900_2.png) [@lobotomyboy63](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lobotomyboy63)\ **Post date:** [August 25, 2009, 11:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-did-snagglepuss-become-gay/507432/39 "2009-08-25T23:10:28Z")
_A study by Philadelphia’s Monell Chemical Senses Center, published in the Journal of Psychological Science reported that “gay men were found to be particularly good at detecting the musk of other gay men”.[6][7]_ > **[Gaydar](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gaydar)** > > Gaydar (a portmanteau of gay and radar) is a colloquialism referring to the intuitive ability of a person to assess others' sexual orientations as homosexual, bisexual or straight. Gaydar relies on verbal and nonverbal clues and LGBT stereotypes, including a sensitivity to social behaviors and mannerisms like body language, the tone of voice used by a person when speaking, overt rejections of traditional gender roles, a person's occupation, and grooming habits. > The detection of sexual orientati... “What makes a muskrat guard his musk? Courage!” Actually I thought the Tin Man gave off more of a gay vibe than the Cowardly Lion. [![]( " - YouTube") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Cc5DeJevhWA) ---
**Author:** ![RealityChuck](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/realitychuck/32/195_2.png) [@RealityChuck](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RealityChuck)\ **Post date:** [August 26, 2009, 12:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-did-snagglepuss-become-gay/507432/40 "2009-08-26T00:04:00Z")
The problem with Snagglepuss or the Cowardly Lion is that you’re assuming that people’s perceptions were the same when they were created as how they are today. It’s a common fallacy. People in 1939 or 1959 did not look at things the same way we do. So to answer the OP: The characters were not designed or intended to be gay when they were created, but 21 century stereotyping makes people think they are now. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-did-snagglepuss-become-gay/507432.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-did-snagglepuss-become-gay/507432.md?page=3)